Experimenting with my GTI...

[PhoKingGuy]

To humor certain members of this forum I decided to try some things out over the past few weeks.

#1
I've been going to Big Bear and Mountain High pretty regularly the past few weeks to ski. Normally I just turn my car on when I get back let it idle while I take my gear off then get inside and go when i'm done. This time I took a look at the temp gauge to see just how long it would take to get to operating temp (190 F). The coldest day was about 19 F with windchill and it took 15 minutes for my car to hit operating temp and the interior to become warm. I did notice that once i started driving the temps dropped a bit, but came back up quickly as I drove.

#2
Doorjamb pressure for my car is 38 psi in all tires, sidewall is 45. I decided to fill them all up to 45 for the hell of it last time I got gas. This is where I what expected did not happen at all, my car behaved completely differently. In addition to the TPMS light constantly being on and the ride going to complete shit, I found my traction incredibly reduced. The traction control light and stability lights would come on much more than would before (almost never). I also found it hard to get traction in 1st gear at lights, it seemed to skid almost all the time. I don't have shitty tires (P-Zero Nero) so that was not a problem. I did notice my MPG go from 26 combined to 28, but the loss of control that came with it was not worth the savings. Needless to say, I aired them down the same day.

Discuss

 

[TruePaige]

Fleabag humoring?

 

[PhoKingGuy]

One more thing:

I was rear ended by an RX330 a few days ago at about 20mph. Other driver needs a new front bumper and grill. All I need is a sand and repaint O_O, my bumper didnt even crack. I love this car

 

[jhu]

Driving in snow?

 

[XZeroII]

Discuss what?

Yesterday, it started to rain. However the temprerature was below freezing so instead of raining, it snowed.

Discuss.

 

[jhu]

At least you didn't get freezing rain.

 

[EightySix Four]

To humor certain members of this forum I decided to try some things out over the past few weeks.

#1
I've been going to Big Bear and Mountain High pretty regularly the past few weeks to ski. Normally I just turn my car on when I get back let it idle while I take my gear off then get inside and go when i'm done. This time I took a look at the temp gauge to see just how long it would take to get to operating temp (190 F). The coldest day was about 19 F with windchill and it took 15 minutes for my car to hit operating temp and the interior to become warm. I did notice that once i started driving the temps dropped a bit, but came back up quickly as I drove.

#2
Doorjamb pressure for my car is 38 psi in all tires, sidewall is 45. I decided to fill them all up to 45 for the hell of it last time I got gas. This is where I what expected did not happen at all, my car behaved completely differently. In addition to the TPMS light constantly being on and the ride going to complete shit, I found my traction incredibly reduced. The traction control light and stability lights would come on much more than would before (almost never). I also found it hard to get traction in 1st gear at lights, it seemed to skid almost all the time. I don't have shitty tires (P-Zero Nero) so that was not a problem. I did notice my MPG go from 26 combined to 28, but the loss of control that came with it was not worth the savings. Needless to say, I aired them down the same day.

Discuss

I plan on doing similar testing when I get my new set of tires.

 

[TraumaRN]

I never got involved in the original sidewall discussion but I've had my tires if my Fusion Hybrid for awhile and noticed it makes a difference in mileage I gained about 3-4mpg combined now I get a little harsher ride like you noted but the ride was already cushy so it's not bad. The difference from you is the traction issue so far this winter I've not noted any worse traction/slippage issues so far despite snow/ice.

Obviously it's a personal choice and I'm not crazy like certain posters about it, i'll take the mileage bump because the ride sacrifice isn't that bad.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

I never got involved in the original sidewall discussion but I've had my tires if my Fusion Hybrid for awhile and noticed it makes a difference in mileage I gained about 3-4mpg combined now I get a little harsher ride like you noted but the ride was already cushy so it's not bad. The difference from you is the traction issue so far this winter I've not noted any worse traction/slippage issues so far despite snow/ice.

Obviously it's a personal choice and I'm not crazy like certain posters about it, i'll take the mileage bump because the ride sacrifice isn't that bad.

Im sure my low profile 18"s have something to do with the ride quality issues. In a family sedan im sure it would be less pronounced.

 

[TraumaRN]

Im sure my low profile 18"s have something to do with the ride quality issues. In a family sedan im sure it would be less pronounced.

Yeah my 17inch michelin energysaver mx4 definitely had a soft ride at 36psi. Only weird thing at sidewall pressure on really grooved pavement the tires will track with the groove so it's a little quirky but that's only happened one time in a construction zone.

