Sheri's Honda Insight (the orignal little 2-seater) uses high-pressure,
low-rolling-resistance tires on aluminum rims. Those hard, skinny tires did
not take potholes well. We did pretty well during the 10 years we drove it,
but there was one year where the stars weren't aligned or our karma was out
of whack or something. It was also a bad year for road construction
everywhere. If we hit a bad pothole or unmarked construction divot, it
would break the sidewall banding so the tire would develop a large bulge
and the rim would also bend.
It got to the point where I had to search on ebay for replacement rims
since none of the salvage yards anywhere within driving distance had ANY
Insight parts. Found a set of 4. We actually went through all four that
year. Fortunately, we found one shop in a sketchy neighborhood in Hammond,
IN that would straighten one of the bent rims since none of the other body
shops in our region would even touch a bent wheel.
The new(ish) CR-Z is the same basic shape as the Insight, but it uses much
more normal tires. It also has a steel body instead of aluminum (aluminium
for those of you who talk funny...) so it weighs 900lbs more and doesn't
get quite the mileage the Insight did. But the tires are significantly more
forgiving of rough pavement.
On Sat, Jul 9, 2016 at 12:49 PM, Bill Pearce <billcpearce@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> And I thought we had bad roads. Potholes here are big, but never bent a
> rim, so guess that will be coming as out s**t for brains govenor has
> covered his ill thought out tax plan's staggering losses by raiding the
> highway fund to support K-12 education. I'm not a big believer in term
> limits, but glad he would be out in two years, although a year would be
> better, 10 minutes best.
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Martin Walters
> Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2016 12:35 PM
> To: Olympus Camera Discussion
> Subject: Re: [OM] posting about tyres
>
> Bill: You are right. Not necessary for most cars, though a good number
> of cars need 130/150 mph ratings as they can be driven (theoretically)
> that fast. However, the public wants the big rims, which means low
> profile tyres. I've just replaced one of mine after hitting a pothole
> driving through PA this spring. Also needed to get the rim straightened.
> Apparently, the alloy rims are designed to bend before the
> suspension....... Oh well.
>
>
> On 09/07/2016 1:00 PM, Bill Pearce wrote:
>
>> Actually there is something else. I've learned something, having owned
>> two cars with low profile tires and odd sizes. Low profile tires are like a
>> beautiful blonde, sexy, beautiful, and impressive on one's arm, but still,
>> expensive, fragile and in need of far too frequent replacement. Totally
>> impractical. Who really needs a tire (tyre) speed rated for 250 mph?
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Chuck Norcutt
>> Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2016 5:36 AM
>> To: Olympus Camera Discussion
>> Subject: Re: [OM] posting about tyres
>>
>> Thanks, all. I've learned some things here about tires that I should
>> avoid.
>>
>> Chuck Norcutt
>>
>>
>> On 7/9/2016 5:22 AM, Martin Walters wrote:
>>
>>> A significant number of 'performance' cars now have staggered wheels
>>> (i.e., wider at the back and, as a result, a lower profile tyre/tire, in
>>> order to maintain a constant rolling radius). That's what my MB C350
>>> has. The Pirelli tyres are, mercifully, neither unidirectional
>>> (symetrical tread pattern but one direction of rotation) nor
>>> asymmetrical (a tread pattern that changes across the tyre, as in
>>> Brian's example). At least they can be rotated from side to side on the
>>> same axle.
>>>
>>> My aftermarket winter tyres and rims, however, are all the same size, so
>>> can be rotated at will, except that the tyres (Michelins) are
>>> unidirectional, and can only be rotated front-back. While this
>>> arrangement is inconvenient, I've managed to equalize wear reasonably
>>> well around the car (and for the winter tyres on my Toyota).
>>>
>>> Where I do have a problem, is with the move to run-flat (RF) tyres
>>> (e.g., on Canadian MBs, Audis and BMWs at least) on new cars. These cars
>>> do not carry a spare (I don't know if they even have a jack). RF tyres
>>> have a range of 60-100 km when deflated, depending on to whom one talks.
>>> The OEM RF tyres on MB, and the other German brands, also have subtle
>>> differences specific to that make of car, all in a effort to reduce the
>>> harsh ride of low-profile RFs. I could easily be 60 km from the nearest
>>> MB dealer or a large tyre shop. What do I do if I get a flat? Where do I
>>> get a new tyre, especially on a weekend? Personally, I think the car
>>> makers offer RFs as standard should provide 24 hour roadside assistance
>>> as part of the cars warranty. I have not yet had this conversation with
>>> MB.
>>>
>>> Martin
>>>
>>>
>>> On 09/07/2016 3:13 AM, Bill Pearce wrote:
>>>
>>>> My Lexus has larger tires (tyres) in the rear, but still carries a
>>>> spare. That bothers me less than the fact that from the factory they
>>>> come with totally asymmetrical tires, i.e. ones that turn only one
>>>> direction, so there is no rotation possible. Finding ones that can go
>>>> from side to side is a challenge.
>>>>
>>>> But the good news it that it doesn't have run flats. don't get a nail
>>>> in a run flat. Happened to a friend, and that was an over $500 lesson.
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message----- From: Jez Cunningham
>>>> Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2016 2:01 AM
>>>> To: Olympus Camera Discussion
>>>> Subject: Re: [OM] posting about tyres
>>>>
>>>> Nope. ChrisB explained that the front and rear pairs are different
>>>> widths/profiles.
>>>> Only a realistic option when you don't need to carry a spare (i.e.
>>>> they're run-flat.)
>>>> Jez
>>>>
>>>> On 09/07/2016, bj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <bj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> A little while ago Chris B told us about fitting asymmetric tyres on
>>>>> his new Beemer.
>>>>>
>>>>> It seemed to me that nobody knew what he was talking
>>>>> about.
>>>>>
>>>>> Well, a few months ago I had to fit new tyres all round on my
>>>>> Range Rover P38, and I did what he did, and now, like Chris, in
>>>>> hindsight regret it.
>>>>>
>>>>> Here's a picture of the tread on my right front
>>>>> tyre http://zone-10.com/tope2/main.php?g2_itemId=20389
>>>>>
>>>>> Notice that the
>>>>> tread pattern on the RHS of the tyre is very different from the LHS
>>>>> (interior) side of the tyre.
>>>>>
>>>>> They WILL grip very well during highway
>>>>> cruising, BUT if you have a puncture and therefore need to fit another
>>>>> wheel, unless you fit an asymmetric tyre, you could be in trouble.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> They are supposed to be fitted in pairs on the same axle.
>>>>>
>>>>> These are
>>>>> Michelin Latitude 255 65 R16
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers, Brian
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> _________________________________________________________________
>>>>> Options: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/listinfo/olympus
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>>>>> Themed Olympus Photo Exhibition: http://www.tope.nl/
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
> --
> _________________________________________________________________
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> _________________________________________________________________
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>
>
--
Paul Braun WD9GCO
Certified Music Junkie
"Music washes from the soul the dust of everyday life." -- Berthold Auerbach
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