LS1 = 1.5L Laser?

[OzJavelin]

I was in at my Dad's work yesterday (tyre store) and a guy showed up in a VXII SS looking for tyres. Both rear tyres (17") were so badly worn that the steel belts were exposed to the point of the casing almost seperating.

Where am I heading with this? When I started driving in the late eighties, new V8-powered cars weren't very common. Nowdays it's VERY common to see average Mum and Dad with a new(ish) V8 Holden/Ford. But a lot of people still treat them like 1.8L Laser they had in the eighties. They just get in them and drive them. Never check anything. Not only is this were we get a lot of reported "problems" (eg. running them out of oil) with vehicles, but its also obviously VERY dangerous. Even a stock 5.7L is quite capable of frying tyres at will. Driving about in a SS with tyres so worn the tread is exposed is a funeral waiting to happen. Throw the family in the car on a rainy day, big accident and suddenly many lives lost, big media hype about V8-powered cars, etc ..

Obviously owners need to regularly check ALL cars, but big, V8-powered Commodores, Falcons, etc need a bit more attention. They are fast, heavy and on average carry more people. Maybe some people should just give up the V8 sedan and go back to that 1.5L Laser they can just drive around flatout at 50km/h?

Rod.

[Jac001]

there are 2 types of people i this world, those that look after there cars and those that don't. The former will look after any kind of vehicle they drive regardless if its a v8 or not, and later won't care anyway. I have seen all sorts of cars in all sorts of conditions. I do not really think large rear wheel V8's have more wear and tear problems than any other if treated the same...

[Marco]

Quite right. The number of cars (of any variety) that I pull up alongside at the lights or in a carpark with bald tyres etc. is astounding.

Of course, when these people crash, it's because they were speeding.

I wonder if it would be a good idea for police to check tyres at least when they pull people over for RBTs?

[dominik]

Obviously owners need to regularly check ALL cars, but big, V8-powered Commodores, Falcons, etc need a bit more attention. They are fast, heavy and on average carry more people. Maybe some people should just give up the V8 sedan and go back to that 1.5L Laser they can just drive around flatout at 50km/h?

Rod.Interesting comments. I've found myself thinking the same way when a see a family getting around in a V8 on practically bald tyres. You're right, the bigger and more powerful the car, the more attention you need to give it from a safety standpoint, especially with tyres and brakes.

[mmciau]

In general terms, the most abused and neglected item on any vehicle is the tyres.

I have found in my experience, the most neglected vehicles are company cars - never maintained, never checked in many instances and way over in servicing schedules.

And there is a very great number of people who just don't care - won't happen to me syndrome is alive and well

And yes, police investigators and insurance DO look at tyres - if they are out of specification your insurances may be at risk.

mike

[dominik]

A little off topic, but related to tyres...

http://www.impreza.nu/ssi2/expo/albums/En-liten-incident/TraffAMCO.mpg

I saw this video on an Evo forum a little while ago showing an STi which obviously has handling advantages in the wet we don't have yet once it starts hydroplaning there's not much you can do but stay calm and hope to regain traction. Videos like that always freak me out. Not that we needed any reminding but tyre tread sure is important.

[Devil CV8]

I have found in my experience, the most neglected vehicles are company cars - never maintained, never checked in many instances and way over in servicing schedules.



mike

That may be so in smaller company car fleets, but I know that the telstra fleet is well maintained. Team leaders get reports every month which amongst other things highlight vehicles that are overdue for servicing, every 3 months a thorough vehicle inspection takes place and if the same items show up deficient the driver can be put through the disciplinary process. Any vehicles that are damaged are to be repaired etc etc.
Basically comes down to OH&S, the company supplies the vehicle to the staffmember, so therfore have to have processes in place to ensure the workplace (vehicle) is kept in a safe condition

[OzJavelin]

