Office workers can't change wheels
in [UK Drivers]
|
Prev: Jamie Oliver driving a classic Ford Bronco
Next: For those who enjoy stunning pics (Iceland volcano)
From: ChelseaTractorMan on 21 Apr 2010 10:50 On Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:13:46 +0100, "Mortimer" <me(a)privacy.net> wrote: >And I definitely want a proper, >fully-serviceable spare wheel that allows me to drive as far and as fast as >a normal wheel, so I can complete a long journey and then take the punctured >wheel into the garage the next day. spot on. -- Mike. .. . Gone beyond the ultimate driving machine.
From: Adrian on 21 Apr 2010 10:56 boltar2003(a)boltar.world gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying: >>>>Yup, that's it. Cosmetics. There _can_ be an unsprung weight >>>>difference, but often (for strength) alloys are heavier than steels - >>>>and a couple of kg of unsprung weight makes sod-all difference anyway, >>>>especially given the thoroughly shite MacPherson strut & torsion beam >>>>suspension on the typical car. >>> Theres no reason that manufacturers couldn't make good looking >>> stainless steel wheels. They just choose not to bother for whatever >>> reason. >>Apart from expense and weight, obviously. > Expensive? Steel? Are you having a laugh? > > As for the weight, you even said yourself that steel is stronger than > alloys for a given weight so why would they be heavier? Clue: Mild Steel != Stainless Steel.
From: Mortimer on 21 Apr 2010 11:02 "ChelseaTractorMan" <mr.c.tractor(a)hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message news:v44us5p15li3mhk5a1b60th2l8s3t7phkk(a)4ax.com... > On Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:13:46 +0100, "Mortimer" <me(a)privacy.net> wrote: > >>And I definitely want a proper, >>fully-serviceable spare wheel that allows me to drive as far and as fast >>as >>a normal wheel, so I can complete a long journey and then take the >>punctured >>wheel into the garage the next day. > > spot on. Some cars, such as the current Honda Civic, don't even have a spare wheel. If you get a puncture, you either pump up the tyre with a can of goo or else you wait for the RAC to get there. If they can't pump the tyre up, they'll have to tow you to a garage (assuming there's one still open) for them to repair the tyre. How is this progress? Is it better to wait an hour or so for the RAC to arrive and then wait again at the garage for them to repair/replace the tyre, or is it better to change the wheel yourself and be able to carry on your journey within 15 minutes or so? I'd go so far as to say that any car which doesn't have a fully-interchangeable (not speed- or distance-limited) spare wheel is a liability: "toy" spare wheels are not fit for purpose. I'd like to see them banned and all cars required by law to be designed to carry a fully-interchangeable spare.
From: Mortimer on 21 Apr 2010 10:55 "Adrian" <toomany2cvs(a)gmail.com> wrote in message news:838h95Fq2hU43(a)mid.individual.net... > Bod <bodron57(a)tiscali.co.uk> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were > saying: > >> Yes, she's only about 8 or nine stone, where-as I'm about 12 stone. >> I had to practically stand on the silly little wheelbrace supplied. It's >> doubtful she would have had the power to undo the nuts on the Alloy >> wheel. > > So her husband (and/or you) had already failed in your preparation, by > not keeping an adequate wheelbrace in the car? > > Something like this means that damn near no wheelnut - no matter how > badly the Krap-Fit Chimp has abused it with his rattlegun - is going to > resist even the wimpiest of people. > > http://www.screwfix.com/prods/13244 A better design is a cranked one like a starting handle. Stand side-on to the wheel with your left leg closer to it. Put your left foot on the cranked section, placed at a 9 o'clock position. Grasp the end of the wheel brace that is further from the wheel with your right hand. Press with your left leg while pulling up with your right hand. Wheel nut moves. Simples. (God, how I *hate* those frigging meerkats!) One the wheel nut is moving, you can turn the crank continuously, rather than having to stop and relocate it every turn (especially with a wheel nut near the ground) because the side arm of the wheelbrace has hit the ground.
From: Bod on 21 Apr 2010 11:11
Mortimer wrote: > "ChelseaTractorMan" <mr.c.tractor(a)hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message > news:v44us5p15li3mhk5a1b60th2l8s3t7phkk(a)4ax.com... >> On Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:13:46 +0100, "Mortimer" <me(a)privacy.net> wrote: >> >>> And I definitely want a proper, >>> fully-serviceable spare wheel that allows me to drive as far and as >>> fast as >>> a normal wheel, so I can complete a long journey and then take the >>> punctured >>> wheel into the garage the next day. >> >> spot on. > > Some cars, such as the current Honda Civic, don't even have a spare > wheel. If you get a puncture, you either pump up the tyre with a can of > goo or else you wait for the RAC to get there. If they can't pump the > tyre up, they'll have to tow you to a garage (assuming there's one still > open) for them to repair the tyre. > > How is this progress? Is it better to wait an hour or so for the RAC to > arrive and then wait again at the garage for them to repair/replace the > tyre, or is it better to change the wheel yourself and be able to carry > on your journey within 15 minutes or so? > > I'd go so far as to say that any car which doesn't have a > fully-interchangeable (not speed- or distance-limited) spare wheel is a > liability: "toy" spare wheels are not fit for purpose. I'd like to see > them banned and all cars required by law to be designed to carry a > fully-interchangeable spare. > > Yes, I bet a NEW mass produced car WITH a spare FULL MATCHING wheel and tyre , would only cost the manufacturer an extra 60 - 70 quid. That's peanuts compared to the price one is paying for a brand new car. Bod |