Tire pressure for good milage
#11
Re: Tire pressure for good milage
Originally Posted by tbaleno
I guess the better handling and less hydroplaining is psychological as well.
Its a fact that increasing tire PSI helps FE. Just because in your one week of testing you didnt see it doesn't mean anything. What where the weather conditions for both weeks? How was trafic? Theres lots of variables. One could offset the others.
What needs to be done is for people that say it is unsafe to actualy talk to a person who's job it is to engineer and test these tires. And those that say it doesn't help, I'd like to see a test of over a year.
My Mileage was about 34 to 35 before I increased it. It has jumped and has stayed consistantly high.
Note, when ever you change the PSI the tire will wear differently and will take time for it to show the most benifit. There is no doubt you will see a noticable difference going from 35 to 45 even displite that fact.
Its a fact that increasing tire PSI helps FE. Just because in your one week of testing you didnt see it doesn't mean anything. What where the weather conditions for both weeks? How was trafic? Theres lots of variables. One could offset the others.
What needs to be done is for people that say it is unsafe to actualy talk to a person who's job it is to engineer and test these tires. And those that say it doesn't help, I'd like to see a test of over a year.
My Mileage was about 34 to 35 before I increased it. It has jumped and has stayed consistantly high.
Note, when ever you change the PSI the tire will wear differently and will take time for it to show the most benifit. There is no doubt you will see a noticable difference going from 35 to 45 even displite that fact.
As for my test it was done over 2 months (1 at MAX and 1 at +5 psi)... 8 trips to the station. And the weather for both month was essentially same with a monsoon on 2 days of the MAX psi test.
Driving distance in both month was the same, and same routes were taken. Mileage did NOT improve to the point that I can credit a single MILE per gallon. I can credit up to 10 or so miles over an ENTIRE tank.
It's a simple test that most people can do themselves, they just have to be honest about the test and drive the same.
#12
Re: Tire pressure for good milage
Originally Posted by livvie
As for mileage improvement... I think its more psychological than reality. You did something you though would improve mileage and you drove accordingly and tahda... you got better FE. Try it for a month and tell me what improvement you made if any.
But I did fill up my tires to 35psi last time I was at the gas station. They were at 28, which is even below the 30 recommended on the door sticker (maybe the techs didn't check the tires last oil change!!) Maybe it helps to have them back up to (or above) the minimum recommended. Maybe I'm driving differently this week, but I am getting 46.1 mpg this tank, over my usual 44 average.
However, I am not going to make any calls on whether it was because of the tires, the weather, or chance until a few tanks down the line. I try to drive the same way all the time, and I definately drive the same route all the time, but I know the milage can vary from tank to tank.... so, we'll see. If after about 3 tanks I'm still up at 46, I'll probably keep the tires at 35psi or so. I'll keep you all posted!
Thanks for the input, everyone
--A
#13
Re: Tire pressure for good milage
Add to this thread that higher PSI = longer tread life.
The reason is simple less flex = less stress = less wear.
Excel claims that the effect most noticeable when you get near 50 PSI.
People who run very high pressures generally report that uneven
treadwear is a myth. At least the effect is not pronounced enough
to undo the increased overall tread life.
For that reason I run at 48 (sidewall is 44 so I am not pushing it too much).
And I like the stiffer ride, I would prefer tighter suspension and less power
assist in the steering too, but that is another thread.
I might get to try some light snow driving in two weeks in a trip to tahoe,
I hear that I should drop my PSI for that, can anyone elaborate and
maybe give a few hints as to optimum PSI for that (I have the bridgestones)?
- Kurt
The reason is simple less flex = less stress = less wear.
Excel claims that the effect most noticeable when you get near 50 PSI.
People who run very high pressures generally report that uneven
treadwear is a myth. At least the effect is not pronounced enough
to undo the increased overall tread life.
For that reason I run at 48 (sidewall is 44 so I am not pushing it too much).
And I like the stiffer ride, I would prefer tighter suspension and less power
assist in the steering too, but that is another thread.
I might get to try some light snow driving in two weeks in a trip to tahoe,
I hear that I should drop my PSI for that, can anyone elaborate and
maybe give a few hints as to optimum PSI for that (I have the bridgestones)?
- Kurt
#14
Re: Tire pressure for good milage
There is precious little discussion on this thread of the change wrought by higher tire pressures on ride and handling. I like a smooth softish ride. I guess that Honda engineers have to find a happy medium between the needs of FE and the comfort of its buyers. What do people think?
#16
Re: Tire pressure for good milage
The short answer is that ride gets worse, and handling gets better in
all conditions except snow when you increase PSI.
Nobody mentioned the FE boost in hard numbers yet. It tends to
come in just over 1 mpg/10PSI, so not noticeable unless you do a very
controlled test (which people in this forum have done in the past).
Mostly higher PSI tends to transmit road vibration through a bit more.
It is the little bumps, like tar stripes and pavement cracks that tend to
come through a bit more. Those slightly rough freeways are where you
notice it most.
Overall the change isn't that dramatic, I am not sure you would
even notice it unless you were looking for it. Although a pregnant
woman would probably disagree. :-)
- Kurt
all conditions except snow when you increase PSI.
Nobody mentioned the FE boost in hard numbers yet. It tends to
come in just over 1 mpg/10PSI, so not noticeable unless you do a very
controlled test (which people in this forum have done in the past).
Mostly higher PSI tends to transmit road vibration through a bit more.
It is the little bumps, like tar stripes and pavement cracks that tend to
come through a bit more. Those slightly rough freeways are where you
notice it most.
Overall the change isn't that dramatic, I am not sure you would
even notice it unless you were looking for it. Although a pregnant
woman would probably disagree. :-)
- Kurt
#18
Re: Tire pressure for good milage
I wouldn't recommend going over the max psi located on the sidewall of the tire...I have seen one too many over-inflated tires explode. (I worked for Discount Tire Co., back in the day.)
#19
Re: Tire pressure for good milage
I run 48/46 F/R psi of Nitrogen. I've not noticed any ride, cornering, or stopping issues. Actually I'm impressed, the car performs very well. Of course my other car is a C5 Corvette, so I'm used to the somewhat harder ride. The car feels very stable with the higher psi's. No worries.
#20
Re: Tire pressure for good milage
Originally Posted by BrotherKnight
I wouldn't recommend going over the max psi located on the sidewall of the tire...I have seen one too many over-inflated tires explode. (I worked for Discount Tire Co., back in the day.)
I find your statement hard to believe after actualy talking to one of the engineers. It is stated as fact 100PSI is the minimum PSI noted for a tire to explode. Even if you put in 60PSI and it went up because of the temperature outside and lots of highway driving/cornering I don't see it gaining 40PSI from heat.
Also, were these steel belted tires or tube tires?
Sorry for a bit of a rant. But I'm not buying your story.