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tire pressure
Teching In
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, MO
I ran mine at 40 for a few days to see if it would help cornering and such, and the only real difference i noticed was alot more road noise and i could feel more of the road imperfections through the steering wheel. It didnt handle any better or worse.
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Going with sidewall pressure is not the same as OVERINFLATION. If you've experienced these things, then I would venture to say that you don't keep your alignment within spec and/or don't rotate your tires.
We rotate RELIGIOUSLY every 5000 miles, and have never had uneven wear UNLESS the alignment was off.
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I was probably inflating my tires this way when you were still riding a Big Wheel.
Going with sidewall pressure is not the same as OVERINFLATION. If you've experienced these things, then I would venture to say that you don't keep your alignment within spec and/or don't rotate your tires.
We rotate RELIGIOUSLY every 5000 miles, and have never had uneven wear UNLESS the alignment was off.
Going with sidewall pressure is not the same as OVERINFLATION. If you've experienced these things, then I would venture to say that you don't keep your alignment within spec and/or don't rotate your tires.
We rotate RELIGIOUSLY every 5000 miles, and have never had uneven wear UNLESS the alignment was off.
This is pretty common knowledge and I'm surprised an old timer like yourself doesn't know this.
EDIT: Inflating tires over manufacturer spec will cause excessive treadwear to the center of the tread, under inflation causes the outside of the tread to wear more than the center. This will occur even when the wheels are properly aligned and suspension components are in good condition.
Last edited by RA4926; May 7, 2011 at 12:01 AM.
Inflating per sidewall doesn't automatically = uneven wear. I have a lot of customers who run sidewall tire pressure and don't have much of an issue, even though I don't recommend it. I agree it can definitely cause wearing in the center of the tire, but doesn't mean it 100% will happen.
Sounds like you've been over inflating your tires for your vehicle old man, recommended tire pressure for my GXP is 30PSI by GM. That pressure is to maximize contact patch determined by weight of the vehicle. Using a higher than recommended tire pressure will cause excessive in the center of the tire tread due to the tire "ballooning", over inflating also negatively effects handling since the higher the PSI in a tire, the bouncier it is, causing tire to bounce more uneven roads.
This is pretty common knowledge and I'm surprised an old timer like yourself doesn't know this.
This is pretty common knowledge and I'm surprised an old timer like yourself doesn't know this.
Inflating per sidewall doesn't automatically = uneven wear. I have a lot of customers who run sidewall tire pressure and don't have much of an issue, even though I don't recommend it. I agree it can definitely cause wearing in the center of the tire, but doesn't mean it 100% will happen.
Just checked my door again and it says 30 PSI cold, front and rear.
Last edited by RA4926; May 7, 2011 at 12:08 AM.
Sounds like you've been over inflating your tires on your vehicles old man, recommended tire pressure for my GXP is 30PSI by GM. That pressure is to maximize contact patch determined by weight of the vehicle. Using a higher than recommended tire pressure will cause excessive wear in the center of the tire tread due to the tire "ballooning", over inflating also negatively effects handling since the higher the PSI in a tire, the bouncier it is, causing the tire to bounce more on uneven roads.
This is pretty common knowledge and I'm surprised an old timer like yourself doesn't know this.
EDIT: Inflating tires over manufacturer spec will cause excessive treadwear to the center of the tread, under inflation causes the outside of the tread to wear more than the center. This will occur even when the wheels are properly aligned and suspension components are in good condition.
This is pretty common knowledge and I'm surprised an old timer like yourself doesn't know this.
EDIT: Inflating tires over manufacturer spec will cause excessive treadwear to the center of the tread, under inflation causes the outside of the tread to wear more than the center. This will occur even when the wheels are properly aligned and suspension components are in good condition.
This practice has served me well for a long time. I've never had a blow out, nor have I experienced abnormal treadwear, and I typically outperform the EPA on MPG. You can choose to believe this or not, I don't really care.
I will air-down when going to the track, and for obvious reasons.
Results are what matter to me, not the anecdotes of some dude on the internet.
