Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with wheels

Cheap replica alloys in Toronto?

Dasein — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:53:39 -0800

(Asking for a friend.) Where could one find cheap replica Mercedes/AMG alloy wheels in Toronto? This column leads me to believe that AMG replica alloys should be available for around $130. Does anyone know where I could find reasonably-priced replica alloys for a Mercedes (16-inch)?

Blogs for bike commuters

Brittanie — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:45:16 -0800

Recommend some bike commuter blogs I live in Houston. I have recently resolved to start commuting by bike about 3x a week (more if it's feasible). I live on one of the busiest streets in the city, but I have an almost direct route, a really good bikeways map and alternate route, and all the gear I think I need so far.

What I'm looking for now is tips, in the form of blogs which I can subscribe to, on commuting by bike. I don't have time right now to read through 5 different websites or books. I would like my tips in easily-digestible nuggets.

I've read these posts and found them very helpful. More along the lines of those hints, product reviews, news, etc., please! Bonus points if the blogs relate to Houston or Texas.

Right now I ride a hybrid bike (you should see our potholes!) and I'd like to wear street clothes/work clothes as much as possible. Tips on making this work in the Houston heat are especially helpful.

Kid doesn't want to learn how to ride a bike. Do I make him?

Lucinda — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:40:11 -0800

Am I doing my son a disservice by not making him learn to ride a bicycle? My son just turned eight, and really has no interest in learning how to ride a bicycle without training wheels. When he plays outside, it's usually kickball, or baseball, or roller skating, or running around with the kids across the street (who don't seem to ride bikes much either).

Our house is on a fairly busy suburban street, with sidewalks. Many of the middle school students bike to school (this will not affect my son until the 2010-2011 school year), but as a general rule most of the kids in the neighborhood seem to walk places.

I don't want to force it on him if he doesn't want to do it. He has a bike that he got a few years ago but I think it might be too small for him now, and if he's not interested in riding I'm not going to spend the money on a bike he'll never use. On the other hand, if it's going to cause him issues in the future (either as a middle school student or even older), I might be a little more forceful in my suggesting.

So - those of you who didn't learn to ride a bike as a kid - did it ruin your life for good? For those of you who had a kid who really didn't care about bikes -did you force them to learn?

The wheel goes rusty.

thecaddy — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:42:58 -0800

Do I need new bike wheels? Since it's warm out and its perfect weather to start riding bikes again, I figured I'd go tune up my bike ... only to find out that the rims of my wheels are a little bit rusty. Is there anything I can do to fix them, or is it time to get some new wheels?

Should these tires fit?

kev23f — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:02:27 -0800

My stupid bike filter: Should my new bike tires fit on my wheel? Or am i being a bike idiot? I bought these tires because i am getting punctures every week on my commute to work. But i cant get them onto the wheels, despite them seeming identical in size to my old (puncture prone) tires.

My old tires said 700x25c, and that's the size tire that i bought. My wheels have this printed on them: 622x13c.

fyi, this is the model bike i'm trying to fit them on.

Why are these Hot Wheels more valued?

punkfloyd — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:42:07 -0800

Calling all Hot Wheels Redine experts. Does anybody know why the 1973 "Snake" and "Mongoose" cars that are stamped with 6969 are worth much , much more than cars with a different number? Not looking to sell, I just want to understand logic behind value.

inline skating: fastest bearings, most durable wheels?

figTree — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:41:08 -0800

inline skating: fastest bearings, most durable wheels? I skate pretty aggressively on the streets and i usually wear out my wheels pretty fast. I don't remember what type of wheels ive had (grizzly?), but they were the hardest i could find at the time. I currently have Mach3 bearings, which are good, but I know there are better ones out there since people have passed me on downhill stretches that are equal in size to me.

Also, I'm looking to order if i have to, but would rather just pick up the goods in a store in Vancouver BC- i forget if i can fit 80mm wheels or if i have to stick with 76mm. Anyone know of a shop? Preferably one that sells aggressive skates as i find they stock good parts. I have a hybrid aggressive/street, made more for speed, jumps and durability, not rail slides.. the rail slides are a bit too crazy for me...

Need to identify Hot Wheels part

punkfloyd — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:19:10 -0800

Help me identify a Hot Wheels die cast car part/accessory. I bought a lot of Hot Wheels from a garage sale which included this thing. Are there any collectors who can tell me what it is? It measures about 2 inches in length. The Hot Wheels I bought are Red Lines from 1968-1971 if that helps. Thanks

Convex wheels keep on turnin'!

Mr. Anthropomorphism — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:03:34 -0800

Why do most large trucks and other heavy vehicles have wheels with hubs that protrude outward in front?

