I always used to get the cheapest, shittest tyres just because cost, but since I became a driving instructor a few years back I got into the mentality of thinking “I need decent tyres because I don’t want my learners to lose control of the car”
Normally I’d buy tyres once every 6-8 months after squeezing out every morsel of life from them, but my current Bridgestone tyres have been on for nearly a year now - doing driving instructor mileage on top of my usual - and they’re not showing any signs of needing replacing yet.
The fact is I’m actually saving money doing it this way, because whilst the tyres are more expensive, I’m replacing them much less often.
I’m going to try out Pirelli next because it sounds like they’ve started lining the inside of some of their tyres with that puncture repair stuff and padding them out with foam to significantly reduce road noise.
The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.
Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.
But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that’d still be keeping his feet dry in ten years’ time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.
This was the Captain Samuel Vimes ‘Boots’ theory of socioeconomic unfairness.
They did mention being a driving instructor. Driving (and teaching students to drive) all day every day is going to put a lot more wear on the tires than a typical driver.
Yeah I put 30k+ miles on the car just doing instructing, then I often also drive when I go on holiday, putting at least a good 500-600 miles on the car if I go away on the weekend (which is often).
I’ve had dedicated works vehicles which I’ve put fewer miles on the clock 😂
So is over-inflation.
Always inflate to the correct pressure as per the placard.
If you are driving in unusual conditions,
My little Jimny weighs bugger-all but needs Light Truck tyres.
On-road pressure is a very light 26 PSI.
If I am driving through Sand, Mud or Snow I will deflate to an appropriate pressure and drive slowly.
If I am driving over rocky terrain, I will also deflate to an appropriate pressure for better adhesion.
As soon as I hit the Tarmac again, I will reinflate back to 26.
If I am carrying more weight or towing, I will inflate the rear tyres to 29.
Passenger cars are getting heavier
Light trucks (SUVs) are now being driven in lieu of compact station-wagons.
Vehicle classes are also getting larger and heavier. Subcompacts that used to weigh less than 1000kg are now about 1500kg and EV variants are over 2000kg!
I don’t know of any road built for 1.500kg cars. Most are 40t, with some 12t and very few narrow and old ones with 3.5t (and usually have a 30 km/h limit).
The three biggest things that kill a tyre are;
That said, cheaper tyres are typically made of cheaper compounds that age poorly.
That last point sticks with me.
I always used to get the cheapest, shittest tyres just because cost, but since I became a driving instructor a few years back I got into the mentality of thinking “I need decent tyres because I don’t want my learners to lose control of the car”
Normally I’d buy tyres once every 6-8 months after squeezing out every morsel of life from them, but my current Bridgestone tyres have been on for nearly a year now - doing driving instructor mileage on top of my usual - and they’re not showing any signs of needing replacing yet.
The fact is I’m actually saving money doing it this way, because whilst the tyres are more expensive, I’m replacing them much less often.
I’m going to try out Pirelli next because it sounds like they’ve started lining the inside of some of their tyres with that puncture repair stuff and padding them out with foam to significantly reduce road noise.
Obligatory Pratchett:
I’ve carried that with me for years. I always try to buy long-lasting quality items for this very reason.
Not to mention that, due to inflation, those ten dollar boots themselves will cost 20 to 30 dollars before long.
That’s weird. I’m changing tires every 2 to 3 years and so is the norm in Europe.
They did mention being a driving instructor. Driving (and teaching students to drive) all day every day is going to put a lot more wear on the tires than a typical driver.
They also mentioned getting good tires after they started doing that, not before
Yeah I put 30k+ miles on the car just doing instructing, then I often also drive when I go on holiday, putting at least a good 500-600 miles on the car if I go away on the weekend (which is often).
I’ve had dedicated works vehicles which I’ve put fewer miles on the clock 😂
Under inflation is terrible for longevity, handling, and safety. You should maintain proper tire pressure.
So is over-inflation. Always inflate to the correct pressure as per the placard. If you are driving in unusual conditions,
My little Jimny weighs bugger-all but needs Light Truck tyres. On-road pressure is a very light 26 PSI. If I am driving through Sand, Mud or Snow I will deflate to an appropriate pressure and drive slowly. If I am driving over rocky terrain, I will also deflate to an appropriate pressure for better adhesion.
As soon as I hit the Tarmac again, I will reinflate back to 26. If I am carrying more weight or towing, I will inflate the rear tyres to 29.
Never buy cheap tires - they are your only contact with the road. You can have the best car in the world, and shitty tires will make it worthless.
There are videos on the subject, making the point of buying good tires, cause they will save your life.
Engineering Explained video
Same goes for wipers.
EVs are getting their own lines of tyres (supposedly) designed to handle the weight, torque and address range concerns.
Cars (as you said, some more, some less) themselves destroy roads
Not quite, something like 98% of road damage is caused by trucks. Damage increases exponentially with weight.
Passenger cars are getting heavier Light trucks (SUVs) are now being driven in lieu of compact station-wagons.
Vehicle classes are also getting larger and heavier. Subcompacts that used to weigh less than 1000kg are now about 1500kg and EV variants are over 2000kg!
I am talking about 40.000kg trucks. Anything below 3.500kg is basically harmless (in comparison).
It depends on what the roads were built for.
If they are built to handle 1500kg passenger cars, 3500kg behemoth SUVs and Pickups can really do some damage, especially at speed.
I don’t know of any road built for 1.500kg cars. Most are 40t, with some 12t and very few narrow and old ones with 3.5t (and usually have a 30 km/h limit).