You're running your tires at 47-50 PSI???

Mine say 44 PSI max on the sidewall.
My tires are "Continental Contrack Eco-Plus".

Do others have tires with higher pressure ratings?
Surely one should not exceed the maximum pressure rating for the tire!
Doesn't that make the tire go BANG?

 

Hi AndyTieDye:

___Boom happens at around 125 #’s, not 44 - 50

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

 

I am going to check the tires more often... but checking them all the time will let air out! Today there was no change from yesterday, except the "low" one lost 0.5 and is now at 40.5.

Extra pressure means at least 1.5 MPG better.
In all my years, I have never seen a tire wear out from the center. The edges always wear out first... due to under-inflation... by just a pound or two under the "reccommended" pressure.

Softer Tires = Softer, more comfortable ride.
Harder Tires = Hasher ride, but better fuel economy, and longer life of the tire.

So the "recommended" pressure of 35 is a "middle ground". A good compromise of ride and fuel economy. You can safely trade one for the other. I try not to go past 44-45 psi, but went higher for experimental reasons. I'll also keep the front softer for snow and ice season.

-John

 

The 'EcoPlus' are the low-rolling-resistence version of the tire (for better economy). A normal non-hybrid Escape has Continental Contritrack tires too -- but not the 'EcoPlus' version of it. Years from now when it's time to replace your tires, you'll want to replace them low-rolling-resistence tires. That's why Ford made that comment that the tires are part of the cars economy design and you should replace them with the same or similar type tires -- not just anything that fits.

The tire pressure recommendation is intended so that the tread lays down a proper foot-print on the road for traction. That's why many cars will tell you to add a little more pressure if your car is loaded up with passengers & cargo.

 

I take my last post back! (Can I do that? )

I was going off memory. Just checked my notes.
Not to get too excited, but all 4 tires lost 0.5 PSI in 24 hours.

I was careful, and going by my backyard thermometer, the air temp is within 2-3 degrees the same as yesterday.

Maybe the WEATHER pressure ( barometric pressure ) changes that much day to day? The RR tire is still weird.

-John

 

Ok, that makes sense. I had 35-36 in every tire when it was low 80s outside. When they checked pressure at the event (cold tires - they didn't have a chance to warm up on my whopping 3 mile drive from home to the event) they were all about 3 lbs low. (32-34lbs) Temps were in low 50s so that would account for a 3 lb loss.

 

Ok I just read the key fob trick and I'm literally LOL!
I have used this trick in large parking lots since the old Clifford alarms back in the 80's. If you put the fob under your chin and use your other hand as a pointer you can set your alarm from much farther away then just pointing the fob.
I have convinced friends who thought I was crazy by having them back away from the car until the fob won't set the alarm then I have them take 10 extra steps back try the fob and when it doesn't work try my trick. It always works and I have a new convert.
It saved a lot of walking around looking for the right rental car at Disneyworld. Stand on a lightpost and point away.

 

Yes but...
The Ford recommendation is 35 PSI (a minimum, I assume)
The Maximum printed on the tire is 44 PSI.

One obviously doesn't want to go below 35, but is it safe to go above 44??

 

Hi AndyTieDye:

___Most passenger tires you can purchase today have max sidewall of just 44 #’s. Is it safe to go > 44 #’s? How many hundreds of thousands or millions of miles of travel would you need to see before you consider 50 #’s safe? 44 - 50 #’s is for more advanced Hypermiler’s and probably not for you just yet. As mentioned earlier, burst pressures are in the 125 + # range in most cases and I have yet to hear of a blow out do to over inflation at just 50 #’s from Insighter’s with > 100,000 miles on their 30,000 mile rated Bridgestone RE92’s

___I have the Continental ContiTrak’s on the Ranger (not the Eco Plus’ ) They have been running 50 #’s for over 2 years now but again, this is my own preference. My use of such pressures does not condone others to follow my lead nor should it be a recommendation for you to do the same.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

 

A barometric change of ~1inHg is about 1/2 psi. An inch is a lot, but is also about the normal max/min swing at sea level on the East Coast.

Higher barometer = lower gage reading on your tires, assuming same temp. Compound that with the temp (1# for 10degF)