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Subject:Re: Viscous Coupling Test
From:Dr. Rainer Woitok
Date:Thu, 10 Dec 1998 12:38:38 +0100

Hi, it's me again :-)

On Thu, 1998-12-10 03:08:30 -0600, Budd Premack wrote:

> My spare tire is the same size (185 SR14) as my four mounted tires, but it
> has less remaining tread depth.   It is also a different brand, Michelin XZX
> instead of Bridgestone.  I have measured the circumferences and the spare is
> 2% smaller than the mounted tires.
>
> Am I taking a big risk of viscous coupling damage if I need to use the
> spare?  Would it make a difference if the spare is run for a maximum of 50
> miles before the mounted tire can be repaired/replaced?

Dunno.  Maybe not.  But I've sworn to all my gods to only live with five
equal tires and to use all five of them as  equally as possible.  And to
make sure tire pressure is correct.  In my humble opinion a bad thing to
do is  to have pretty worn  tires and a   brand new spare.   Well, to be
precise ... this in itself isn't bad at all ... but  only as long as you
successfully manage to prevent a puncture ... :-)

Sincerely
 Rainer

'89 Caravelle GL Syncro 16"

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