Heavy Civil Exam Practice 2026 – Complete Prep Test

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Coefficient of Traction is the ratio between the maximum amount of pull a machine can exert before slippage and the total weight on the machine's drive wheels or tracks.

The ratio of maximum engine torque to wheel diameter

The total weight of the machine

The ratio between driving force and traction resistance

The ratio between maximum pull before slippage and total weight on drive wheels or tracks

Traction is governed by friction between the drive tires or tracks and the surface. The maximum force the tires can apply before slipping equals the friction limit, which is the friction coefficient times the normal load (the weight on the drive wheels or tracks). So the coefficient of traction is simply the ratio of the maximum pull before slippage to the weight on the drive wheels or tracks. This directly captures how grip increases with more weight pressing the tires to the ground. The other descriptions don’t reflect that friction-limited pull relative to the normal load, so they don’t define traction in this context.