{{Short description|Distance between wheels on an axle}} thumb|Track (measured between center line of wheels). In automobiles (and other wheeled vehicles which have two wheels on an axle), the '''axle track''' is the distance between the hub flanges on an axle.<ref name="byorc">{{cite web |title=Car Handling Basics, How-To & Design Tips ~ FREE! |url=https://www.buildyourownracecar.com/race-car-handling-basics-and-design/ |website=Build Your Own Race Car! |access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref> '''Wheel track''', '''track width''' or simply '''track''' refers to the distance between the centerline of two wheels on the same axle. In the case of an axle with dual wheels, the centerline of the dual wheel assembly is used for the wheel track specification. Axle and wheel track are commonly measured in millimetres or inches.<ref name="metricspec">{{cite web |title=BMW M3 E46 |url=https://www.car.info/en-se/bmw/3-series/m3-6622949/specs |website=car.info |access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="imperialspec">{{cite web |title=C5 Corvette Wheelbase And Track Width |url=https://carviewspecs.blogspot.com/2019/07/c5-corvette-wheelbase-and-track-width.html |website=carviewspecs.blogspot.com |access-date=19 February 2021}}{{dead link|date=November 2024}}</ref>
==Common usage== Despite their distinct definitions, ''axle track'', (not to be frequently and incorrectly used interchangeably as ''wheel track'' and ''track width''), normally refers to the distance between the centerline of the wheels. For a vehicle with two axles, the term can be expressed as ''front track'' and ''rear track''. For a vehicle with more than two axles, the axles are normally numbered for reference.<ref name="edmunds">{{cite web |title=All Lined Up |url=https://www.edmunds.com/car-technology/all-lined-up.html |website=Edmunds |access-date=19 February 2021 |language=en-us |date=15 November 2000}}</ref>
==Offset wheel track== In vehicles with offset wheels, wheel track is distinct from axle track because the centreline of the wheel is not flush with the hub flange. If wheels of a different offset are fitted, the wheel track changes but the axle track does not.<ref name="fordmag">{{cite web |title=Weekend Tech: Alloy Wheels |url=https://www.classicfordmag.co.uk/tech/weekend-tech-alloy-wheels/ |website=Classic Ford Magazine |access-date=19 February 2021 |date=17 October 2020}}</ref>
==Railroad context== thumb|left|The flange gauge – between the outer faces of a tram or railroad car's wheels on an axle (A) – is comparable to the axle track on other vehicles, In the railroad industry, the term "axle track" is not used; the same concept is called "flange gauge" or "wheel gauge". It is measured on a wheelset of a railroad car or tram from one wheel flange reference line to the reference line of the other wheel. It must be compatible with the "track gauge" – the distance between the facing edges of the running rails – of the network it runs on.<ref>{{cite book |title=MT/288 Wheelset Tread Standards & Gauging |date=13 December 1996 |publisher=British Railways Board |page=24 }}</ref> The maximum and minimum limits to the differences between the two gauges are usually 1{{frac|11|32}}" and {{frac|3|8}}" (9–35 mm).
==Model railroads== Model railway elements such as track, rolling stock and locomotives are categorised by their wheel or track gauge. An HO scale or OO gauge model locomotive, for example, has a wheel gauge of 16.5mm.<ref name="wor">{{cite web |title=What is OO gauge? |url=https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/techniques/what-is-oo-gauge/ |website=World Of Railways |access-date=19 February 2021 |date=7 June 2019}}</ref>
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==See also== * Track gauge – determines the distance between the reference lines of the rails * Wheelbase – the distance between the front and rear axles * Wheelset
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Powertrain}} {{Chassis control systems}} Category:Automotive engineering Category:Track gauges Category:Train wheels