Once upon a time ... the Wivo-Autoretter
01/15/2023
You probably remember the Trilex rim, which was designed to make it easier for truck drivers to change tires - a clever patent that has saved the day for many a haulier. But before you could even repair the damaged tire, you first had to prevent the truck from crashing uncontrollably into the ditch after the tire burst. A new invention was to make this easier from 1952: the Wivo-Autoretter.
In principle, this was a small metal support wheel with solid rubber tires that was attached to the underside of the axle and was intended to catch the car before it hit the road with the rim of the exploded tire. This was intended to allow the car to continue rolling unhindered even with the damaged tire and thus prevent it from skidding - an early combination of run-flat tires and ESP, so to speak.
This also worked wonderfully during a press demonstration. However, the front tires were always punctured, which have less influence on directional stability than the rear ones anyway. A rogue who thinks evil of it. The Wivo-Autoretter was available from Wilhelm Vollstedt in Hamburg for 100 to 225 marks per pair, depending on the axle and vehicle model. For heavy trucks such as the Krupp Mustang, the four-piece set cost 480 marks. He probably didn't sell very many.
