Which statement best describes the relationship between tire wear and braking performance?

• A. Worn tires improve braking performance.
• B. Worn tires can fail under heavy braking due to reduced traction and heat dissipation.
• C. Tire wear does not affect braking performance.
• D. Tire wear is unrelated to braking performance.

Answer: (B)

Tire wear directly reduces braking performance because it lowers both grip and the tire’s ability to manage heat. When tread wears down, the tire has less surface to bite into the road and less depth to channel away water on wet surfaces, so friction with the runway drops and stopping distances increase. At the same time, braking generates a lot of heat in the tire, and worn tires have less material and fewer channels to absorb and dissipate that heat. The combination of reduced traction and faster heat buildup means the tire can overheat, leading to structural stress, potential tread lift, or even a blowout under heavy braking. That’s why worn tires can fail under heavy braking due to reduced traction and heat dissipation. The other statements don’t fit because they imply no effect or even an improvement, which contradicts how friction and heat work in tire-tire–surface interactions.