4 ms·

This is the kind of narrow thinking that surprises me. Here are some random possibilites: - Solid urethane or other material tires. - Some other unpressurized

by 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 smlacy 17y ago

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.