Tq vs. hp
06-16-2006, 10:56 PM
#3
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: California
Posts: 621
RE: Tq vs. hp
Even after being into cars for many years, I also still have a hard time grasping the concept of each.
I'll give you the general overview that I understand. Torque would be better for immediate acceleration (starts at the strip) and it would also be good for coming out of turns. Horsepower is usually slightly high in the rpm range, and you need a lot of it to keep accelerrating at higher speeds, especially to get through the resistance of air. That may sound really stupid to more experienced people, but oh well. I've been told that you want more horsepower at the strip and torque at the track.
I'll give you the general overview that I understand. Torque would be better for immediate acceleration (starts at the strip) and it would also be good for coming out of turns. Horsepower is usually slightly high in the rpm range, and you need a lot of it to keep accelerrating at higher speeds, especially to get through the resistance of air. That may sound really stupid to more experienced people, but oh well. I've been told that you want more horsepower at the strip and torque at the track.
06-16-2006, 11:07 PM
#4
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location:
Posts: 365
RE: Tq vs. hp
ORIGINAL: 350kmileFord
Even after being into cars for many years, I also still have a hard time grasping the concept of each.
I'll give you the general overview that I understand. Torque would be better for immediate acceleration (starts at the strip) and it would also be good for coming out of turns. Horsepower is usually slightly high in the rpm range, and you need a lot of it to keep accelerrating at higher speeds, especially to get through the resistance of air. That may sound really stupid to more experienced people, but oh well. I've been told that you want more horsepower at the strip and torque at the track.
Even after being into cars for many years, I also still have a hard time grasping the concept of each.
I'll give you the general overview that I understand. Torque would be better for immediate acceleration (starts at the strip) and it would also be good for coming out of turns. Horsepower is usually slightly high in the rpm range, and you need a lot of it to keep accelerrating at higher speeds, especially to get through the resistance of air. That may sound really stupid to more experienced people, but oh well. I've been told that you want more horsepower at the strip and torque at the track.
06-16-2006, 11:12 PM
#5
4th Gear Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Mexico, MO
Posts: 1,007
RE: Tq vs. hp
it more depends on what track.......short, complicated tracks, a little low end torque is nice, but you still need high end horsepower coming out of turns.... long, straight tracks require a balance of both. torque is the power the drivetrain places on the wheel to turn. horsepower is higher in the rpm range, but both are evident throughout the power band.
06-16-2006, 11:15 PM
#6
5th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location:
Posts: 3,768
RE: Tq vs. hp
ORIGINAL: tl86gt
horsepower is actually a calculation of torque at a certain RPm....not sure of the equation......torque gets you off the line but pretty much after your 60' horsepower takes over
horsepower is actually a calculation of torque at a certain RPm....not sure of the equation......torque gets you off the line but pretty much after your 60' horsepower takes over
06-16-2006, 11:17 PM
#7
5th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location:
Posts: 3,768
RE: Tq vs. hp
ORIGINAL: tl86gt
it more depends on what track.......short, complicated tracks, a little low end torque is nice, but you still need high end horsepower coming out of turns.... long, straight tracks require a balance of both. torque is the power the drivetrain places on the wheel to turn. horsepower is higher in the rpm range, but both are evident throughout the power band.
it more depends on what track.......short, complicated tracks, a little low end torque is nice, but you still need high end horsepower coming out of turns.... long, straight tracks require a balance of both. torque is the power the drivetrain places on the wheel to turn. horsepower is higher in the rpm range, but both are evident throughout the power band.
