tire pressure in winter

  #11  
Old 12-23-2005, 09:17 AM
bar10dah's Avatar
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: neither here, nor there...
Posts: 1,682
Default Re: tire pressure in winter

Does increasing pressure also increase tire wear? Especially right down the middle of the tread?

The reason I ask is that a few motorcycle riders have noticed this. But, motorcycle tires are different from car tires. At max psi, the tire rides on a more narrow footprint. So now the whole weight of the bike is riding on that smaller area, causing accelerated wear. Some riders have lowered their tire pressure down slightly enough to have a larger footprint. Now, the weight of the bike is spread out over a greater area. And thus, has shown longer tread life.

I haven't done this experiment myself. My former boss over in the motorcycle safety office did. He's pretty particular with his tires. When he made the switch to slightly less pressure, his tires would gain nearly 30% miles in tread life.

I'm still sticking with recommended tire pressure. I'm just curious if anyone has noticed if their treadwear is increased.
 
  #12  
Old 12-23-2005, 09:28 AM
livvie's Avatar
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2004
Location: New England
Posts: 1,518
Default Re: tire pressure in winter

It depends, but overall, if you over inflate your tires, the wear pattern will be down the middle.
 
  #13  
Old 12-23-2005, 03:59 PM
xcel's Avatar
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 2,567
Default Re: tire pressure in winter

--
 

Last edited by xcel; 12-02-2007 at 07:23 PM.
  #14  
Old 12-23-2005, 06:23 PM
Denny_A's Avatar
Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Fox Valley, WI
Posts: 17
Default Re: tire pressure in winter

Higher pressures, within approved limits, improve:

a) wear resistance, b) mpg, c) hydroplane onset speed (as in higher), d) braking performance and e) handling (stiffer side walls).

Braking performace can be seen at: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...FEA/TPMS3.html
Scroll down to tables near the end of the study.

I would also think that higher pressures improve ability to go in snow since the footprint is smaller, and probably degrade traction on ice (same reason, smaller contact patch. Every skinny tired vehicle I've had went thru snow better than my vehicle(s) with low profile, high aspect ratio performance tires.

Hydroplane onset speed (rule of thumb) is 9*SQRT Tire Pessure. A 21% increase of tire pressure should increase hydroplane onset speed by 10%. Going from 35 psi (53 mph onset) to 42 psi should raise onset speed to 58 mph! Again, rule of thumb. The proportional change holds, but tire specifics will result in unkown variance.
 

Last edited by Denny_A; 12-31-2005 at 01:14 PM.
  #15  
Old 12-24-2005, 07:04 AM
livvie's Avatar
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2004
Location: New England
Posts: 1,518
Default Re: tire pressure in winter

Higher PSI makes a noticeable improvement in handling and BRAKING... I forgot that one. In the rain, the higher PSI test where amazing. As for MPG, not noticeable at all.
 
  #16  
Old 12-26-2005, 11:49 PM
philmcneal's Avatar
04 prius 350,000km
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 517
Default Re: tire pressure in winter

now a days i keep my tires near the 50 psi limit. But before they looked kinda saggy at 30, and now if I'm not mistaken are going to look just as saggy as 30 but when I check my pressure it says 48. So are my tires being worn out?
 
Related Topics
Thread
Topic Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
CT Yankee
Honda Accord Hybrid
10
08-11-2009 01:13 PM
EOppie
Ford Escape Hybrid
24
01-05-2008 01:29 PM
Oiler
Fuel Economy & Emissions
3
07-19-2007 06:50 AM
MrBond
HCH II-Specific Discussions
12
12-13-2006 04:56 AM
Mr Bosox
Introductions
2
10-11-2005 01:06 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: tire pressure in winter


Contact Us -

  • Your Privacy Choices
  • Manage Preferences
  • Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

    When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

    © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands


    All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:55 PM.