|
|
Post by scouse on May 20, 2019 9:36:26 GMT
Just had a weekend darn sarf for a wedding and commented to Mrs Scouse on the way down that I thought the near side tyres were getting towards the end of their life as I could feel a tiny shimmy through the steering wheel (both offsides were replaced last year due to potholes). Wouldn't you know it, on the way home the NS front let go just as i hit the M6 toll, pressure monitor lit up and it dropped to zero over the course of about a mile.
Now Goodyear's Mercedes tyres are true runflats in the sense you're supposed to get 50miles at 50mph at full load, rather they are 'Extended Mobility' ones which give you 20 miles at 50mph at full load.
Bollocks. 12 miles to the services at 50mph, 3 up with a couple of bags and it started to disintegrate as I hit the slip road (and I'd dropped to 30mph on the hard shoulder for the last 1/2 mile).
50mph in the inside lane is something I am not used to at all.
Anyhow, quick call to Mercedes Benz at around 1.30, had the RAC in touch within 20 mins, then their contractor who did his best to find a 245/40/19 MOE from a mobile fitter on a Sunday afternoon. By 2.30, he'd got nowhere but had found a Pirelli in the same size at a Kwik Fit for £240, but he had to be at the services no later than 3 in order to remove the wheel and take it there himself before 4. At 2.45 he rang back to say he wasn't going to make it in time and was sending a low loader instead.
Got home for around 6, which wasn't too bad I suppose, just bloody glad I made it to the services. Wouldn't have liked to have been stuck at the side of the motorway for two and a half hours.
New Goodyear Eagle being fitted tomorrow for the cost of £191.00.
|
|
|
|
Post by chocy on May 22, 2019 8:12:47 GMT
It's an alarming thought that our partners might get caught out with this problem, in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 22, 2019 8:47:19 GMT
It's an alarming thought that our partners might get caught out with this problem, in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere. It's a difficult call. While I might prefer a spare wheel that I can change I would much rather my wife's car was equipped with either run flats or a "get you home kit" so she's not stuck by the side of the road in the dark trying to change a wheel in the wilds of Northumberland. |
|
|
|
Post by scouse on May 22, 2019 9:28:38 GMT
I think it's a difficult one to call. Away from the motorway, you'd probably be ok with a run flat, especially a full runflat and not Merc's Extended Mobility jobbie.  |
|
|
|
Post by chocy on May 22, 2019 11:49:51 GMT
It's an alarming thought that our partners might get caught out with this problem, in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere. It's a difficult call. While I might prefer a spare wheel that I can change I would much rather my wife's car was equipped with either run flats or a "get you home kit" so she's not stuck by the side of the road in the dark trying to change a wheel in the wilds of Northumberland. Yeah, I get the point. Mrs Chocy frequently visits her sister in the Highlands wastelands of Scotland and it's always been a concern. To cover that problem, we have the cheapest AA cover, so a quick call and hopefully a quick solution. Never needed their assistance yet, fingers crossed that I haven't just jinxed it. |
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 22, 2019 13:06:52 GMT
I think it's a difficult one to call. Away from the motorway, you'd probably be ok with a run flat, especially a full runflat and not Merc's Extended Mobility jobbie. I know you said that you thought the tyres were near the end of their life but when was the last time they were checked?? It's been a long time since I've seen exposed carcass like that. If the police had stopped you it would have been a 3 point endorsement for every tyre like that. |
|
|
|
Post by scouse on May 22, 2019 13:14:36 GMT
The tyre was checked on Friday. Tread was down to about 2mm across the tyre. The damage is due to running at 50mph for 12 miles and begining to fall apart as I got to the services.
You can actually get your hand inside the tyre at several points...
