Tire Pressures
Record Breaker
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 2
From: Milledgeville, GA
RE: Tire Pressures
We all know what kind of auto experts Consumer Reports has. I'll trust 'em to review washing machines or lawn mowers but I'll stick to handling my own automotive needs. Let them report on the reliability of vehicles as experienced by owners - that's useful. They've long ago proven that their automotive mechanical knowlege is mediocre at best.
Manufacturer's recommend inflation pressure simply provides a safe, comfortable ride. It doesn't mean it provides ideal tire performance - it provides the ride that they think their customers prefer. These are the same geniuses that decided the Ford 500 will sell much better if renamed a Tarus.
Ever notice that in the big Explorer rollover fiasco they decided to start recommending a higher inflation pressure? Well duh - of course a big heavy SUV should run its high, flexible sidewall tires higher than 30 psi!
Manufacturer's recommend inflation pressure simply provides a safe, comfortable ride. It doesn't mean it provides ideal tire performance - it provides the ride that they think their customers prefer. These are the same geniuses that decided the Ford 500 will sell much better if renamed a Tarus.
Ever notice that in the big Explorer rollover fiasco they decided to start recommending a higher inflation pressure? Well duh - of course a big heavy SUV should run its high, flexible sidewall tires higher than 30 psi!
Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 566
Likes: 2
From: Western PA
RE: Tire Pressures
JohnM, so we should throw away absolutely everything written on proper tire pressure? Come on now, giveme some proven fact, a link to a site, any site, that says the manufacturers TP's should be ignored.You won't find one. Under-inflating is the most dangerous but over-inflating is dangerous as well.
Don't like Consumer Report's? Fine.Here is a tire maker: http://www.goodyeartires.com/kyt/tireTips/and here is NHTSA take on it, http://www.nhtsa.gov/Don't like the government? Ok, here's the Rubber Manufacturers Assoc. http://www.rma.org/tire_safety/tire_...ce_and_safety/or here http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=147Bottom line is the whole Ford/Firestone thing is the main reason why the makers made damn sure they got it right! As of Sept this year every car under 10K gross has to have TP monitors built in as well.
Don't like Consumer Report's? Fine.Here is a tire maker: http://www.goodyeartires.com/kyt/tireTips/and here is NHTSA take on it, http://www.nhtsa.gov/Don't like the government? Ok, here's the Rubber Manufacturers Assoc. http://www.rma.org/tire_safety/tire_...ce_and_safety/or here http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=147Bottom line is the whole Ford/Firestone thing is the main reason why the makers made damn sure they got it right! As of Sept this year every car under 10K gross has to have TP monitors built in as well.
Grand Champion
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,041
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert, Arizona
RE: Tire Pressures
You know I could see looking at the inside of your door for the tire pressure if you had the factory tires on your truck and you had the same size wheel and everything, but as soon as you start changing things around tire sizes, wheel sizes, ect. then those numbers go out the window because they no longerpertain toyour vehicle. If you vehicle came with stock 20's and the stock tires and you went out and bought 17's and 33" mud tires I'm sure the pressure would be a different rating. Personally I like street and performance tires but if I were to fill them with the factory reccomendations I would be going through them left and right because they would be next to flat.
As a rule of thumb that I as well as everyone else Iknowhave always gone by I always fill my tires up 5lbs under the pressure rating on the tire, so if the tire is rated at 50lbs I fill it to 45lbs because the the wear is even, the ride is smooth and it diesn't hurt my mpg. This is the way my friends do it, my dad does it, back in the dayit was theway my auto teacher tought it.
As a rule of thumb that I as well as everyone else Iknowhave always gone by I always fill my tires up 5lbs under the pressure rating on the tire, so if the tire is rated at 50lbs I fill it to 45lbs because the the wear is even, the ride is smooth and it diesn't hurt my mpg. This is the way my friends do it, my dad does it, back in the dayit was theway my auto teacher tought it.
Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 566
Likes: 2
From: Western PA
RE: Tire Pressures
ORIGINAL: truckin151
You know I could see looking at the inside of your door for the tire pressure if you had the factory tires on your truck and you had the same size wheel and everything, but as soon as you start changing things around tire sizes, wheel sizes, ect. then those numbers go out the window because they no longerpertain toyour vehicle. If you vehicle came with stock 20's and the stock tires and you went out and bought 17's and 33" mud tires I'm sure the pressure would be a different rating. Personally I like street and performance tires but if I were to fill them with the factory reccomendations I would be going through them left and right because they would be next to flat.
As a rule of thumb that I as well as everyone else Iknowhave always gone by I always fill my tires up 5lbs under the pressure rating on the tire, so if the tire is rated at 50lbs I fill it to 45lbs because the the wear is even, the ride is smooth and it diesn't hurt my mpg. This is the way my friends do it, my dad does it, back in the dayit was theway my auto teacher tought it.
You know I could see looking at the inside of your door for the tire pressure if you had the factory tires on your truck and you had the same size wheel and everything, but as soon as you start changing things around tire sizes, wheel sizes, ect. then those numbers go out the window because they no longerpertain toyour vehicle. If you vehicle came with stock 20's and the stock tires and you went out and bought 17's and 33" mud tires I'm sure the pressure would be a different rating. Personally I like street and performance tires but if I were to fill them with the factory reccomendations I would be going through them left and right because they would be next to flat.
As a rule of thumb that I as well as everyone else Iknowhave always gone by I always fill my tires up 5lbs under the pressure rating on the tire, so if the tire is rated at 50lbs I fill it to 45lbs because the the wear is even, the ride is smooth and it diesn't hurt my mpg. This is the way my friends do it, my dad does it, back in the dayit was theway my auto teacher tought it.
All Star
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 946
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Tire Pressures
Well, I guess John has been doing this for many 30+ years and a has a ton of experience.
Personally, I'll go with the experts and tire wear indicators.
That is right, If you change the tire/wheels, etc., the door sticker is null and void. Go by tire wear.
Personally, I'll go with the experts and tire wear indicators.
That is right, If you change the tire/wheels, etc., the door sticker is null and void. Go by tire wear.