29 psi + 6 psi = WOW

[IHateMyJob2004]

I've been getting bad fuel econopmy for a while. Chevy truck with a 4.8L V8.

I was probably getting 16 mpg of mostly highway driving. Now I think I'm back to the 19-20 mpg I used to get.

I can't beleive the extra 6 psi improved my fuel economy by that much. So everybody, go check your tires!

 

[Looney]

Noob

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: Hardcore
Noob

lol hell yeah it makes a diff

 

[0roo0roo]

i check mine every 3-4 weeks....

dont forget to check the spare.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Duh!

 

[Ilmater]

I thought you added the 29 and the 35, at which point I was wondering how you kept the tire from exploding. This thread was a disappointment. :thumbsdown:

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: Ilmater
I thought you added the 29 and the 35, at which point I was wondering how you kept the tire from exploding. This thread was a disappointment. :thumbsdown:

SORRY. But I thought this could act as a gosh darned reminder for people, especially in winter as properly inflated tires give better tractions also.

SORRY!

 

[Kelemvor]

What is the recommended inflation pressure as stated on the inside of the door or wherever it's listed on your truck?

 

[AmigaMan]

wouldn't under-inflated tires actually give more traction in the snow and ice? Wouldn't there be more contact between the tire and the road?

 

Originally posted by: AmigaMan
wouldn't under-inflated tires actually give more traction in the snow and ice? Wouldn't there be more contact between the tire and the road?

Underinflated tires would cause the middle section of the tire to bow in and the sides would only properly contact the road.
Overinflated tires would cause the middle section of the tire to balloon out and have less contact area, but less rolling resistance.

 

[mcvickj]

Thanks for the reminder. I haven't checked my tire pressure in a couple of months.

 

[Argo]

Just checked my tires yesterday. On average they lose about 4psi every 2-3 months so definitely check them often. Good thing my car comes with it's own cigarette lighter pump, so I can do all that in my garage, as opposed to 5 degree cold.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I check my pressure by looking at the wear and dust pattens. On my tires, the wear should be to the edge of the shoulder without going too far over it.

If you look at this picture, you can tell that the tire is overinflated. The shop put them on w/ around 50PSI:
http://mspencer.net/Demon-Xanth/Tires/Alongside.jpg
Note that there is almost an inch of rubber NOT meeting the road.

 

[nakedfrog]

For a minute there, I was wondering what kinda engine you had that you were pushing that much boost...
It's amazing how often I see people with one or two tires that are way too low when I'm out driving. I have a co-worker who has a tire that is noticeably low, and I've finally stopped telling her she should get it taken care of after a few months.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
For a minute there, I was wondering what kinda engine you had that you were pushing that much boost...
It's amazing how often I see people with one or two tires that are way too low when I'm out driving. I have a co-worker who has a tire that is noticeably low, and I've finally stopped telling her she should get it taken care of after a few months.

Well, my Brother in Law put a boost guage on his truck and it's pushing 26PSI. Wouldn't take much to bump it up by 6

 

[lobadobadingdong]

for that truck 34psi in the front and 33psi (35+psi if you haul loads all the time) in the back won't make a huge impact on econmy and your tires will wear more evenly.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
What is the recommended inflation pressure as stated on the inside of the door or wherever it's listed on your truck?

The Number on the car is COLD tire pressure. If you drive to a gas station to fill up your tires you need to adjust that number as your tires would have heated up a little.
I put most cars/trucks at 35 front and 32 rear.

 

[AmigaMan]

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: AmigaMan
wouldn't under-inflated tires actually give more traction in the snow and ice? Wouldn't there be more contact between the tire and the road?

Underinflated tires would cause the middle section of the tire to bow in and the sides would only properly contact the road.
Overinflated tires would cause the middle section of the tire to balloon out and have less contact area, but less rolling resistance.

I think you're talking about seriously under-inflated tires. I'm talking about letting may 5-10 psi out of a 35psi max rated tire. When 4 wheelers go out they let out a bit of air from their tires to get more traction. I would think the same analogy would apply to snow. It would suck for gas mileage which is what the OP was talking about.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
What is the recommended inflation pressure as stated on the inside of the door or wherever it's listed on your truck?

The Number on the car is COLD tire pressure. If you drive to a gas station to fill up your tires you need to adjust that number as your tires would have heated up a little.
I put most cars/trucks at 35 front and 32 rear.

I know that's the Cold temperature. Im just wondering if his truck called for 30 and he's using 35 or if the truck called for 35 and he was just running low before or what.

I fill up my tires at home so they are always cold. My car calls for 30 so I usually go to between 30-32.

 

[V00DOO]

Speaker of tire pressure, what is good budget power pressure inflator?

 

[EMPshockwave82]

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: AmigaMan
wouldn't under-inflated tires actually give more traction in the snow and ice? Wouldn't there be more contact between the tire and the road?

Underinflated tires would cause the middle section of the tire to bow in and the sides would only properly contact the road.
Overinflated tires would cause the middle section of the tire to balloon out and have less contact area, but less rolling resistance.

to give a visual

overinflated tires )|
underinflated tires (|
correctly inflated tires ||

underinflating tires in sand / offroad situations can give better traction

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
I've been getting bad fuel econopmy for a while. Chevy truck with a 4.8L V8.

I was probably getting 16 mpg of mostly highway driving. Now I think I'm back to the 19-20 mpg I used to get.

I can't beleive the extra 6 psi improved my fuel economy by that much. So everybody, go check your tires!

thats your reason right there

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
i check mine every 3-4 weeks....

dont forget to check the spare.

OH NOOOEEEESSSSSS!! My spare is flat. Oh wait that's how it came from the factory, seeing as how that's the only way to get it to fit in the car.lol

 

[0roo0roo]

yes i've seen a few spares at like 15psi or lower....people never seem to check em.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: AmigaMan
I think you're talking about seriously under-inflated tires. I'm talking about letting may 5-10 psi out of a 35psi max rated tire. When 4 wheelers go out they let out a bit of air from their tires to get more traction. I would think the same analogy would apply to snow. It would suck for gas mileage which is what the OP was talking about.

yes, it works.