<VV> Temp Tire Myths

Hugo Miller hugo at aruncoaches.co.uk
Mon Sep 2 03:49:14 EDT 2019 

I'm surprised there is so much debate on this topic - my view is that 
space-saver tires are better than walking home & that's all.

On 2019-09-01 15:49, Joel McGregor via VirtualVairs wrote:
> 1)  Mini spares are stiffer and use higher pressure so they can
> handle the weight of a larger tire.
>
> 2)  They wear out fast if you leave them on your car.
>
> 3)  If you can't tell the difference when one is on your car you have
> a completely different definition of driving than I do.
>
> 4)  I wouldn't trust anything from a magazine that printed a test
> that made those claims.
>
> 5)  I guess race teams are stupid for running wide soft tires.
> Someone needs to go beat all of them with a set of mini spares.
>
>
> Joel McGregor
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: roboman91324--- via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
> Date: 9/1/19 8:24 AM (GMT-06:00)
> To: mmccrae6 at cox.net, socalcorvairs at yahoo.com
> Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org
> Subject: Re: <VV> Temp Tire Myths
>
> Mike,
> I hadn't considered that. I covered an issue with limited slip
> differentials in a post I just made but open rears have the issue you
> described as well.
> Doc~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> In a message dated 8/31/2019 4:00:31 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> mmccrae6 at cox.net writes:
>
> One of the problems is that the difference in size , if used on the
> rear, causes the spider gears to over speed if traveling more than 45
> mph.
> I consider that a problem ...others may not!
> Mike McCrae
>
> ------ Original Message ------
> From: "John Pinard via VirtualVairs" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
> To: roboman91324 at aol.com
> Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org
> Sent: 8/31/2019 1:25:11 PM
> Subject: Re: <VV> Temp Tire Myths
>
>>I don’t recall Motor Trend article date.
>>Try Car and Driver’s test published Jan 2017.
>>Believe what you want as a belief is just a myth, even from your 
>> favorite car manufacturer.
>>Or study test results and make an informed decision.
>>Many people still believe Corvairs are unsafe at any speed, even 
>> after testing that proved their superior handling.
>>I have used a skinny spare on my Corsa in aggressive driving with no 
>> noticeable difference, but don’t often drive in rain or snow here in 
>> Paradise. (I live in California as testing proves it is the best!)
>>Regards,
>>Jack Pinard
>>Salty but Nice!
>>
>>
>>
>>Jack Pinard iPhone 8s
>>805.340.6533
>>
>>
>>>  On Aug 31, 2019, at 10:05 AM, roboman91324 at aol.com wrote:
>>>
>>>  Jack,
>>>
>>>  Do you have a reference to a Motor Trend article?  Is the test you 
>>> mention available online?  I couldn't find it in a quick search.
>>>
>>>  I find it difficult to believe that the mini spares are virtually 
>>> the same as the full size tires for the following reasons.
>>>
>>>  1. The tread depth on the mini is minuscule compared to a regular 
>>> tire.  Therefore, the tread life would be much less.  This issue is 
>>> aggravated by the smaller contact patch between the tire and the 
>>> road.  A smaller contact patch will wear faster than a larger patch 
>>> with the same weight, speeds, etc. in use.
>>>
>>>  2.  The rubber composition of the mini is harder than a standard 
>>> tire.  In addition, the tire pressure is higher.  I believe this is 
>>> because they want the mini to retain pressure over many years without 
>>> attention.  A harder and stiffer tire will have poor braking and 
>>> handling characteristics.  As in item 1 above, a tire with higher 
>>> pressure and a harder substance will have a smaller contact patch.
>>>
>>>  3.  Due to both 1 and 2 above.  The already poor characteristics 
>>> of the mini tire in normal use are far, far worse in the rain or 
>>> snow.  Deeper treads and a more compliant tire are critical for safe 
>>> operation under these conditions.
>>>
>>>  4.  To save weight, both the wheel rim and tire are made of much 
>>> thinner material.  The metal rim is probably made from a less dense 
>>> material though I am not certain of this.  This makes them much 
>>> weaker if you were to hit a rock, pot hole or curb.  Further, with 
>>> even moderate handling efforts, the more pronounced flexing of both 
>>> metal and rubber could easily cause unexpected handling 
>>> characteristics.
>>>
>>>  Car manufacturers offer very explicit warnings about the use of 
>>> the spares.  They warn that they must be operated at lower speeds and 
>>> for strictly limited duration.  This is due to the things I mention 
>>> above and probably for additional reasons.  These tires are for 
>>> temporary, emergency use because of their very real limitations.  The 
>>> warning labels are there because the manufacturer knows that normal 
>>> use can lead to accidents and law suits.
>>>
>>>  Periodically, I have seen people on VV who contend that mini 
>>> spares are perfectly acceptable for every day use without reduced 
>>> speeds and without handling concerns.  I believe that anyone who uses 
>>> one or more of these tires on a car as if it/they are the same as a 
>>> regular tire is tempting fate.  DON'T DO IT!
>>>
>>>  Doc
>>>  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>>
>>>  In a message dated 8/31/2019 7:12:16 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
>>> virtualvairs-request at corvair.org writes:
>>>
>>>
>>>  Message: 5
>>>  Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2019 12:59:25 -0700
>>>  From: John Pinard <socalcorvairs at yahoo.com>
>>>  To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
>>>  Subject: <VV> Temp Tire Myths
>>>  Message-ID: <61B04664-1B06-441A-8AF0-EC404917C067 at yahoo.com>
>>>  Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8
>>>
>>>  Motor Trend tested many years ago and found no substantial 
>>> difference in braking or handling at highway speeds, and tread life 
>>> similar to full size tires.
>>>  I don?t like a tire blocking access and view of enhanced engine 
>>> bay, so temp lays flat up front only on long trips where there could 
>>> be long wait for AAA.
>>>  Found in discard pile at tire shop for five bucks.
>>>  1966 Corsa convertible
>>>  1964 Greenbrier Deluxe
>>>  1965 Race Car ?97?
>>>
>>>  Jack Pinard
>>>  87 Years in No. 1 State
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