This practice has served me well for a long time. I've never had a blow out, nor have I experienced abnormal treadwear, and I typically outperform the EPA on MPG. You can choose to believe this or not, I don't really care.
I will air-down when going to the track, and for obvious reasons.
This practice has served me well for a long time. I've never had a blow out, nor have I experienced abnormal treadwear, and I typically outperform the EPA on MPG. You can choose to believe this or not, I don't really care.
I will air-down when going to the track, and for obvious reasons.
Excessive treadwear of over inflated tires won't be noticeable to the average driver until at least 10k and higher mileage of consistent over inflation. If you over inflate like you say you do, measure the tread depth in the center of the tire and then compare that to either outer edge (assuming you drive like you should on the street). There will be a difference, more on driven wheels, less on free wheels.
Why do you air-down street tires when you're at the track...greater contact patch. There's really no other reason unless you have very soft sidewall street tires.
Nice job trying to belittle me, it's difficult to teach and/or learn things when people either think they know everything or offer personal attacks. In this case it's both, but I'll tuff through it and offer what I've learned anyway
Here a few visual aid to help understand.
And a few articles
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/4199963
http://www.dunloptires.com/care/proper_inflation.html
http://www.ehow.com/list_6109527_eff...ion-tires.html
Last edited by RA4926; May 7, 2011 at 10:32 AM.
I usually end up burning through a set a year ( it's hot out and I like to burn em) 
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: WILKES-BARRE,PA.
i agree with ls1> girlfriend post ! tire mfg. and vehicle factories spend a lot of time/monies to come up, with best normal tire air pressures. of course you can always go up/down , for your personal opinions .. i have always found mfg. numbers are best !! rkvette 
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 1
I too only care about results, that's why I use correct tire inflation practices.
Excessive treadwear of over inflated tires won't be noticeable to the average driver until at least 10k and higher mileage of consistent over inflation. If you over inflate like you say you do, measure the tread depth in the center of the tire and then compare that to either outer edge (assuming you drive like you should on the street). There will be a difference, more on driven wheels, less on free wheels.
Why do you air-down street tires when you're at the track...greater contact patch. There's really no other reason unless you have very soft sidewall street tires.
Nice job trying to belittle me, it's difficult to teach and/or learn things when people either think they know everything or offer personal attacks. In this case it's both, but I'll tuff through it and offer what I've learned anyway
Here a few visual aid to help understand.
And a few articles
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/4199963
http://www.dunloptires.com/care/proper_inflation.html
http://www.ehow.com/list_6109527_eff...ion-tires.html
Excessive treadwear of over inflated tires won't be noticeable to the average driver until at least 10k and higher mileage of consistent over inflation. If you over inflate like you say you do, measure the tread depth in the center of the tire and then compare that to either outer edge (assuming you drive like you should on the street). There will be a difference, more on driven wheels, less on free wheels.
Why do you air-down street tires when you're at the track...greater contact patch. There's really no other reason unless you have very soft sidewall street tires.
Nice job trying to belittle me, it's difficult to teach and/or learn things when people either think they know everything or offer personal attacks. In this case it's both, but I'll tuff through it and offer what I've learned anyway
Here a few visual aid to help understand.
And a few articles
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/4199963
http://www.dunloptires.com/care/proper_inflation.html
http://www.ehow.com/list_6109527_eff...ion-tires.html
I also run at least 2 more psi than the door sticker. but that puts me at 32psi for my TPMS and most gauges are reading like 36psi...
Every tire is different so once tire at 40 will be great, your next set wont handle for crap at 40 or 30 but like to be at 34.. So yes the door jam sticker is a starting point... but we are on here to modify our cars.. what easier than tire air preasure.
I like having extra couple psi in my tires because i never know when ill be caring extra weight and slight improvement in gas milage.
And as for airing down street tires. I have been trying different psi at the track.. i find a few psi lost has worked for me so far...even with our short side walls it seems to still allow a bit for contact patch and sidewall flex. though still experimenting... Then again when i air down its generally from a higher preasure to begin with
