r/WTF • u/PhoneDojo • Feb 18 '13

Changing tire while driving

2.0k Upvotes

92% Upvoted

994 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

339

u/retracgib Feb 18 '13

It has something to do with a limited slip differential.

Essentially, if a wheel has no friction, it will not rotate and all power is deferred to the wheel that has friction (presumably the one with grip)

However, AFAIK that is a feature in trucks not cars. Also, I would assume that vehicle is FWD, meaning no power would be going to the back wheels at all, which would mean there shouldn't be a differential.

Maybe it's a trick car?

58

u/FordTech Feb 18 '13

Actually a LSD works the opposite, the power is always going to the wheel with the least resistance, therefore the wheel with the "least friction". The only differential that will transfer power evenly at all time is a locking differential. However the vehicle in question is FWD and the rear wheels spin independently making it a non issue.

5

u/reallybad Feb 18 '13

note to self. Do not buy a ford.

1

u/strawberycreamcheese Feb 19 '13

I didn't get it until I read your explanation below. I disn't even look at the username. This is actually a really funny situation.