 

[zerocool84]

I never got involved in the original sidewall discussion but I've had my tires if my Fusion Hybrid for awhile and noticed it makes a difference in mileage I gained about 3-4mpg combined now I get a little harsher ride like you noted but the ride was already cushy so it's not bad. The difference from you is the traction issue so far this winter I've not noted any worse traction/slippage issues so far despite snow/ice.

Obviously it's a personal choice and I'm not crazy like certain posters about it, i'll take the mileage bump because the ride sacrifice isn't that bad.

You get less traction which is why you get a mpg bump. I'll take traction over a slight mpg bump that you can change with your right foot. Traction in bad situations is more important to me than a few mpg.

 

[TraumaRN]

You get less traction which is why you get a mpg bump. I'll take traction over a slight mpg bump that you can change with your right foot. Traction in bad situations is more important to me than a few mpg.

I realize this, but like I said it's my personal choice and I've noticed this winter no worse for wear traction. *shrug* I feel safe even with emergent braking/swerving in snowy empty parking lots where I tested it out at the different tire pressures

 

[jhu]

You get less traction which is why you get a mpg bump.

They're both a consequence of increased tire pressure. Less traction doesn't necessarily cause an increase in mpg.

 

[EightySix Four]

They're both a consequence of increased tire pressure. Less traction doesn't necessarily cause an increase in mpg.

Eh, for all intents and purposes, it does. Traction requires friction, friction lowers MPG.

 

[angry hampster]

No point in idling a car to let it warm up. Ifyou just get in and drive like normal, it should warm up within 5-7 minutes. On my VR6 GTI, it's less than 10 minutes in 10 degree weather. Idling just wastes fuel.

 

[jhu]

Eh, for all intents and purposes, it does. Traction requires friction, friction lowers MPG.

On wet pavement there's less traction and less mpg.

 

[LTC8K6]

No point in idling a car to let it warm up. Ifyou just get in and drive like normal, it should warm up within 5-7 minutes. On my VR6 GTI, it's less than 10 minutes in 10 degree weather. Idling just wastes fuel.

Fleabag says your VR6 won't warm up at all while idling in cold weather. Which was the point of the OP's post...

 

[EightySix Four]

On wet pavement there's less traction and less mpg.

I can't think of wet pavement ever changing my MPG for anything but the better, but that is entirely a function of how I drive.

Lets say there is diminishing returns. Less traction to a point = better MPG, past that point both decline

 

[PricklyPete]

The problem is you just didn't fill them with enough air...I'd go 10% over max sidewall for greatest traction!

 

[LTC8K6]

No point in idling a car to let it warm up. Ifyou just get in and drive like normal, it should warm up within 5-7 minutes. On my VR6 GTI, it's less than 10 minutes in 10 degree weather. Idling just wastes fuel.

Also, if the windows/mirrors aren't clear, then you can't drive off for a while anyway. Might as well warm it up while you try to get the ice off the windows. Of course, sometimes it's difficult to get the ice off unless you heat things up a bit by running the engine.

 

[canadageek]

the other issue is that over inflating your tires will cause uneven wear, which will end with you buying new tires sooner.

 

[TraumaRN]

the other issue is that over inflating your tires will cause uneven wear, which will end with you buying new tires sooner.

Don't worry I'm being a guinea pig for that one I've had my tires at sidewall for a
couple months did one rotation so far and nothing unusual noted by the guys at discount tire and I made sure to ask about any uneven wear and none so far

 

[jhu]

the other issue is that over inflating your tires will cause uneven wear, which will end with you buying new tires sooner.

I've had my tires at max sidewall for 18 months and ~17k miles so far. No uneven wear or traction issues. Also, there's no snow here.

 

[bruceb]

I like to run my car about 3-5 PSI higher than what is on the door sticker. That rating is intended for a very soft ride, and not always for best handling. Never go above what is listed as max sidewall pressure. Try increasing in 1PSI increments and you will see where it works best and when it starts going nuts. At that point, back down by 2 PSI and it should be about optimal.

 

[exar333]

Also, if the windows/mirrors aren't clear, then you can't drive off for a while anyway. Might as well warm it up while you try to get the ice off the windows. Of course, sometimes it's difficult to get the ice off unless you heat things up a bit by running the engine.

+1.

Also, some of us like to run our cars for a few minutes because our drive to work is <10 minutes and we still like a warm car. Also, the car is happier to drive when it has been warmed-up for 5-10 minutes on a really cold day (<0F).