and it was an interesting trip. I-10 running from Phoenix through the mountains down through Indio and into L.A. is straight and the posted speed limit runs from 65 to 75 mph and depending what time of the day it is at 75 you stand a chance of being run over by a Mack or a Kenworth. It was interesting to see the (very large) number of thrown treads lying by the side of the road. It is not unusual mind you, but mostly when it is 110 degrees not 75 and
not complete circles of low profile wide tires instead of shredded truck carcess treads.
I am running 45 series 17 inch shoes on my Chrysler T&C and picked a nail up in one recently. I am not sure how flat it was but the side wall desighn had a rib in it that let it ride with some support on the rim almost flat and I got it a block back home to air it up with out damage.
But
It is a whole bunch stiffer in ride than the 70 series 15 inch tire that came with the car.
And
as a comment to the Saturns, while there I was asked how Saturn Owners were doing getting parts.
by some one who knew I am a hobbiest, a shade tree mechanic and a Saturn owner.
Based on what I see here and a few other sites, I had to answer that I really did not think that they were doing very well. I own 1 Saturn, I also own 5 AMc cars. They went belly up in 1988. It is easier for me to find parts for any one of my AMC cars than it is for my Saturn. That is a bit of a relative statement now as some of the AMC parts are in truth getting hard to find.
Saturns are not old enough or popular enough to become collector cars, reproduction parts are not there, some replacement parts are poorly back engineered and the newer cars are badge engineered versions of models never sold or sold in limited numbers in the US and the parts network never developed for them.
The S cars seem to be the most popular and the most unique in that there were not badge engineered models. Dealers will only carry so many parts so long and then they will become gone. Aftermarket has to have a reason to tool up for them.
If they are throwaway cars, there is no reason.
I am not sure what the trigger will be to get rid of mine, either some one will want to buy it at a silly price and I'll sell it
or
some critical plastic part will let go such as the overflow tank for the radiator and I will not be able to fabricate or find something that will work.
In the meantime, it is still one of the more enoyable cars I have ever owned and I fail to understand the stupidity that lead to it's demise.