"Rainbow" (rainbeaux)
02/12/2015 at 09:48 • Filed to: None
0
25|
"Rainbow" (rainbeaux)
02/12/2015 at 09:48 • Filed to: None | 0
| 25 |
So, my front tires look a little bit low. The sidewall is slightly bulging at the bottom. However, my door placard says that 32psi is optimal, and these tires are filled to 35. The tires themselves say not to inflate above 40psi. So, should I inflate them up to 40, let them down to 32, leave them alone, or what?
E. Julius
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 09:51 |
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How much more than the normal bulge? Can you attach a picture? If you're in spec according to the placard and you've got stock wheels with tires of the correct size, there shouldn't be any issues.
Imirrelephant
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 09:52 |
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Are they the OE tires that came on the car? Radial tires will do that even when inflated to auto manufacturer spec. I would recommend following the placard in your car. If you over inflate them, they will wear unevenly.
Jcarr
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 09:52 |
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I'm assuming you have the OEM size on? If so, you should be fine at 35 if the door placard says 32.
Raphmoe
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 09:55 |
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Nobody here will give you a normal or easy answer except me.
Stop at a STS, Pep Boys, or local tire shop and say,
"Hey, you guys do tires for a living, would you mind looking at my sidewall and letting me know if it looks damaged?"
They will know very quickly if there is a problem with your tire, it won't cost you money to ask.
You're welcome.
CalzoneGolem
> E. Julius
02/12/2015 at 09:55 |
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You want dude guy to post a picture of his bulge?
Stupidru
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 09:56 |
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Question: what type of gauge are you using and how old is it? I only ask this because sometimes the device is not calibrated correctly and may give you a false reading.
Aaron M - MasoFiST
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 09:57 |
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The max inflation pressure on the tire sidewall is not meant as a guide...if you cold inflate to that pressure you run the risk of bursting a tire (as the hot pressure will be higher). Use the door placard as a guide, but if you're only 3 psi off it's not a big deal. Also, if you measured them after a drive they're going to read higher than the cold inflate pressure. In the winter I've seen tires at 31 psi cold go up to 37 psi hot.
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Rainbow
> E. Julius
02/12/2015 at 09:59 |
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Not sure. I've been kind of neglecting to check, partly due to forgetfulness, so it's been this way for a while. I'm going to check with another gauge just to be sure and I'll get a picture then.
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Rainbow
> Stupidru
02/12/2015 at 10:00 |
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One of those pen-shaped ones that I got from Road Atlanta as a freebie a couple years back. I haven't tested it for accuracy, so I suppose it couldn't hurt to double check.
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Stupidru
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 10:03 |
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I've always had a hard time with those. Either they stick and read too low or they just plain aren't accurate
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E. Julius
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 10:03 |
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If you check with another gauge and it's still over the recommended pressure, I would guess that it's just the normal bulge from your tire.
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Rainbow
> Aaron M - MasoFiST
02/12/2015 at 10:03 |
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I figured it wasn't, but still thought it couldn't hurt to add some if that would give me better contact area.
I do find it weird, though, that one part says it only holds 40psi max, but another part gives its max load for 43psi. I'm guessing that 40 is the maximum cold pressure and it can really handle up to 45 or so, but you're right that it's not meant as a guide.
SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 10:07 |
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Make sure the tire pressures are even, bro. Shit gets crazy when they're not.
Seriously, I usually ignore the door card. That's good for the tires that came with the car 20 years ago, but those are long gone. I usually overinflate to taste a little bit on normal street tires. 36 psi seems to be about where I'm happy with the sidewall stiffness on normal tires.
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Rainbow
> Stupidru
02/12/2015 at 10:07 |
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Yeah, they're super convenient to carry, but they do seem like they'd be pretty inaccurate. I have an air pump with a built-in gauge, so I'll check that out later today before I go anywhere.
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SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 10:07 |
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Get a digital one for $5 from autozone with a readout. It's so much better.
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Rainbow
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
02/12/2015 at 10:10 |
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Good point. I'm guessing it's not too important to have them even from front to back, though? My back tires have no bulge at all, but I figure that's because they have much less weight on them. I haven't bothered to check their pressure at all.
But I do think my front left is a bit lower than the right, which would explain why it has a very slight pull while accelerating... I just keep forgetting to check them both together.
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Aaron M - MasoFiST
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 10:12 |
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Yeah, if it says "do not inflate above 40psi", that's a cold inflate number.
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SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 10:13 |
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In a FWD car, I usually leave the front stiffer than the back to avoid it pushing onto the sidewall and causing understeer.
Milky
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 10:13 |
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Get low profile tires. Problem solved.
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Stupidru
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 10:16 |
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It's worth the $2 from Autozone or whereever to double check. Remember, Road Atlanta was giving them away free for a reason
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Rainbow
> Milky
02/12/2015 at 10:30 |
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Those are on my wish list. Actually the only thing right now since nobody makes any reliable aftermarket engine parts for my car and I'm still too scared to fabricate an intake or whatever...
Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 10:38 |
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What kind of tires are we talking here? Snow tires look like that normally, because that's how they work...
Cajun Ginger
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 11:12 |
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at the shop I work at we inflate tires to 35 unless there's some particular reason not to. Like they need to be at 80 or something.
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Rainbow
> Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
02/12/2015 at 12:53 |
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Heh, snow tires. Even if I wanted those down here, I wouldn't be able to find a shop that sells them. They're just... whatever came with the car when I bought it.
You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
> Rainbow
02/12/2015 at 13:31 |
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Run the tire pressure on the door placard. Always run the tire pressure on the door placard. The tire pressure listed on the door is the pressure that the car manufacture has determined to give the best ride, handling and safety for their car. This is the pressure they designed the car to run at and have tuned the suspension for. Always run the tire pressure on the door placard.
The pressure listed on the tire is the maximum pressure the carcass can handle. This is the maximum safe pressure that can be used to seat the bead. Inflating to that pressure will result in an overinflated tire that handles and rides poorly and will likely exhibit unsafe handling characteristics. Do not use the tire sidewall pressure marking for anything other than determining how much pressure you can use to set the bead.
TL;DR - Always inflate your tires to the pressure listed on the door placard.