Check your tires. Yes, you.

[roothorick]

More of a PSA than a sighting, but I feel it goes here.

The day I was going to get new tires, a guy stopped rapidly in front of me and I didn't react in time. I had to be towed out of the ditch after avoiding the collision, and destroyed the seal on one tire (which was going to be replaced anyway). A dumber driver would have rear-ended him, and because of the age of the cars involved and the speed of the collision, that would have been the end of the line for both vehicles.

Yesterday, basically the same thing happened, with my new tires. I came down hard on the brakes, and I swear, I didn't know my car could stop that fast. My 3,300 pound slug of Detroit steel went from 35 to 0 in about ten feet.

The lesson? Tires are the #1 most important factor in stopping distance. Make sure yours are up to the job, or your or somebody else's mistake will cost you some bodywork, or possibly, a hell of a lot more.

[Whiskey]

No, not me. I don't have a car.

Tires are one thing people rarely think about despite being kind of important. Also, learn to jack up a car and change a tire, especially if youre a chick

[roothorick]

No, not me. I don't have a car.

Tires are one thing people rarely think about despite being kind of important. Also, learn to jack up a car and change a tire, especially if youre a chick

When I broke that seal, the hubcap was damaged by the ditch and needed special tools to pry off, none of which I had with me. I wound up riding on a woefully underinflated tire from work all the way to the body shop.

[Mikkel]

No, not me. I don't have a car.

Tires are one thing people rarely think about despite being kind of important. Also, learn to jack up a car and change a tire, especially if youre a chick

Tires are important on a bicycle as well, more to avoid punctures than for stopping power, although Chromatix will disagree I think. On icy roads the quality of the tyres are very important for stopping and handling on a bike too.

[Jack]

No, not me. I don't have a car.

Tires are one thing people rarely think about despite being kind of important. Also, learn to jack up a car and change a tire, especially if youre a chick

Uh. Remember to water-test your spare tubes? :P

[Whiskey]

On icy roads the quality

I live in california, we barely get rain.

Remember to water-test your spare tubes? :P

Will do! as soon as i get a bike!

Should i check the tires on the bus, i want to make sure we're all safe

[Bandit]

And don't forget that if you have to/can afford to replace just two tires, always make sure the new rubber goes on the BACK, Trust me on this one.

B

[LillFilly]

Glad you're ok! Yeah, I love nice, new sets of traction-y goodness on my car; nothing like the smell of new rubber!

[Shalom]

And don't forget that if you have to/can afford to replace just two tires, always make sure the new rubber goes on the BACK, Trust me on this one.

"They" used to recommend the opposite (new tires on the front, move front tires to back); this was the case in 2003, when I bought my most recent car. Then a few years ago "they" changed it to what you say above, but I never heard the reason for the new recommendation. It sounds like you have personal experience; could you share the story of how you found this out? Sounds interesting (in the Chinese-curse sense)...

[Jack]

I'm assuming the first recommendation was something to do with how most braking power comes from the front, and the second came about when it was found that fishtailing is a bigger issue so it's best to have the best traction on the back.

[csquared]

Brakes are most important with tires a VERY close second. So many people ignore their brakes because they can't see them.

And don't forget that if you have to/can afford to replace just two tires, always make sure the new rubber goes on the BACK, Trust me on this one.

I'd like to hear that story too. All my tire experts say front - steering and braking. And now a days, you add front wheel drive.

[greek_jester]

Also, learn to jack up a car and change a tire, especially if youre a chick

Good advice, only sometimes not possible.

Recently had major tyre trouble (3 tyres in the space of 3 weeks!) & after seeing the 1st 2 get changed, decided to do the 3rd one myself for the 3/4 mile back to my house, then get my stepdad to check it when I got home.

Jacked the car up - no problem. Undid the wheel nuts - no problem, once I realised that standing on the wrench gave it enough oomph to unlock the nuts (planned to do the same in reverse once the wheel was on). Carefully put the nuts to one side, & pulled the wheel off. Ooooouch! That thing was heavy! Rolled it to one side, then cranked the holder under the car open for the spare. Rolled the spare around to the where it needed to be, & discovered that there wasn't a hope in hell that I'd be able to lift it, let alone manipulate it onto the axle. Mobile phone out, cue call to stepdad...

Sometimes being 4 foot 10.5 inches & rather weedy sucks...

[roothorick]

Brakes are most important with tires a VERY close second. So many people ignore their brakes because they can't see them.

I'd say tires are more important because you need a good surface for the brake power to mean anything, otherwise you're just gonna slide along with your wheels locked up. But yes, brakes are absolutely crucial as well. Make sure yours are good enough.

[Whiskey]

Sometimes being 4 foot 10.5 inches & rather weedy sucks...

I'm 5'3" and I can lift a tire. What happens when your phone is dead and no one is around to help you?

[smileyeagle1021]

I'd like to hear that story too. All my tire experts say front - steering and braking. And now a days, you add front wheel drive.

The explanation I've heard on why you should replace your back tires is that while loosing control of your front wheels is bad, it is a hell of a lot easier to regain control of the front wheels than the back... once the back is out of control, it's game over.