All;
Lurker (normally) here.
Having survived my adolescent (read stupid) years during which I rolled a
car. I agree with statements which basically put the responsibility on the
driver.
I rolled what was then a four month old 1977 Datsun B210 Hatchback. No
tires went flat, no mechanical defects just human error (arrogance). I was
driving too fast (beyond my capabilities for my experience level). I came
around a sharp curve, encountered another driver heading straight for me
'yanked' the steering wheel as hard as I could to the right to avoid the
'idiot' in my lane. My brand new 210 flipped end over end coming to rest
upside down. Ask me whether I believe in seatbelts!
Sure, I can 'blame' the accident on the driver who was heading straight for
me (later found to have been DUI) but the fact remains I was traveling too
fast for conditions and outdriving my capabilities.
An SUV is exactly that drive - it like one. Always know and respect your
equipment and your own capabilities and above all remember you're not alone
on the road.
I don't mean we shouldn't expect quality parts/vehicles/equipment from
manufacturers but I tired of our sue-happy society where too many people
don't accept responsibility for their actions or lack of.
Sorry, just mho. (or maybe I should've sued Datsun for building a car that
an idiot could flip?)
<()?))>
------------------------------
Blue Skies & Calm Waters,
DAFox [SRL311-04646]
Oviedo, Florida
dafox1@hotmail.com
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1423840&a=10659146
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Patrick P. Castronovo" <slick1@mohaveaz.com>
Reply-To: "Patrick P. Castronovo" <slick1@mohaveaz.com>
To: "Ronnie Day" <ronday@home.com>, "Roadster List"
<datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: re:(ot) firestone tires & some roadster content (long)
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 15:23:51 -0800
I was driving my pickup truck on the interstate near Washington DC. the
Goodyear tires that had been a part of the running gear where the rubber
meets the road were Passenger tires. They were fairly new and I thought I
would have no problem with that aspect of the truck. I began to feel what
felt like my tire being out of balance, then a slapping noise, then a bang
against the truck body. It was a rear tire that had lost almost all of the
rubber down to the cords along the whole of the tire. It had no other
effect on the vehicle.
being concerned about the long drive back to Arizona I stopped at a tire
shop to have the tire changed. I could not find the same tire size or make
to replace the bad tire. At that time they were not concerned about that
problem. If it happened then it was to be handled where you bought the
tire.
There just so happened to be a truck driver in there that said it was no
problem and the tire would hold up for many miles. I drove that tire on the
cords all the way back to Az. on that bad tire with no problem.
I think why there is a problem with tires is People dont know that Radials
were not recommended by the tire manufacturers for large cars. They said
that they were ok for the small foreign cars.
Also if tire pressure is not maintained correctly, there will be a problem.
the change in temperature can affect the temperature up to 10 degrees
depending where you live.
The people that mount your new tires are oblivious to checking that there is
not rubber from the old tires stuck to the rim. that is a definite slow
leak. When you are having your tires changed feel the rim where the bead of
the new tire will be against rim if there is any feeling of obstructions and
the tire person will not clean it spotless, you will be driving on tires
that will be a danger on the road.
my first encounter with a steel belted Radial was on my Corvair, on the
Interstate and I felt the car pulling to the right like I had a flat tire.
before I could stop my car from 60 miles per hour the tire was cut to
ribbons, from the steel belted knives contained in the tire. The tire was
almost nonexistent when I got out to assess the problem. The rim was also
destroyed.
I now am very cautious about whom it is that mounts my tires.
While I'm at it. My wife's '98 altima used to go to the Jiffy Lube for an
oil change. Upon checking the oil after 100 miles, I found the oil was
gritty and already black. I started checking and found that the Air cleaner
was not properly mounted( we live in a rural area with dirt roads) was that
the problem ? Or is it possible for Jiffy lube to remove a Oil filter from
one car, then clean it up put it back on the shelf and represent that old
filter as a new one. I also check the tires religiously and keep 30 lbs in
all the tires. My wife brought the car home from Jiffy lube and upon
checking the tires they were inflated up to 45lbs. Needless to say, I now
change my own oil, and still check my own tires. To hell with the warranty
demands that require a "Professional" to change my oil.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ronnie Day" <ronday@home.com>
To: "Roadster List" <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2001 1:29 PM
Subject: re:(ot) firestone tires & some roadster content (long)
> >i just
> >question the fact that a tread separation can cause a vehicle to flip
> >if that vehicle is operated with some level of competance--i.e. the
> >driver doesn't panic, turn the wheel and slam on the brakes when a
> >tire fails.
>
> IMO, the accidents most often occur because too many (most?) drivers do
> everything else under the sun while they're driving and aren't paying
> more than minimum attention to that task. To them driving is an
> ancillary activity that they just happen to be engaged in while talking
> on the phone, playing with their computer (don't laugh, I've seen it),
> messing with the kids, eating and drinking. Add your own pet peeves to
> this list.
>
> Too few drivers treat driving on public roads as the dynamic, potentially
> dangerous, activity it really is and give it their primary, much less the
> full attention it deserves. I would say that most of the folks that
> frequent this list and others like it are probably exceptions to this
> general case.
>
> Having said that, there's still no excuse for large companies like Ford,
> Firestone, or any other deciding not to recall vehicles or components
> because they think it'll be cheaper to individually pay off people that
> are injured and sue them. Didn't Gene Hackman star in a movie about this
> very thing 10 or 15 years ago?
>
> Rant mode off,
> Ron
>
> Ronnie Day
> ronday@home.com
> Dallas/Ft. Worth
> '71 510 2-dr (Prepared Class Autocrosser)
> '73 510 2-dr (Street Toy)
<()?))>
------------------------------
Blue Skies & Calm Waters,
DAFox [SRL311-04646]
Oviedo, Florida
dafox1@hotmail.com
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1423840&a=10659146
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