4 ms·

Yeah... A few issues: 1. Non-standard tire - More expensive, won't be stocked, difficult to replace. 2. Reduced tire tread - Those grooves will receive more w

by bArray 3y ago

Yeah... A few issues: 1. Non-standard tire - More expensive, won't be stocked, difficult to replace. 2. Reduced tire tread - Those grooves will receive more wear, overall the tires has maybe 1-5% reduced tread and contact surface. 3. Bumps/knocks - These pieces of metal are likely to be damaged and/or worn before they ever get used. To me it would make far more sense to literally just bolt a cage to the alloy encase of snow, with some sensor to detect presence (reduce speed for safety) and knocking to indicate the user no longer drives on a snowy surface. Another option could be to have some form of extension to increase the surface area of the tire.

schiffern 3y ago
For a second I thought this might be a decent use of memory metal, somehow using its flexibility and durability[0] to engineer a better snow chain. Disappointing. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn-6bGORy0U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn-6bGORy0U
ChrisMarshallNY 3y ago
I have a friend that has a Mercedes S580 (nice car). They don't have spare tires. Instead, they have some kind of tire that continues to operate in a degraded mode, until they get to a dealer, who swaps out the flat for a new tire. He blew a tire, in rural Upstate New York. In today's lesson, we learn that upstate dealers don't stock S580 tires, and he's forced to leave his car that costs as much as some people's houses, at a podunk dealership, while a buddy gives him a ride. Then, a week later, the dealer insists that he drive 400 miles, to pick up the car. I believe that he did some screaming to Mercedes corporate, and got them to drive it down to Long Island. For a flat tire.
- argiopetech 3y ago
  These will be "run flat" tires. They're to get you off the road to a safe location where a rollback (flat bed tow truck) can pick you up and take you to a tire shop. There's nothing special about the wheels, so you can mount an appropriately sized "regular" tire and continue on your way. Worth the $250 to get on your way, I think. I'd guess any non-dealer tire shop would have just sold your friend the tire and sent him on his way.
1970-01-01 3y ago
Integrating a wire and solenoid inside a spinning wheel also is a bit of a reliability gamble.

by bArray 3y ago

schiffern 3y ago

For a second I thought this might be a decent use of memory metal, somehow using its flexibility and durability[0] to engineer a better snow chain. Disappointing. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn-6bGORy0U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn-6bGORy0U

ChrisMarshallNY 3y ago

I have a friend that has a Mercedes S580 (nice car). They don't have spare tires. Instead, they have some kind of tire that continues to operate in a degraded mode, until they get to a dealer, who swaps out the flat for a new tire. He blew a tire, in rural Upstate New York. In today's lesson, we learn that upstate dealers don't stock S580 tires, and he's forced to leave his car that costs as much as some people's houses, at a podunk dealership, while a buddy gives him a ride. Then, a week later, the dealer insists that he drive 400 miles, to pick up the car. I believe that he did some screaming to Mercedes corporate, and got them to drive it down to Long Island. For a flat tire.

argiopetech 3y ago
These will be "run flat" tires. They're to get you off the road to a safe location where a rollback (flat bed tow truck) can pick you up and take you to a tire shop. There's nothing special about the wheels, so you can mount an appropriately sized "regular" tire and continue on your way. Worth the $250 to get on your way, I think. I'd guess any non-dealer tire shop would have just sold your friend the tire and sent him on his way.

1970-01-01 3y ago

Integrating a wire and solenoid inside a spinning wheel also is a bit of a reliability gamble.