What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?
- Thread starter dave
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What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?
Did he make you carry them back to the freezer?
Lent the son my "spare" panda a few months ago, as he was having some problems with his car. Last weekend he told me it was feeling a bit "strange" when taking left hand corners at anything over about 20MPH.
I told him to leave it with me, and I would have a look.
So, had a look, all looked fine.
Took it for a test drive. Sure enough, very peculiar feeling on left hand bends.
Had another look. Dampers, drop links, top mounts, all fine.
After some head scratching, took it to a friend with an MOT ramp, and did the shake test. All OK.
Checked the wheels, not buckled.
Just happened to catch my hand on something on the edge of the drivers side tyre as I spun it.
Looking closer, found some of the internal steel banding protruding, even though there was no sign of damage, and tyre (Nokian i-Line) still had 4mm tread.
Looked very closely at tyre while spinning it, and definitely some strange deformation, but without the normal strange wear pattern, or the out-of-balance feel when driving.
Not had a problem with Nokians before (unlike some of the unknown brand tyres I come across every now and then), but this one is definitely goosed.
Ah well, mystery solved, didn't have to change suspension parts in freezing weather, and had spare wheels with tyres available, so mostly good.
(The bit that looks like scuffing on the picture was where I cleaned it to photograph)
I told him to leave it with me, and I would have a look.
So, had a look, all looked fine.
Took it for a test drive. Sure enough, very peculiar feeling on left hand bends.
Had another look. Dampers, drop links, top mounts, all fine.
After some head scratching, took it to a friend with an MOT ramp, and did the shake test. All OK.
Checked the wheels, not buckled.
Just happened to catch my hand on something on the edge of the drivers side tyre as I spun it.
Looking closer, found some of the internal steel banding protruding, even though there was no sign of damage, and tyre (Nokian i-Line) still had 4mm tread.
Looked very closely at tyre while spinning it, and definitely some strange deformation, but without the normal strange wear pattern, or the out-of-balance feel when driving.
Not had a problem with Nokians before (unlike some of the unknown brand tyres I come across every now and then), but this one is definitely goosed.
Ah well, mystery solved, didn't have to change suspension parts in freezing weather, and had spare wheels with tyres available, so mostly good.
(The bit that looks like scuffing on the picture was where I cleaned it to photograph)
Attachments
Tigar are owned by Michelin, tyre shop should have filed a claim for you. Too late now of course.
Never run a hand around a tyre blind, touch only what you can see. I've seen wires sticking out many times, they can hurt a lot, and do damage to you. Advice given to me when I started in a garage, 1972.
Never run a hand around a tyre blind, touch only what you can see. I've seen wires sticking out many times, they can hurt a lot, and do damage to you. Advice given to me when I started in a garage, 1972.
Wise advice.
I did have leather work gloves on (as usual) when inspecting the wheels, but in the past I got a nasty cut from a piece of flint caught in the tread, which taught me that particular lesson.
Discovered a book of my childhood has appeared on Disney+
Somewhat unexpected as it's Frederick Forsyth "The Shepherd" and it was made in 2023.
Nice watch on a Sunday even despite occasionally grievous CGI..
Somewhat unexpected as it's Frederick Forsyth "The Shepherd" and it was made in 2023.
Nice watch on a Sunday even despite occasionally grievous CGI..
The saga of the knackered CV boot continues..
It was meant to be fixed today...after having the locking wheel nuts professionally removed (just argggh! I didn't lose the damn thing)...wrong part turned up as the turbo has different CVs, of course it does.
*Sad trombone* to be fair makes no odds don't need it until Thursday will happily go grab it tomorrow but at least the damn wheels are off.
It was meant to be fixed today...after having the locking wheel nuts professionally removed (just argggh! I didn't lose the damn thing)...wrong part turned up as the turbo has different CVs, of course it does.
*Sad trombone* to be fair makes no odds don't need it until Thursday will happily go grab it tomorrow but at least the damn wheels are off.
A brown envelope arrived, DVLA, car tax due.
Sadly, both the Fabia and the Doblo run out 31/12. Surprisingly for a government department, both renewals in the same envelope. I'm stunned.
All done online.
Fabia, £20
Doblo, £240.
Sadly, both the Fabia and the Doblo run out 31/12. Surprisingly for a government department, both renewals in the same envelope. I'm stunned.
All done online.
Fabia, £20
Doblo, £240.
Last resort , I am sure you are aware of is "Universal" CV boot from Motor Factors, I know the quality is nowhere as good but it would get you mobile.
It eventually got sorted... however CV still sounds a little unhappy with a little mild rotational noise remaining after being run with a split boot (joys of one car couldn't just park it until fixed).Last resort , I am sure you are aware of is "Universal" CV boot from Motor Factors, I know the quality is nowhere as good but it would get you mobile.
