In message , Harry Bloomfield writes
We had a U-Bolt break on a rear leaf spring on Dad's car, either the Morris 8 or the Standard 10, can't remember, but both '36 vintage.
We lived next door to, and on good terms with a repair garage in those days, and they sent out a van with a huge Polish guy who wrapped a chain round the spring, and somehow locked it up in a way which enabled us to drive the 30 miles home, with him following. Those were the good old days...
Come to think of it, another factor is low-profile tyres. A few years back, 70 profile was the norm and they played their part in the suspension. Modern lower profiles have much less give, to improve the handling, which makes the springs work so much harder.
Just to nitpick, are you sure it wasn't 80? After all 80 is the default where no profile is specified.
Willy Eckerslyke gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:
I'd have said that 80 profile started to be superceded as the norm by 70 profile in the late '70s, with 60 and lower starting to become the norm around the late '80s.
That depends on what you drove, if you where happy with steel wheels
155/13 & 165/13 where very common into the 90s
Probably. Our Previa is 70 profile and they're far from low-profile, but a bit squatter than the van tyres on my camper!
One of the first 'normal' cars to run 60 profile tyres was the Fiat 131 Supermirafiori Sport - but I'm sure you lot will think of more.
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