Someone could have died when a car using a skinny space-saver wheel raced another at speeds of up to 151kmh on Dunedin's Southern Motorway, police said yesterday.
It was a "miracle" it stayed on the road: its front suspension was sitting in the back seat and a front tyre was worn to the canvas, Acting Sergeant Chris MacAulay, of the strategic traffic unit, said.
"The modification and the state of the tyres - especially the fact it was travelling on a space-saver tyre - made this one of the worst incidents of its type I've seen for a long time," he said.
"The potential for a serious crash is huge at 151kmh, worse when it is in a car that has no front suspension, and worse again when the tyres are in the state they were in."
"If there had been a crash at that speed and in those circumstances, I've no doubt that someone could have been seriously injured or killed."
The incident happened about 10.15pm on October 27. Police were "shocked" to discover one of the cars they impounded was fitted with a wheel designed only for short trips and emergencies.
They were also less than impressed to learn the driver had been warned about long-term use of a space-saver wheel about a fortnight earlier.
Acting Sgt MacAulay said space-saver wheels were only rated to speeds of up to 80kmh. To travel any faster was an offence subject to the same fines as other speeding offences.
That meant people caught driving at 100kmh on a space-saver wheel could receive a $120 fine.
"The potential for a tyre blowout is huge. There is a lot of pressure from the speed, and driving at speed with a space saver could put the vehicle very seriously out of balance.
"That's why there are rules in place to make sure people do not travel any faster than they are rated."
Space-saver wheels were safe to drive on so long as they were not misused. The incident last week was a "reckless and utterly stupid" example of misuse, Acting Sgt MacAulay said.
Space-saver wheels come as standard in most Japanese imported and many New Zealand-new vehicles.
They have to have a label explaining the speeds at which they can be used, and should be used only temporarily.
Both drivers in the motorway incident had their licences suspended and will appear in the Dunedin District Court on driving charges.
Space-saver wheel
• The tyres have less dense rubber and sidewalls, and less tyre surface on the road
• Keep them inflated to the pressure on the label.
• They are not designed to be used over long distances; use only in an emergency.
• Drive carefully and at no more than 80kmh.
• It may be dangerous - and it is an offence - to go any faster.
• Never fit more than one to your vehicle at any one time.
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
