[nota]

That was indeed an interesting read

Many drivers today have no idea. I gained my driving skills in charablancs which would make even that 1990 BMW seem like a futuristic space vehicle. My first few cars had 3speed gearboxes (no synchro on 1st) and dramatic single-circuit drum brakes which either swerved or locked up, plus faded at every opportunity. For seats they had flat slippery couches with no seatbelts, there was no heater or even windcreeen washers. All of this lurched ponderously along on rims as thin as razorblades, equipped with crossply tyres that literally started sliding the moment you started turning the wheel

Looking back, those teflon coated crossplies meant that mastering & understanding the art of car control was an obligation, not some optional 'advanced skill' (I remember once watching my elderly grandmother confidently correcting an unexpected slide in her big '59 Humber Hawk)

However one good thing about those primitive old tyres was they could withstand a ridiculously big slip-angle yet still deliver some level of adhesion, so in general they were very progressive & forgiving even while howling away. By comparision, todays modern radials dont offer this forgiveness. They generate incredible lateral acceleration right up to the limit, then often a very sharp deterioration in grip. If you unwittingly step over, all hell breaks loose and you have to be very quick in your reactions