Does carrying my laptop in a roller bag damage the laptop, due to the vibration?

k7lim — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:53:04 -0800

Because of an injury, I carry my laptop in one of those roller backpacks. I've heard that tiny vibrations (such as construction in the next office building) can be very damaging to computers. So does the vibration from the rolling on pavement potentially damage my laptop? Should I just suck it up and carry my heavy widescreen laptop on my back? Does keeping it in a neoprene sleeve help? Any tips on how I can keep the weight off my back, while preventing damage to my computer?

I sprained my ankle at one of those trampoline gyms: Sky High Sports in Santa Clara, CA. It's all fun until someone rips a tendon.

What was that incredible, small, reverse three wheeled racecar that blew past me on the NJ Turnpike this morning?

R. Mutt — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 17:48:40 -0800

What was that incredible, small, reverse three wheeled racecar that blew past me on the NJ Turnpike this morning? It had two wheels in the front, one extra-wide motorcycle type wheel in the back. The driver was sitting like one would in an Indy car. It was low to the ground with a roll bar and minimal body, but no doors. And yes, when he passed me, it was like watching a mini dragster roar by... the engine sound was amazing.

If this car's a-rocking, will I be spending a lot of money, or crash and die on the highway?

Cat Pie Hurts — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 08:27:14 -0800

Why does my car make knocking sounds and get all swervy? I'm going to be bringing my car to a shop tomorrow, but I want to try and get an idea of what the problem is. I'm very car repair savvy when it comes to the engine, but nothing else.

My apologies if I'm not explaining this clearly:

2002 Ford Focus ZX5. No accidents with this car (it has been towed several times). When I hit a bump, no matter how small, I hear noises from (what I imagine to be) the wheel wells, and the car gives what feels like an unhealthy rock/sway. I can describe the noise best as "crunkly metal". Or maybe even a heavy knocking sound (NOT coming from the engine). My brother mentioned it might cracked springs?

When I'm driving at higher speeds (30+mph) and hit bumps, it feels like I'm going to lose control for 3 seconds after. It also feels like the body is not fully in sync with the wheels. (I probably need an alignment, but I feel like there is a bigger issue at play here)

I know this isn't Car Talk, but I'm hoping to help determine what the problem might be and, more importantly, determine a rough cost so I don't get swindled. I'm 3 months away from paying my leetle frend off, and starting to wilt at the though of losing him. Any help would be most appreciated.

how do i manage an enormous chest

taff — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 04:12:16 -0800

i have an enormous chest and it's very heavy. it's wood. i made it myself. it's about 1.5 metres squared and one metre high. i use it to store "stuff" in and i want to put casters on it, but not significantly increase its height. the problem is that all the casters or wheels that would take the kind of weight of the chest are gi frickin' normous. and all the casters/wheels i've seen with a lower profile have quite low weight restrictions. can i just put heaps more small casters on the box or do i have to put the huge casters on that fit the overall weight of my chest? i believe the chest weighs in the vicinity of about 100kilograms.... and when you fill it with all the stuff i keep in it.... maybe 150-200 kilograms. help me before i set fire to it in frustration.... my physics, like gravity, sucks.

"No trucks over 6 wheels in left lane."

LordSludge — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:57:19 -0800

Ambiguous signage-filter: "No trucks over 6 wheels in left lane." On the interstate around here (upstate SC), there are signs that state, "No trucks over 6 wheels in left lane." Obviously, this includes 18 wheelers, but does it include, say, a dually pickup (6 wheels) towing a trailer (2-6 wheels)? What about a car pulling a 4 wheeled trailer?

I guess what I'm asking is: What is considered a "truck" in this context? Is it strictly limited to semis? Does it include pickups and busses? Or does it include any vehicle? Or is it one of those intentionally vague laws that is left up to the discretion of the police officer?

Grinding noise from wheels

Saucy Intruder — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 10:17:33 -0800

The front wheels are making a grinding noise when I move the steering wheel to the left ('98 Accord.) Happens even when the brakes aren't being pressed. Can anyone provide a Bill Frist-style remote diagnosis, and will I regret it if I don't bring it in to the shop for two more days?

Can I swap wheels on two GEO Prizms?

dlugoczaj — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 12:21:17 -0800

Is it OK to put wheels from a 1993 Geo Prizm on a 1994 Geo Prizm? This may be a stupid question, but I'm asking it despite (and/or because of) my extremely limited knowledge of "car talk." I have had a 1994 Geo Prizm for six years, and it's been wonderful. Earlier this year, my husband bought a 1993 Geo Prizm, and even after he bought new tires, brakes, etc., for it, it turned out to be . . . not worth his while. He has been unable to resell it and had hoped to recoup at least some of the loss by putting the new tires on my Prizm; however, we discovered that, despite only a year's difference in model, the tire sizes weren't congruent. He's now thinking that he could just swap the wheels; both sets are held on with four bolts, but his, with tires, are slightly shorter than mine (I'd say about 1"). Does this make a difference? Would it be unsafe in any way?

