Crash with space saver spare wheel
Discussion
Saw this article:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/07/dr...
I am surprised it doesn’t happen more often. I’ve seen quite a number of people using the spare wheels permanently, rather than intended (ie just to get you to a garage to have your tyre repaired or replaced).
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/07/dr...
I am surprised it doesn’t happen more often. I’ve seen quite a number of people using the spare wheels permanently, rather than intended (ie just to get you to a garage to have your tyre repaired or replaced).
Blib said:
BertBert said:
what is misleading about the title?
I assumed that the title referred to a regular spare, rather than a space saver.However, I'm old enough to remember
Im only 41 and remember back in the 80s when lots of cars had small skinny wheels and tyres and "space savers" are not a million miles from these, and those vehicles werent limited to Xmph because of it (although cars were lighter and more often than not littered with tin-worm / speed-holes)
Ive always felt that the ludicrously low speed warnings on space-savers are just another element of our nanny state unless there is some specific engineering reason in their construct that makes them unsafe for normal travelling speeds?
Ive always felt that the ludicrously low speed warnings on space-savers are just another element of our nanny state unless there is some specific engineering reason in their construct that makes them unsafe for normal travelling speeds?
I think if all four wheels are the same size it would be less of an issue.
But if you have three regular sized wheels and one space saver, the corner with the space saver will be quite unbalanced and less stable due to the smaller surface area (hence the speed restriction and the loss of control in the video)
But if you have three regular sized wheels and one space saver, the corner with the space saver will be quite unbalanced and less stable due to the smaller surface area (hence the speed restriction and the loss of control in the video)
x5tuu said:
Im only 41 and remember back in the 80s when lots of cars had small skinny wheels and tyres and "space savers" are not a million miles from these, and those vehicles werent limited to Xmph because of it (although cars were lighter and more often than not littered with tin-worm / speed-holes)
Ive always felt that the ludicrously low speed warnings on space-savers are just another element of our nanny state unless there is some specific engineering reason in their construct that makes them unsafe for normal travelling speeds?
The size of wheels and tyres on cars is not random. The larger, heavier and more powerful the car the bigger the tyres. A 800 kg car from the 80s with 80 bhp doesn’t need the same tyres as a 1600 kg car with 200 bhp. Ive always felt that the ludicrously low speed warnings on space-savers are just another element of our nanny state unless there is some specific engineering reason in their construct that makes them unsafe for normal travelling speeds?
But more importantly you want to have the traction and grip evened out. If you need to rely on the tyres eg sharp change of direction or heavy braking I can’t see how it wouldn’t affect the car’s handling badly if you the grip available on one wheel is a quarter of the grip on the other three.
x5tuu said:
...Ive always felt that the ludicrously low speed warnings on space-savers are just another element of our nanny state unless there is some specific engineering reason in their construct that makes them unsafe for normal travelling speeds?
Having one wheel with a much smaller contact patch significantly reduces the vehicle's braking and stability capability. ABS and stability control systems will sense the loss of grip on that wheel under what would be moderate normal braking and intervene much earlier. Many driver's, like in the video, simply don't anticipate or know how to react correctly.
So, whilst the physical construction of the tyre is safe at higher speeds, the effect on braking and stability means travelling at a lower speed is appropriate.
x5tuu said:
Im only 41 and remember back in the 80s when lots of cars had small skinny wheels and tyres and "space savers" are not a million miles from these, and those vehicles werent limited to Xmph because of it (although cars were lighter and more often than not littered with tin-worm / speed-holes)
Ive always felt that the ludicrously low speed warnings on space-savers are just another element of our nanny state unless there is some specific engineering reason in their construct that makes them unsafe for normal travelling speeds?
Surely you can see that having completely mismatched wheels and tyres across an axle is a problem for braking, grip and traction?Ive always felt that the ludicrously low speed warnings on space-savers are just another element of our nanny state unless there is some specific engineering reason in their construct that makes them unsafe for normal travelling speeds?
Just checked the specs, our space saver is 125mm and needs to be inflated to 60psi. The contact patches will be very different.
Edited to add...
You only have to look at the video to see how poorly the Mondeo held the road with a space saver on. The driver was being a dick but the car shouldn't have been all over the road like that.
Edited by 98elise on Sunday 8th October 13:34
Skeptisk said:
The size of wheels and tyres on cars is not random. The larger, heavier and more powerful the car the bigger the tyres. A 800 kg car from the 80s with 80 bhp doesn’t need the same tyres as a 1600 kg car with 200 bhp.
True, but these days wheel/tyre assemblies appear to be sized as much for fashion as physics.A few years ago I noticed that the local courier who worked for Amazon and Hermes had a spare saver wheel in lieu of a full size. At first I was philosophical and thought kindly that on his low income he would need some time to get the cash and time off to replace it.
A few weeks later he delivered to me and I remarked on his space saver in a genial "oh, sorry to see you've had a puncture " and was non-committal in his reply.
A few more months of seeing him around the village using it, culminating in another delivery to us. So I thought, what if it is a child he kills because he can't brake or steer properly. And I dobbed him in to Hermes who I had the parcel delivered through...
"Please rate your driver ....well he is driving illegally and has been for months because...."
Next time I saw him, full size tyre. Judge me as you will!
A few weeks later he delivered to me and I remarked on his space saver in a genial "oh, sorry to see you've had a puncture " and was non-committal in his reply.
A few more months of seeing him around the village using it, culminating in another delivery to us. So I thought, what if it is a child he kills because he can't brake or steer properly. And I dobbed him in to Hermes who I had the parcel delivered through...
"Please rate your driver ....well he is driving illegally and has been for months because...."
Next time I saw him, full size tyre. Judge me as you will!
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