That may be so in smaller company car fleets, but I know that the telstra fleet is well maintained. Team leaders get reports every month which amongst other things highlight vehicles that are overdue for servicing, every 3 months a thorough vehicle inspection takes place and if the same items show up deficient the driver can be put through the disciplinary process. Any vehicles that are damaged are to be repaired etc etc.
Basically comes down to OH&S, the company supplies the vehicle to the staffmember, so therfore have to have processes in place to ensure the workplace (vehicle) is kept in a safe condition

Agreed. Telstra Fleet cars ("T-cars" and salary sacrified) are well maintained. They *must* be serviced by authorised dealers at required intervals. Managers get reports on them from the drivers and the servicing dealers report *anything* wrong with them to fleet .. including if they are excessively dirty or damaged. Any accident damage MUST be repaired ASAP. Telstra have the money to keep their fleet well maintained. It doesn't stop people driving them into the ground, but the cars themselves should be well looked after.

I think the type of cars which get the worst treatment are "pool cars"; ie. cars which have no real owner. Nobody looks after them, they have many owners. I'd buy a ex-Telstra Salary sacrifice car in a blink of an eye over a govt pool car. The salary sacrifice (or novated lease) car at least had an "owner" who may have looked aftre it to some degree ..

Rod.

[Chris5.7ltr]

I must say I was gilty of this when I got my SS, I didn't really notice how bad the tyres were till I parked my car in the works yard one day and by the end of my shift had at least 5-6 work mates come up to me and up for having shockingly bold tyres (steel belts hanging off).
The next day my car was at the tyre shop.

It's because people don't see them they seem to forget about them I think.

[Devil CV8]

It's because people don't see them they seem to forget about them I think.
yep... I've found the easiest way to check the condition of your rear tyres on a stock car, is to see if it brakes traction easier than normal...if so, then get on bended knee and have a look.... getting some new ones saturday....lasted about 20,000.... fronts are still good...just hope these ones don't go walkabout the night after I get them....

[chevypower]

interesting comparrison cos i actually drive both a 1.8L Laser and dad's 5.7L Caprice on the occassion, and gee its so hard to control the Caprice....NOT I think this thread is a little exagerated, and any idiot can drive a V8, tyres are no more important on it than any other car - but yes having tread will help any car in the wet.

[OzJavelin]

OK .. maybe I'm not making myself understood. Basically a lot of people appear to treat these more powerful cars like shopping trolleys, particularly in the "weekly maintenance" department. I suppose I am exaggerating the consequences, but I remember watching the news a couple of weeks ago with a coroners report into a regional Victorian family which where killed with a L-plater driving a Clubsport .. it was mentioned that the tyres were in poor condition (L-plater experience was the primary factor though..). Yes poor maintenance will effect any car, but in somthing which weighs over 1600kg and can run standing 1/4 in 14sec ..

Rod.

[Marco]

If you give the Laser a bootful in the wet or round a corner, what's going to happen? Not much.

I'd say the results would be a bit different in the Caprice.

[chevypower]

something that doesnt happen so much in heavier cars is aquaplaining - in a 1996 1.2L Barina, i have been washed around into a 180 as well as being able to spin the wheels in 5th gear at 100km/h on the Monash freeway - there is only 33kw at the flywheel. I'd been washed around in the Laser too, but its not as bad as the Barina... Doing that in a Commodore, Statesman or the like is much harder to do... the major contributor to the Clubsport accident was loss of concentration.... of course the words "Clubsport" "learner driver" "V8" make headlines
Mind you i am in big favor of driving instructors having real cars to learn in, not shopping trolleys. 4 wheel drives included.

[ACT_Cross8]

And how bloody hard is it to fix a blown headlight globe? The number of cars driving around Canberra winking at you at night is ridiculous. Most people that I tell just say "Oh, didn't realise". What didn't realise that you can't see half the road in front of you? I might just start driving on the footpath then and get out of your way!!

[VXEXEC350]

I would suggest that had you looked under his rear wheel arches you may find the cause of his "negect" :burnout: :lol: