Electric cars and the grid..... it has begun.

[GRW]

For sure there is a significant market for a low-cost, no-frills, small, light and very economical ICE.
I think the issue is that the costs of getting one approved, and meeting all the OTT criteria (& no doubt strong opposition) will ensure we don't get such cars.

I for one, would forgo such things as the NCAP 5-star Crash rating, and all the expensive paraphernalia that we are forced to have. Hell I've ridden motorcycles, bicycles and old cars without any protection to speak of - and if you don't crash it (or as long as you don't hit anything hard) you don't need it.
But we are denied the option to make an informed choice.

I think the last car that make itself a winner pursuing that sort of philosophy, was the first Dacia Sandero (a rebadged old Clio pretty much) - and they sold boat-loads of them and in doing so established the marque solidly in the UK market.

 

[GRW]

I agree often the choice of wheels and tyres is down more to aesthetics than common sense.
However going to tyres that are too skinny isn't a good idea when it comes to grip either.

As my old mum would say "moderation in all things"

 

[mtt.tr]

Consider this @fizzy

Assume for sake of argument the down force on a tyre with a convenient contact patch of one inch is 100psi.

We now make that tyre wider so now the effective contact patch is 2" this with our down force of 100psi we now see 50psi at each 1" square.
But the net is still 100psi.

This is why surface area is irrelevant to COF



There is of course dynamic forces to consider

 

[stuvy]

End game, control people ability to travel.

World Economic Forum calls to reduce private vehicles by eliminating 'ownership' - Jnews

Check out what's clicking on FoxBusiness.com.

jnews.uk

Better get the cuffs out as I won’t be stopping riding my bike any time soon

 

[daleyd]

I do drive rather hard all the time.
I do quite fancy a Tesla - I suspect I would soon rip the wheels off though!
Even when I had the Jag XFRS I used full acceleration every day. Strangely even as I get older I haven't slowed down
Tyres are important to me - those little patches of rubber are between you and life/death!

I really don’t know why I bother, you claim to be against unnecessary pollution, yet you use “full acceleration” every day?

Being a motorcyclist I’m more than well aware of the importance of tyres, that’s why I gave you my actual experience of driving and “evil handling, overweight, skinny tyred death trap”. I’m kind of paraphrasing but that’s basically your view (despite never having driven one).

I realise I’m not going to change your perception, and you won’t change my reality so I’d say I might as well just leave it there.

 

[stuvy]

I really don’t know why I bother, you claim to be against unnecessary pollution, yet you use “full acceleration” every day?

Being a motorcyclist I’m more than well aware of the importance of tyres, that’s why I gave you my actual experience of driving and “evil handling, overweight, skinny tyred death trap”. I’m kind of paraphrasing but that’s basically your view (despite never having driven one).

I realise I’m not going to change your perception, and you won’t change my reality so I’d say I might as well just leave it there.

Only took a few pages

 

[daleyd]

Only took a few pages

Not really - I knew he wouldn’t bother listening to anyone’s actual experience years ago (read some solar panel threads)…but I was in a hotel on my own and bored.

 

[Keith 66]

Aerodynamic down force
A f1 car isn’t heavy enough to get grip without down force hence tyres grew once wings were developed

Chitty chitty bang bang had very narrow tyres, was that so less air resistance once airbourne?

 

[daleyd]

Chitty chitty bang bang had very narrow tyres, was that so less air resistance once airbourne?

Caratacus Potts is still going strong in his 90’s - surely he should have died years ago in that skinny wheeled death trap?

 

[fizzy]

Not really - I knew he wouldn’t bother listening to anyone’s actual experience years ago (read some solar panel threads)…but I was in a hotel on my own and bored.

But I don't disagree on leccy cars - only the fact that to achieve further range many of them are fitted with tyres that optimise economy over ultimate grip.
I wouldn't mind a Tesla - only they are shoddily built in America

 

[fizzy]

Caratacus Potts is still going strong in his 90’s - surely he should have died years ago in that skinny wheeled death trap?

No airbags either - then again the ability to fly would make up for that

 

[500e]

Tried a hooligan mode on one it is quick, and with all the TC stable enough, would like to have one for a track day. The finish of the thing was about late BMC
Dont seem to have to good customer feed back bit like owner

 

[atomant48]

I wouldn't mind a Tesla - only they are shoddily built in America

And China. And quality control is an issue - my mates model Y (about 2 months old) has horrible gaps in the “bonnet” front guards etc. No excuse really in my view as I think the assembly line is mainly robotic. Makes me wonder if they’d not gain a few “mpg” with flusher fitting panels !

My M3 is better - and I think it’s China built. But I am starting to see early wear and tear on some of the rubber and leather inside … but I’m willing to let it go. Even my Volvo (range topping XC90) has a couple fitment issues - one I can see every time I look in my drivers mirror which annoys me !!I guess there’s quality issues everywhere these days.

 

[daleyd]

But I don't disagree on leccy cars - only the fact that to achieve further range many of them are fitted with tyres that optimise economy over ultimate grip.
I wouldn't mind a Tesla - only they are shoddily built in America

Out of curiously (I’ve been waiting ages for my bags!) I put my missus reg in black circles and it showed up as 235.

A quick google of vw id3 (smaller golf sized model) tyre sizes shows even the basic model as starting at 215.

Yes, probably narrower than your average, but hardly “skinny” by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[minimutly]

End game, control people ability to travel.

World Economic Forum calls to reduce private vehicles by eliminating 'ownership' - Jnews

Check out what's clicking on FoxBusiness.com.

jnews.uk

Wow big news - not. This has been kicked around by the hippies for years, and actually it does make sense, given that any car spends most of its life parked up. Implementing it anywhere other than cities? Impossible.
Maybe we’re back to the pee smelling bus seats issue though? Who knows what the previous disgusting excuse for a human coughed all over the steering wheel?
But then if you’re sat in the back like Arnie in total recal does that matter?

 

[Bullet2012]

Dragsters

Why are the wheels at the back so big? Down force doesn't apply until you reach higher speeds!


View attachment 357515

But they only run in the dry

 

[fizzy]

I just heard a very nasty bit of news about our electricity prices.
Before this Ukraine war the wholesale price of electricity was around 5p per kw/h. Windfarms were also paid 5p plus a 5p subsidy.
The wholesale price has gone up to 20p per kw/h now as gas and oil prices have gone through the roof. Obviously gas power stations costs have gone up massively.
However windfarms are also being paid 20p per kw/h along with the 5p subsidy. As their costs have not increased they are really coining it at the moment. Why are they being paid so much more when they don't have to buy gas?

 

[daleyd]

Doesn’t that mean nuclear will get the same and they aren’t affected by gas? Wrong I tell ya, these nuclear fellas are ripping us off!!

 

[fizzy]

Doesn’t that mean nuclear will get the same and they aren’t affected by gas? Wrong I tell ya, these nuclear fellas are ripping us off!!

No the nuclear stations should NOT be paid more - but why are windfarms being paid 4x as much? It's not right

 

[mike os]

I agree often the choice of wheels and tyres is down more to aesthetics than common sense.
However going to tyres that are too skinny isn't a good idea when it comes to grip either.

yep i really wish mine didn't have 19 inch rims and 30 profile tyres at times...... it can really get quite bouncy