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 22, 2019 13:39:17 GMT
The tyre was checked on Friday. Tread was down to about 2mm across the tyre. The damage is due to running at 50mph for 12 miles and begining to fall apart as I got to the services. You can actually get your hand inside the tyre at several points... I mean; where would you have stood if stopped by the police a mile from the safety of the Services? Would "but it was legal 10 miles ago officer, when I began this limp to the Welcome Break, honest!" If I was the police officer I would assume you'd been running around on the canvas for weeks and start writing the ticket. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 22, 2019 17:32:28 GMT
Believing that and proving it are two separate things. Getting it to court would be difficult.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 23, 2019 8:24:27 GMT
Believing that and proving it are two separate things. Getting it to court would be difficult. It's an absolute offence. 3 points and fine. It wouldn't go to court as it would be dealt with at the roadside. |
|
|
|
Post by PG on May 23, 2019 8:49:23 GMT
So are we saying that if you have runflats and you need to use the runflat capability, if the tyre does that and breaks up in use you'll be liable for 3 points? I think any traffic policeman who stopped you in that situation would surely take a more pragmatic approach. Especially if you were limping along to get to safety.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 23, 2019 9:28:52 GMT
So are we saying that if you have runflats and you need to use the runflat capability, if the tyre does that and breaks up in use you'll be liable for 3 points? I think any traffic policeman who stopped you in that situation would surely take a more pragmatic approach. Especially if you were limping along to get to safety. It may come down to his mood and who's been shagging his missus while he's on night shift. I would argue a runflat that can't perform its job is not a runflat/fit for purpose, and that the manufacturer needs to have a re-think before someone is killed by one of their defective tyres, resulting in a lawsuit. |
|
|
|
Post by Martin on May 23, 2019 9:58:26 GMT
So are we saying that if you have runflats and you need to use the runflat capability, if the tyre does that and breaks up in use you'll be liable for 3 points? I think any traffic policeman who stopped you in that situation would surely take a more pragmatic approach. Especially if you were limping along to get to safety. It may come down to his mood and who's been shagging his missus while he's on night shift. I would argue a runflat that can't perform its job is not a runflat/fit for purpose, and that the manufacturer needs to have a re-think before someone is killed by one of their defective tyres, resulting in a lawsuit. Yes, the Mercedes solution is neither one thing not the other, I’d be getting some tyre foam. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 23, 2019 10:09:13 GMT
Believing that and proving it are two separate things. Getting it to court would be difficult. It's an absolute offence. 3 points and fine. It wouldn't go to court as it would be dealt with at the roadside. I do not believe an officer stating that in their opinion the car has been driven with a tyre in that condition further/faster than stated by the owner is proof of it. If I were in that situation and an officer tried to push a fine down my throat I would make a citizens arrest on the spot. Try defending that "My belief is the truth and the law" in a court. Not going to work. |
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 23, 2019 10:15:08 GMT
It's an absolute offence. 3 points and fine. It wouldn't go to court as it would be dealt with at the roadside. I do not believe an officer stating that in their opinion the car has been driven with a tyre in that condition further/faster than stated by the owner is proof of it. If I were in that situation and an officer tried to push a fine down my throat I would make a citizens arrest on the spot. Try defending that "My belief is the truth and the law" in a court. Not going to work. Mike, you try standing in court and telling the judge; "I'm right and the officer is wrong". He will ask "Was the tyre illegal when the car was pulled over by the copper? Yes or no?" Open and shut. Anyway, as I said it wouldn't get that far. And as for trying to arrest a police officer for doing his job and taking a dangerous car off the road - good luck with that! The tyre in the photo is both structurally unsafe and illegal as it is worn down to the canvas. I'm not blaming the driver if his tyre pressure warning light has come on and he is of the belief that he can drive on but from the point of view of road safety it is a danger to both the car and its occupants and other road users/pedestrians. The tyre could fail catastrophically causing a crash, or disintegrate, showering passers by with fragments. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 23, 2019 10:18:09 GMT
It is the proof that a driver has riven further/faster than stated by the drive that would be in dispute. THAT requires proof rather than opinion.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 23, 2019 10:20:00 GMT
It is the proof that a driver has riven further/faster than stated by the drive that would be in dispute. THAT requires proof rather than opinion. No, it's not up for dispute. The tyre is illegal. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 23, 2019 10:35:54 GMT
Just had another look through this, I thought the tyre in the pic was the spare and this happened over the short drive from the site of the puncture. If that is the original tyre that caused the fitting of a spare then my thoughts are the reverse of what I said. I don't do many miles but check the tyres every time I drive the car because some deflation is normal and need checking on and reinflating. Despite the setting on my pc and programs on it firefox still insist's on telling me tyre is spelled with an i. Daft as. Sorry for the bull and confusion.
|
|
|
|
Post by scouse on Jul 4, 2019 10:34:07 GMT
Just replaced the nearside rear. Goodyear Eagle F1 275/35/19, £180.39 inc vat delivered from tyreleader.co.uk, plus £18 fitting at the local tyre shop. So only an extra £8.39 over the 235/35 for the front which is a bit of a result.
|
|
