Retarders can cause the wheels to skid when they have poor traction.

Retarders can cause the wheels to skid when they have poor traction.

• A. Skid when they have poor traction
• B. Improve braking performance
• C. Enhance steering control
• D. Reduce tire wear

Answer: (A)

Retarders slow the vehicle by adding resistance in the drivetrain, not by increasing the tires’ grip on the road. The amount of braking force a tire can use is limited by traction between the tire and the surface. On surfaces with poor traction (wet, icy, gravel, etc.), that available friction is already reduced. If you apply the retarder, you’re increasing braking force, and on low-traction surfaces the tires may not be able to maintain rolling contact. The result can be the tires slipping or skidding instead of continuing to roll, which is why retarders can cause wheels to skid when traction is poor. They don’t inherently improve braking performance; they don’t enhance steering control; and sliding tires can wear more quickly, so those options don’t fit as well.

Retarders slow the vehicle by adding resistance in the drivetrain, not by increasing the tires’ grip on the road. The amount of braking force a tire can use is limited by traction between the tire and the surface. On surfaces with poor traction (wet, icy, gravel, etc.), that available friction is already reduced. If you apply the retarder, you’re increasing braking force, and on low-traction surfaces the tires may not be able to maintain rolling contact. The result can be the tires slipping or skidding instead of continuing to roll, which is why retarders can cause wheels to skid when traction is poor.

They don’t inherently improve braking performance; they don’t enhance steering control; and sliding tires can wear more quickly, so those options don’t fit as well.