On another post about cutting the weight of the BAII, some members started talking about cutting weight by removing the spare tyre and using tyres that could be driven for 200 kms on a flat tyre, at 80 km/h. I am curious about this tyre as it seems to be a rather expensive process. Lets look at the costs:
- when cornering at 80 km/h, the flat tyre is not goigf to offer much protection to the alloy rim, especially on some of Australia's poor excuse for roads. This is going to mean a possible rim replacement (possible cost; between $400 and $800 a rim)
- driving on a flat tyre for any longer than about 5 mins is also going to mean having to replace the tyre completely rather than just have it repaired as the sidewall will be cactus. (possible cost; between $180 for 16in rubber and $300 for for 18in)
so we are up to around $580 - $600 if you get a flat tyre on 16in wheels and anywhere from $800 to $1100 to replace ONE wheel and tyre at 18in size.
All this just to save what? 40kg? 50kg? I think Ford would have a hard time trying to justify that one. To me, replacing the current spare tyre system is pointless as the current method works fine. If you have to save some weight somewhere, why not use the european/asian method; just supply a 'space saving' spare tyre. These spares are only half the width of a normal spare and a designed to get the car home or to the tyre service. It is also good as it means the driver doesn't forget to get the flat tyre fixed and therefore is not going to be stuck out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night with a flat tyre on his car and another flat in the boot. Anyway what do you think? Should Ford employ a space saver for the BAII or continue with the current method?
- when cornering at 80 km/h, the flat tyre is not goigf to offer much protection to the alloy rim, especially on some of Australia's poor excuse for roads. This is going to mean a possible rim replacement (possible cost; between $400 and $800 a rim)
- driving on a flat tyre for any longer than about 5 mins is also going to mean having to replace the tyre completely rather than just have it repaired as the sidewall will be cactus. (possible cost; between $180 for 16in rubber and $300 for for 18in)
so we are up to around $580 - $600 if you get a flat tyre on 16in wheels and anywhere from $800 to $1100 to replace ONE wheel and tyre at 18in size.
All this just to save what? 40kg? 50kg? I think Ford would have a hard time trying to justify that one. To me, replacing the current spare tyre system is pointless as the current method works fine. If you have to save some weight somewhere, why not use the european/asian method; just supply a 'space saving' spare tyre. These spares are only half the width of a normal spare and a designed to get the car home or to the tyre service. It is also good as it means the driver doesn't forget to get the flat tyre fixed and therefore is not going to be stuck out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night with a flat tyre on his car and another flat in the boot. Anyway what do you think? Should Ford employ a space saver for the BAII or continue with the current method?