What type of friction occurs when your tires are rolling on the road?

The type of friction that occurs when your tires are rolling on the road is static friction. This friction is present when there is no relative motion between the surfaces in contact, allowing the tires to grip the road effectively. When a vehicle is moving forward, the contact point of the tire with the road surface does not slide; instead, it rolls. This rolling motion is facilitated by static friction between the tire and the road, which prevents slipping and allows for acceleration, braking, and steering.

Kinetic friction, or sliding friction, occurs when surfaces slide against each other, which is not the case when tires are rolling normally on the road. Dynamic friction is often used interchangeably with kinetic friction, but in the context of rolling tires, static friction is the correct force to consider since the point of contact is momentarily at rest relative to the road surface. Thus, understanding the role of static friction is crucial for vehicle performance and safety on the road.