However it is not clicking or knocking so it's gone on "once the weather isn't crap or it gets significantly worse" list as realistically it's not going to be doing any long distances until the weather improves and it's unlikely to get worse with a fresh boot and grease over it.
On a totally different note this appeared..
Does somewhat explain why I've not used my tyre socks since I stuck winter rated tyres on.
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I have my snow socks In the boot just in case, though I don’t suspect it have many instances I would use them
I have summer tires which are the OEM tires the car was supplied with (obviously changed a couple of times).
We just don’t get enough snow or even ice down here to warrant buying specific tires. While you had 6 inches of snow we had cold wet rain for a few days.
All these comparisons to winter tires are all the same I should point out, they are always brand new winter tires and never tires with 5-10k on them that have been driven about for a few months or locked away between winter seasons for the compound to go hard in a garage somewhere.
I wonder how well they would perform if they were a year or so old, driven some distance and then had some period of storage like a set of winter tires may do between winter seasons?
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Your a signed up member of the grumpy old man club now. Proof positive.
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
My winter tires are now on for the 3rd season, they have done about 7 to 8000 miles. Its hard to tell from one year to the next due to the gap in time but they are a massive improvement on summer tyres both on wet and icy roads. The roads round rural Norfolk are awash with mud slurry and there are flood aplenty at the moment. All I can say is the winters feel totally secure and vastly better than the two other cars on their summer rubber. The clear lines left behind even on wringing wet roads are a clear sign they are more effective in clearing away mud and standing water. As far as I can tell they are working as well now as when new. The tread is still nearly 8mm so wear is negligable. The summer tyres are getting down and will only do another year or two. When they are worn out I shall the leave the winters on until they are worn out too. Befoore replacing anything to avoid them aging excessively.
I think snow socks are really good for getting you out of trouble but not going to last if left on the car for long. The ability to get moving if stuck makes them a great idea. I have some grip boards as well that are plastic and fold up. when not in use. So far untried. One day they may come in and I can report on them.
I have driven may be 1000 miles on ice and snow in five years on winter tyres and may be 20000 in total but I am convinced they are worth the money. Not much point having a 4x4 and still getting stuck. The opposite side of the coin is I have driven many many thousands of winter miles in all manner of dogy conditions and have only come unstuck when being silly or going too fast. So its clear tehse winter tyres are just a luxury in the southern half of the country.
To be fair whatever works where you are.
I seem to remember the testing this year involved also testing them part worn when he put his video out..it's on the same channel. They drove cars in convoy to wear the tyres out.
The more expensive tyres are designed to evolve as time goes on to stay grippy as tread gauge.
Front tyre new in April done about 8k since got about 7mm on it.
You can see on the shoulders and across the breadth the sipes are nearly straight, when it was new they were but you can see a zig zag pattern under the surface.
Rear tyre, new in October 2020, used to be on the front but has been rotated, has 5mm on it and has done approx 23k miles
You can see the same sipes are absolutely not straight, they are cut to become more jagged as the tyre wears to maintain snow and ice performance. Also the main grooves are triangular so they wear they open up to maintain aquaplaning resistance. These particular all seasons are also an extremely good wet weather tyre..better than most summer tyres and absolutely better than full winter tyres as the last 20% of snow and ice optimisation isn't compatible with wet weather performance. Given we live in a wet country...it's rare to find myself in a situation where the tyre isn't in it's comfort zone apart from the 2 weeks of summer it's 25 degrees+
However cheap all-seasons and winter tyres don't evolve and some don't even have sipes cut beyond the first few mm and disappear with wear but as ever pay your money...take your choice.
I still have tyre socks in the boot as I remember them seeming vaguely miraculous when I had summers on but the point seems to be if I'm stuck they are unlikely to make things any better on current tyre set up.
. Although I'm sure you could out rock crawl me..
I seem to remember the testing this year involved also testing them part worn when he put his video out..it's on the same channel. They drove cars in convoy to wear the tyres out.
The more expensive tyres are designed to evolve as time goes on to stay grippy as tread gauge.
Front tyre new in April done about 8k since got about 7mm on it.
You can see on the shoulders and across the breadth the sipes are nearly straight, when it was new they were but you can see a zig zag pattern under the surface.
Rear tyre, new in October 2020, used to be on the front but has been rotated, has 5mm on it and has done approx 23k miles
You can see the same sipes are absolutely not straight, they are cut to become more jagged as the tyre wears to maintain snow and ice performance. Also the main grooves are triangular so they wear they open up to maintain aquaplaning resistance. These particular all seasons are also an extremely good wet weather tyre..better than most summer tyres and absolutely better than full winter tyres as the last 20% of snow and ice optimisation isn't compatible with wet weather performance. Given we live in a wet country...it's rare to find myself in a situation where the tyre isn't in it's comfort zone apart from the 2 weeks of summer it's 25 degrees+
However cheap all-seasons and winter tyres don't evolve and some don't even have sipes cut beyond the first few mm and disappear with wear but as ever pay your money...take your choice.
