So, yeah, check yo'self

"cazzyodo" (cazzyodo) 11/06/2013 at 12:19 • Filed to: PSA, Tires

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On my drive to work yesterday I noticed my car felt a little odd on corners. Later in the day, I was going for a slightly longer drive than usual and bing bing bing, warning light.

I got to my destination a short while later and obviously wanted to figure out what was up. Turns out it was just low tire pressure (with a huge sigh of relief). Checked the pressures: recommended psi for each tire was 36. What was the actual pressure across the 4 tires? Between 28 and 32. Yes...28. That would definitely be noticeable (and clearly was).

In my defense it has gotten really cold pretty much overnight and I haven't yet had a season other than summer/warm-ish fall with this car so it's all new. Anywho, made my way to the nearest gas station and filled up the tires again to about 38 psi each. Let me tell you, it felt so much better. More responsive for sure.

Some benefits of a properly inflated tire are:

- proper traction through tire (and computer assists respond better I believe)

- responsiveness to acceleration and braking

- fuel efficiency

- cost savings (outside of fuel efficiency) with regular tire wear

So a friendly reminder, boys and girls, to check yourself before you wreck yourself!

(grainy because cropped low light phone shot)

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > cazzyodo 11/06/2013 at 12:31

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Hmm, most cars I've had recommended right around 32. I think maybe my SHO is 34-ish.

deekster_caddy > cazzyodo 11/06/2013 at 12:36

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Always let out the summer air and put in the winter air!!! ;)

Chatham Harrison dba SPANFELLER DELENDUS EST > cazzyodo 11/06/2013 at 12:37

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My old Escort varied between 34 and 8 psi, depending on time of year (front tires leaked in the winter, rear tires leaked in the summer.) My tire gauge got a lot of use.

desertdog5051 > cazzyodo 11/06/2013 at 12:42

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An interesting fact I learned from a long time performance tire guy. The recommended pressure is more for ride comfort. He said that you should increase the pressure 3-4 PSI over that. You will get longer tire wear and better fuel mileage. I have done that in my truck and motorcycle with great results, especially on my MC.

cazzyodo > deekster_caddy 11/06/2013 at 12:43

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There's my problem! The summer air just said, nope!

cazzyodo > Chatham Harrison dba SPANFELLER DELENDUS EST 11/06/2013 at 12:44

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Jeez. Thankfully I realized I was down a gauge and picked one up this past weekend.

cazzyodo > desertdog5051 11/06/2013 at 12:45

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I was thinking of that myself. The max is 50psi so I may bump to about 40. Wasn't sure of the timer for the pump so I wanted to make sure I got the minimum. Thanks.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > cazzyodo 11/06/2013 at 12:45

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Hehehehe....

For driving more than 100MPH (160km/h) +7psi.

Even funnier on the Ramblin300D...

The man in the iron mask > desertdog5051 11/06/2013 at 12:51

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I also heard that when i worked a summer on a tire shop. and i also prefer having them at more pressure, i get more stable at cornering, and the car ride is still comfortable because suspension is soft.

BJ > desertdog5051 11/06/2013 at 13:28

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Underinflation is more likely to cause damage than overinflation, but be careful if you live in a hot climate or will be driving in conditions that could cause excessive heat buildup (agressive driving, winding roads, autocross, etc). The increased pressure from the temperature rise could become problematic.

Alex87f > cazzyodo 11/06/2013 at 13:31

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22mpg on a Focus ST? Wow. Surprising, I would have expected 28-30..

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > cazzyodo 11/06/2013 at 13:34

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I remember back when I was doing a lot track days on my bikes, the Dunlop guys were always recommending going DOWN from the recommended, 28-30, if memory serves. felt sloppy on the street, but on the track they felt really good. (Dunlop 364's maybe? early to mid 90's)

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Alex87f 11/06/2013 at 13:40

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It's not going to be the same for everybody, some people just get less than other. City street driving does that...and driving in traffic as well. It's also cold out in some parts of the country, so I wouldn't expect great mileage in the beginning anyways.

Übel > desertdog5051 11/06/2013 at 13:52

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Last time I filled my tires I did that. I had been running around 29 PSI for a while (33 front and 30 rear is recommended, IIRC) and hadn't noticed, but on the internet's advice I bumped it up to about 37 in the front and 35 in the rear. Responsiveness is certainly improved, but it seems to have introduced some understeer that wasn't there before, so I think I'll play around with it a bit next summer to see what I can do.

cazzyodo > Alex87f 11/06/2013 at 13:55

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Primarily short suburban driving. Normally got 25 but the winter gas change dropped it pretty well.

cazzyodo > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 11/06/2013 at 13:56

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This tankful was almost exclusively suburban and traffic filled driving. I only went into the city once and that was in such garbage traffic.

cazzyodo > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits 11/06/2013 at 13:58

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Hmm...that's interesting. Definitely felt sloppy along the street but I think I read something somewhere about doing down for track days. Maybe tires warm and pressure increases more than normal driving would do?

desertdog5051 > Übel 11/06/2013 at 14:02

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Interesting that you brought up the understeer. On the Subaru (29F &R) I took it to 33 and I noticed oversteer.

Übel > desertdog5051 11/06/2013 at 14:41

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This inspired me to do a bit more research. As it turns out, the recommended tire pressure chart that I was somehow unable to find is actually inside the fuel filler door (I am not a smart man, apparently). The recommended tire pressure is not around 33 PSI like people were saying, it's actually 28F&26R on the OEM 91H tires. Since I'm running 94W, I think maybe I should let out a couple PSI. Or maybe like 8 PSI. I suppose this is what I get for trusting forums. Explains the understeer, though. Fuck.

Inflame333 > cazzyodo 11/06/2013 at 15:24

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That's one cheap looking cluster, for a BRAND NEW car... jesus they are sucking ass these days.

MouseFitzgerald > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits 11/06/2013 at 16:19

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Airing down gives just a bit more surface to grab with and can help get to temp quicker.