Pulling car out of snowbank

[MoKelly]

I am going to ask my AAA agent something: If I am careless enough to run off the road with my flimsy crackerbox and bury it in snow, and getting it unstuck with an AAA-sponsored tow company bends parts, who is responsible for paying for the damage?

I think if you read the paperwork you signed to become a AAA member, it very much limits their responsibility for damages incurred in freeing a stuck vehicle. They have lawyers.

MoKelly

 

[ray66v]

it has been told to me that the larger wheels give the car a smoother ride with having less invested in the suspension it's self. As the cars have gone larger in tire sizes try pricing some 14" or 15" tires as they are now in the minority size wise up has gone the price.

Actually, it's the opposite. The larger wheels, and lower profile tires give better performance. There is a lot of slop in the side wall of an ordinary 14" or 15" tire, that decreases the steering response.

The larger wheels take tires that have a smaller sidewall, called low profile tires. They have less area to absorb shock, and a rougher ride.

To me, a 2 inch high sidewall tire, rides like a solid tire. They can keep them. Hit a chuck hole, and there is nothing to there to absorb it. Just like that, it could be $1300 or more, just for the tire and wheel. Plus the suspension damage.

The 17 inch tires on many ordinary vehicles today, are there just as much to decrease weight, as they are to appeal to the nuts.

 

[JDgreen227]

it has been told to me that the larger wheels give the car a smoother ride with having less invested in the suspension it's self. As the cars have gone larger in tire sizes try pricing some 14" or 15" tires as they are now in the minority size wise up has gone the price.

The vast majority of newer cars that use a 17" and larger rim use a very low profile sidewall tire and there is little cushion from the tire itself when the road is not perfectly smooth. Older tires with a taller sidewall delivered a smoother ride on rough surfaces and they didn't beat up the suspension like modern low profile tires do. As far as mileage goes, I also doubt that low profile tires give longer service life AND they cost much more. My GF's car has low profile 17 inch tires and the ride is really bad, and they are almost worn out at 36,000 miles although she is a conservative driver.

 

[/pine]

...something that really baffles me about the automakers who are trying to shed weight...WHY do they install huge, oversized 20 inch rims and tires that weigh much more than the 16 inch size that was formerly standard?...

From what I understand the larger wheels are required to get/meet the MPG ratings/requirements...

 

[Travelover]

From what I understand the larger wheels are required to get/meet the MPG ratings/requirements...

The larger wheels are for larger brakes to meet FMVSS rules.

 

[Bob77064]

When stuck in snow, isn't it better to have someone in the stuck car with the engine running, in gear, and trying to move in the direction of pull with wheels turning (spinning) slowly?

I guess you could hook to a wheel depending on direction of pull and whether car was RWD or FWD. Personally, I don't like hooking to suspension components, better to pull from frame/unibody point.

When I pull a vehicle that's stuck I prefer that vehicle be in neutral. Because I will be in low range and if that vehicle gets traction it can move too fast and run into me.

 

[Bob77064]

The vast majority of newer cars that use a 17" and larger rim use a very low profile sidewall tire and there is little cushion from the tire itself when the road is not perfectly smooth. Older tires with a taller sidewall delivered a smoother ride on rough surfaces and they didn't beat up the suspension like modern low profile tires do. As far as mileage goes, I also doubt that low profile tires give longer service life AND they cost much more. My GF's car has low profile 17 inch tires and the ride is really bad, and they are almost worn out at 36,000 miles although she is a conservative driver.

You are exactly right, also with the low profile tires it's very easy to break an alloy wheel.

 

[downslope]

The larger wheels are for larger brakes to meet FMVSS rules.

This is partially true. But when you see the same truck model offered with either 17, 18 or 20 inch you know it's not just for larger brakes.

 

[94BULLITT]

My car rides great with 26's:laughing:

 

[dave1949]

My car rides great with 26's:laughing:

Tail hook or tow hook?