I still have tyre socks in the boot as I remember them seeming vaguely miraculous when I had summers on but the point seems to be if I'm stuck they are unlikely to make things any better on current tyre set up.
Now far be it from me to point out that in most road conditions 4x4 is excess weight and the tyres are what makes the difference
. Although I'm sure you could out rock crawl me..
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I love all these snow threads, my only problem is as I mentioned before "Wot is snow?" , here in sunny Torbay Winter is just rain, roughly every ten years or so we may get the odd inch of wet snow which totally confuses the majority of people, sliding into each other etc. However within a day or so it is back to rain.
I recall back in the 1970s when I still had a little spare cash (pre wives) I went skiing in Italy, I was useless , but it was great fun. The locals all came up the mountain on the weekend and I remember a Fiat 127 wheel spinning to a halt , the large Italian family all piled out and sat on the bonnet apart from driver, they pulled away happily and continued on their journey, my point is if you are used to the climate there is no problem generally.
?" , here in sunny Torbay Winter is just rain, roughly every ten years or so we may get the odd inch of wet snow which totally confuses the majority of people, sliding into each other etc. However within a day or so it is back to rain.I recall back in the 1970s when I still had a little spare cash (pre wives) I went skiing in Italy, I was useless , but it was great fun. The locals all came up the mountain on the weekend and I remember a Fiat 127 wheel spinning to a halt , the large Italian family all piled out and sat on the bonnet apart from driver, they pulled away happily and continued on their journey, my point is if you are used to the climate there is no problem generally.
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Nah Noop doesnt do crawling andcertainly not on rocks. He doesnt really like rain..... or bumps... LOLTo be fair whatever works where you are.
I seem to remember the testing this year involved also testing them part worn when he put his video out..it's on the same channel. They drove cars in convoy to wear the tyres out.
The more expensive tyres are designed to evolve as time goes on to stay grippy as tread gauge.
Front tyre new in April done about 8k since got about 7mm on it.
View attachment 434455
You can see on the shoulders and across the breadth the sipes are nearly straight, when it was new they were but you can see a zig zag pattern under the surface.
Rear tyre, new in October 2020, used to be on the front but has been rotated, has 5mm on it and has done approx 23k miles
View attachment 434456
You can see the same sipes are absolutely not straight, they are cut to become more jagged as the tyre wears to maintain snow and ice performance. Also the main grooves are triangular so they wear they open up to maintain aquaplaning resistance. These particular all seasons are also an extremely good wet weather tyre..better than most summer tyres and absolutely better than full winter tyres as the last 20% of snow and ice optimisation isn't compatible with wet weather performance. Given we live in a wet country...it's rare to find myself in a situation where the tyre isn't in it's comfort zone apart from the 2 weeks of summer it's 25 degrees+
However cheap all-seasons and winter tyres don't evolve and some don't even have sipes cut beyond the first few mm and disappear with wear but as ever pay your money...take your choice.
I still have tyre socks in the boot as I remember them seeming vaguely miraculous when I had summers on but the point seems to be if I'm stuck they are unlikely to make things any better on current tyre set up.
Now far be it from me to point out that in most road conditions 4x4 is excess weight and the tyres are what makes the difference
I have it. He wants to live in Italy
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my point is if you are used to the climate there is no problem generally.
I used to subscribe to this but it only works if there are few other cars on the road and you've got space and time to have a slide and bring it back.
In 2010 we had snow on the ground from 1st of December to about 5th of January..and I got around on a set of Continental summer tyres.
If your barometer of no problem is "but did you die?" No, I didn't however I also came significantly closer than you probably should on a regular basis. My stand out memory is during freezing rain missing my dad's drive way 3 times before giving up and parking down the street.
I'm no longer 18-25 and significantly less likely to eagerly hop out of a car shovel in hand or tyre socks in hand because such things are cold and inconvenient. The other thing being occasionally you just find a bad bit unexpectedly...and in those situations on summer tyres luck is more important than skill, you may catch the slide but find yourself a bonnet ornament on a skidding range rover because you've left your lane and they can't stop either.
I did actually debate if the all seasons were the right thing anymore as it seems winters are getting warmer in general, this year is the 1st year we've had snow for more than a day since about 2019 but still seems winter has some teeth left. Although again hardly staying between -4 and -8 for weeks on end as it did 10 years ago.
