Car Wheels — Puzzle for Interview rounds

Question :

A car has 4 tyres and 1 spare tyre. Each tyre can travel a maximum distance of 20000 miles before wearing off. What is the maximum distance the car can travel before you are forced to buy a new tyre? You are allowed to change tyres (using the spare tyre) an unlimited number of times.

Solution :

25000 kms.

Divide the lifetime of the spare tire into 4 equal part i.e., 5000 and swap it at each completion of 5000 miles distance.

Let four tyres be named as A, B, C and D and spare tyre be S.

1. 5000 KMs: Replace A with S. Remaining distances (A, B, C, D, S) : 15000, 15000, 15000, 15000, 20000.
2. 10000 KMs: Put A back to its original position and replace B with S. Remaining distances (A, B, C, D, S) : 15000, 10000, 10000, 10000, 15000.
3. 15000 KMs: Put B back to its original position and replace C with S. Remaining distances (A, B, C, D, S) : 10000, 10000, 5000, 5000, 10000.
4. 20000 KMs: Put C back to its original position and replace D with S. Remaining distances (A, B, C, D, S) : 5000, 5000, 5000, 0, 5000.
5. 25000 KMs: Every tyre is now worn out completely.

All tyres are used to their full strength.

Thanks for Reading

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