4 ms·

"Why do I still have to carry around a spare tire and jack, jumper cables, tire chains, etc." Physics and economics. You can get run flat tires and a spray to

by laut 17y ago

"Why do I still have to carry around a spare tire and jack, jumper cables, tire chains, etc." Physics and economics. You can get run flat tires and a spray to fix small holes in tires, though. But run flat tires are a compromise and the ride isn't the same as with non-runflat tires. Tires are a compromise. In northern Europe many drivers change to winter tires in the winter and summer tires for the rest of the year. You can have "all season" tires but they don't have the same grip because they are a compromise. I don't know how many people use winter tires in the US.

mey 17y ago
Depends on the area and snow received. I know people that run slicks year round, people who swap out studded tires, all season, 3 season, and tire chains. Not all living in the same area.
anamax 17y ago
> I don't know how many people use winter tires in the US. The farther north you get in the US, the more likely it is that someone will use winter tires. However, remember that the US tends to be farther south than Europe. For example, Rome, which is in Southern Europe, is about the same longitude as Chicago, which is north/central US. (See http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001769.html http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001769.html and http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001796.html http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001796.html .) Yes, I know that winter temperatures and snowfall are more relevant but I don't have those.
- laut 17y ago
  A lot of Northern Europe by the sea has a relatively mild climate because of the Gulf stream. Chicago winters are more harsh than in Denmark for instance. Even though Denmark is 55 degrees north. Like southern Alaska. There are even palm trees some places in Scotland.
smlacy 17y ago
This is the kind of narrow thinking that surprises me. Here are some random possibilites: - Solid urethane or other material tires. - Some other unpressurized (i.e. mechanical, rubber, electromechanical) device instead of pneumatics. - Built in air compressors into wheels. Alert for a slow leak and keep pumping in air until you get it fixed. (i.e. like a sump on a ship) - Built in "fix-a-flat" type goo dispersal device. - etc. Jumper cables? Why doesn't my car have an "emergency electrical jack" that I can just plug into from a home outlet, tow truck, or other car? Why do I have to go on about finding batteries, connecting alligator clips, etc. It should be more like "Connect two devices with emergency electrical cable. Press start on both devices. Wait for green light. Remove cables. Drive to service station." Tire chains? Do you seriously think this is the best solution to getting temporary cold weather traction? How about (at the least) those Spikes-Spyder things? (http://www.spikes-spiders.com/ http://www.spikes-spiders.com/) That's just the beginning of innovation that could happen in this space.
- laut 17y ago
  Simple is good. If you make tires more complicated there will be drawbacks. Expensive and more things to break and go wrong. There are already run-flat tires and tires with pressure sensors. The cars are the way they are because it works and it's a proven model. The basic engine designs live for decades because they work and it's not cheap to design a new one. I don't think cars suck. Some brands/models do, but in general I think they work well. A modern car is very reliable. Much better than the ones from the beginning of the 1980s. You can buy a 12V adapter to charge your car battery from a home outlet. I didn't write I thought tire chains were the best thing for driving in cold weather. I think winter tires are. Yes, you have to change the tires, but it's the best solution there is right now. Those spike spiders seem to add an additional permanent steel hub to your wheels. This adds unsprung weight to the car which is bad. The bottom line is that designs are compromises. A feature is not always worth the drawbacks.

by laut 17y ago

mey 17y ago

Depends on the area and snow received. I know people that run slicks year round, people who swap out studded tires, all season, 3 season, and tire chains. Not all living in the same area.

anamax 17y ago

> I don't know how many people use winter tires in the US. The farther north you get in the US, the more likely it is that someone will use winter tires. However, remember that the US tends to be farther south than Europe. For example, Rome, which is in Southern Europe, is about the same longitude as Chicago, which is north/central US. (See http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001769.html http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001769.html and http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001796.html http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001796.html .) Yes, I know that winter temperatures and snowfall are more relevant but I don't have those.

laut 17y ago
A lot of Northern Europe by the sea has a relatively mild climate because of the Gulf stream. Chicago winters are more harsh than in Denmark for instance. Even though Denmark is 55 degrees north. Like southern Alaska. There are even palm trees some places in Scotland.

smlacy 17y ago

This is the kind of narrow thinking that surprises me. Here are some random possibilites: - Solid urethane or other material tires. - Some other unpressurized (i.e. mechanical, rubber, electromechanical) device instead of pneumatics. - Built in air compressors into wheels. Alert for a slow leak and keep pumping in air until you get it fixed. (i.e. like a sump on a ship) - Built in "fix-a-flat" type goo dispersal device. - etc. Jumper cables? Why doesn't my car have an "emergency electrical jack" that I can just plug into from a home outlet, tow truck, or other car? Why do I have to go on about finding batteries, connecting alligator clips, etc. It should be more like "Connect two devices with emergency electrical cable. Press start on both devices. Wait for green light. Remove cables. Drive to service station." Tire chains? Do you seriously think this is the best solution to getting temporary cold weather traction? How about (at the least) those Spikes-Spyder things? (http://www.spikes-spiders.com/ http://www.spikes-spiders.com/) That's just the beginning of innovation that could happen in this space.

laut 17y ago
Simple is good. If you make tires more complicated there will be drawbacks. Expensive and more things to break and go wrong. There are already run-flat tires and tires with pressure sensors. The cars are the way they are because it works and it's a proven model. The basic engine designs live for decades because they work and it's not cheap to design a new one. I don't think cars suck. Some brands/models do, but in general I think they work well. A modern car is very reliable. Much better than the ones from the beginning of the 1980s. You can buy a 12V adapter to charge your car battery from a home outlet. I didn't write I thought tire chains were the best thing for driving in cold weather. I think winter tires are. Yes, you have to change the tires, but it's the best solution there is right now. Those spike spiders seem to add an additional permanent steel hub to your wheels. This adds unsprung weight to the car which is bad. The bottom line is that designs are compromises. A feature is not always worth the drawbacks.