I'd contact a GEO dealership, but of course they don't exist anymore. I'm reluctant to talk to a mechanic because I don't want us to have to get charged for this; the whole point was for my husband to do it himself and actually save us money instead of spending even more.

Wobbly wheels

punkfloyd — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 08:56:35 -0800

Can the machines that tire shops use to remove/install tires bend alloy wheels if not used properly? I need to know before I go complain.

Why do German cars use lug BOLTS instead of lug NUTS?

skyguy14 — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 20:35:24 -0800

Why do most European cars use lug BOLTS to secure a wheel to a car as opposed to lug NUTS as in most American and Japanese cars? Is there an advantage or disadvantage? I have a VW and recently had a heck of a time getting bolts to fit my aftermarket wheels...it seems that you can get all the nuts you want though in PepBoys... THANKS! Going nuts over lug bolts... !

How do I make a bed on wheels stay put?

sirion — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 23:31:43 -0800

Moving, got new queen bed. I have a metal frame on wheels, but find the idea of rolling my bed around the room retarded. How do I make my bed stay put like the piece of furniture its supposed to be without spending the $$ for a wooden platform bed? So I'm moving, and I've made me a fake queen-sized tempurpedic bed (ebay memory foam + 6 inches of polyurethane in a dust mite zippered cover, plywood boxspring underneath...here's hoping it's comfortable!). I have wood floors, and I believe the bed would feel too low to the ground if I just removed the metal rolling frame. Ideas?

Question 2: why on earth do bedframes have wheels in the first place? I don't know if I've ever seen anyone have any urge to roll their bed to the other side of a room.

gas savings vs. wheel weight

mathowie — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 13:32:25 -0800

From cycling I'm aware that rotational weight is the best to cut for efficiency, and when I think about my new car and ways to coax more mileage out of it, I wonder if getting a lighter set of wheels would improve that measurably? I can't tell if anyone has ever looked at gas savings vs. wheel weight before in my google searching. [+] I believe my current stock wheels run about 22lbs each and I've seen some high performance wheels that go down to about 15lbs that fit on the car (as opposed to bling bling wheels that can approach 30lbs each), but they cost hundreds more, per wheel. What I'm wondering is -- can the weight savings offset the cost and can I save more than I spend in say a year of driving 12k miles on 5lb lighter wheels?

Or would the gas savings be much more slight than that?

Best practices for urban inline skating?

o2b — Mon, 30 Aug 2004 06:13:26 -0800

Urban rollerblading: I've just taken up rollerblading again, after an absence of some years. It's coming back pretty well, but I have some best practices-type questions. The biggest difference is that I now live in NYC, as opposed to Madison, WI. I've gotten up to about 5k a day (either surface streets in Manhattan or the loop in Prospect Park).

My questions are about equipment: I have some basic fitness-type Solomons with your typical wheels, which seem to be accumulating wear at a much faster rate than I recall. How often should I rotate them? What's the best way to do so? When/how often do I need to replace them? I heard someone mention "hard" wheels, are those more appropriate for city streets?

I've googled for general info, but it'd be great to hear from some urban riders.

Hot Wheels!

patrickje — Tue, 10 Aug 2004 08:57:50 -0800

Hot Wheels!
When I was a kid, I forever played with the Hot Wheels plastic tracks that click together. The tracks also had loop de loop and corner accessories. It was fun, because not only could you run your cars on it, but it was also like Legos. Building your track down the stairs and racing your cars down it. Just hours and hours of fun. Fast forward, many years later, I now have young children, and I would like to get them the same thing. I've looked in quite a few toy stores and on eBay, and mostly what I find is one piece items that require no assembly, or just small lots on eBay. If you've played with them you know what I mean, the tracks had a tongue that slipped into the groove of the next track. Does anyone know where I can find this? Do they still make them? Here is an example of the kind of track I'm talking about.

Skating in DC

brownpau — Tue, 25 May 2004 15:32:37 -0800

SkateFilter! Recommendations, please: good in-line skates, wheels, and accessories for skating in DC? My skating environment alternates between urban streets and sidewalks on work days to well-paved bike trails on weekends. I prefer high speed to tricky maneuverability, though I will wish to jump the occasional crack, twist a quick turn-stop, or negotiate tight curves. Oh yes, and I'm poor.