Help me get over it!

[Codswallop]

Many roads around my home are littered with speed cushions like this;



What's the best way to get over them, whilst minimising wear and damage to the car?

It feels smoother to drive over the bump with one wheel either side, but this pushes the wheels outwards (due to the slope of the speed cushion), and wears the inside edge of the tyres/ screws up the geometry.

The alternative involves slowing down more, and going one wheel over the bump. This feels kinder to the tyres, but maybe more wear on the dampers...

How'd you do it? (People with no mechanical sympathy need not bother answering )

[Chris71]

Normal car: one wheel either side.

Something really low: wait for a gap and then go slowly down the middle of the road so the wheels sit on adjacent humps and the sump has plenty of clearance in between.

I had a track-prep'd Caterham that required the latter approach.

[fjord]

I just smash over both bumps with one wheel on each bump.

[Leins]

Always one wheel still on the road for me to prevent the inside edges of the tyres getting worn (is that true?), and at very slow speeds

[Fort Jefferson]

One wheel either side if the track of the car is wide enough.

[Petrus1983]

Speed up man! The arrows are there to show you where each tyre is meant to hit, giving you maxium lift.

[RobM77]

We've got these in my village. The BMW can fit between them easily if there's nothing coming the other way, and just about straddle them without that nasty sideways force you mention. The 2-Eleven can't get over them, even at 0.1mph

For hire cars I follow Petrus1983's advice.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

In the Mazda at least, I find if you flick the wheel just right and use the kerb, you can get up on two wheels and go through the middle. Saves on wear.

[xstian]

Oh dear OP. You must have just brought a Kia, and now you have realised that it is made of cheese and falls to bits on a windy day.

I love cars, but I like to drive them. Not worry if I can maybe get an extra 47 miles out of the tyre's.

[Codswallop]

doogz said:

Screws up geometry?

Really? How fast are you hitting these at?!

The geo thing was something I was told by a tyre fitter If it's not the case, I'll adopt a staright over approach and deal with the increased inside tyre wear.

[Krikkit]

Sounds like a load of balls to me - there will be a slightly unusual loading on the suspension, but nothing to worry about. Tyre wear is pure fantasy.

[Codswallop]

Buff Mchugelarge said:

In the Mazda at least, I find if you flick the wheel just right and use the kerb, you can get up on two wheels and go through the middle. Saves on wear.

Tried that, but it just wore the outside edge of the tyre instead

xstian said:

Oh dear OP. You must have just brought a Kia, and now you have realised that it is made of cheese and falls to bits on a windy day.

I love cars, but I like to drive them. Not worry if I can maybe get an extra 47 miles out of the tyre's.

Firstly, it's 'bought', not 'brought'. Secondly, no I haven't bought one. Thirdly, Kias are rather decent cars these days if you can get over your badge snobbery.

[Codswallop]

Krikkit said:

Sounds like a load of balls to me - there will be a slightly unusual loading on the suspension, but nothing to worry about. Tyre wear is pure fantasy.

Good to know, thanks

[williredale]

MG is one wheel on and one off and taken at low speed. Anything else would involve a new exhaust. Daily driver can straddle them but I still slow down in case I get it wrong.

[M3Maverick]

Petrus1983 said:

Speed up man! The arrows are there to show you where each tyre is meant to hit, giving you maxium lift.

Haha, this did make me chuckle

[harlowhammer]

Petrus1983 said:

Speed up man! The arrows are there to show you where each tyre is meant to hit, giving you maxium lift.

excellent reply.

[Codswallop]

Petrus1983 said:

Speed up man! The arrows are there to show you where each tyre is meant to hit, giving you maxium lift.

Petrus 1983, practicing yesterday;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg79_mM2CNY

[Gingernuts]

heres a how to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg79_mM2CNY

[AndyBrew]

[vladcjelli]

AndyBrew said:

Is that what they're for?

Been wondering for a while.