what's worse, an overinflated tire or an underinflated tire?

[MaxDSP]

a question thats been bothering me for a while. I can see the bad results happening from either scenario, but which is worse than the other?

 

[JC]

Unless you're talking about like 40psi overinflated, then underinflated is worse. Causes internal friction in the tire, and can cause the rim to fold the sidewall over on itself, causing major friction/heat. That will tear up a tire in short order.

JC

 

[0roo0roo]

yup. overinflate and u have less traction but more fuel efficiency with most tread wear at center of tire

 

[Brutuskend]

Plus less control with a underinflated tire.

 

[Anubis]

unerinflated

 

[GasX]

Overinflating w/i reason can improve performance.

 

[The Stigenator]

depends on teh condition..

in snow = under inflated. / weak inflated in extreme snow
in heat = normal / slightly over inflated not too much..
in extreme heat = normal

I use normal to slightly over inflated.. (by 1 psi or 2 psi max)

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Overinflating w/i reason can improve performance.

I think that improves only handling, but not acceleration. Supposedly at a dragstrip, you want to slightly underinflate to give a bigger contact patch.

I overinflated my tires by 5 psi and my car seems to corner harder now.

 

[The Stigenator]

during my bicycling days I would run my tyres over infalated.. or fullly inflated because it made it a lot faster to accelerate and lot faster to corner and lot easier on my legs..

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Overinflating w/i reason can improve performance.

just don't go overboard

 

[GasX]

Let's brake it down:

Tire pressure is set so as to balance the increase traction you get with a soft tire (underinflated) and the increased handling you get with a hard tire (overinflated).

An underinflated tire is more like to roll.

An overinflated tire is more like to burst.

On a dry road, a little overinflation is good. On a wet or snowy road, the extra traction from letting a little air out is a good thing.

 

[ElFenix]

cars are delivered to dealers with overinflated tires

 

[MaxDSP]

excellent. Seems like all the cars Ive owned or driven have had tire problems. My current POS intrepid is no exception

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Hehe, I just had a flat tire yesterday and got brand new Michelins.. pretty sweet new set of rubber.. im running them at car factory spec right now.