I realized today that I had dozens of PM in my Inbox. I never looked at this Inbox. Sorry guys I will not answer those. Simply too busy. Just post your question on the forum for the benefit of the whole community.
One caught my attention tough: it was about the front and rear tire choice and the weight distribution, and a statement I made during recent OptimumG seminars and in informal conversation at the FSAE / FS competitions.
If I read in a design specification sheet that the students have the same front and rear tire (I am fine with that) but the weight distribution is 42 % front I will probably not read the rest of the spec. sheet with a lot of attention The car is already hill born and the only thing they could do to have a decent handling will be to create a patch on patch.
There are clear vehicle dynamics principles that show that your front and rear tire cornering stiffness ratio should not be far away, just a few %, from your weight distribution. And that your front and rear roll stiffness distribution ratio should be very close to your suspended weight distribution. If you don't then you must have tons of compliance and you won't get good performance. You could maybe get a balanced car with a patch on patch but you won't get a lot of grip. Or you would get a lot o potential grip but with a car very difficult to drive.
There is a reason why even a cheap car like the Smart do not have the same front and rear tires.
Food for thoughts.