Outcome of Tire Pressure?

[MDT4RNR]

Hello everyone,
I currently have on my '03 SE V6 a set of BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T P265/65R17 110S M+S (dont ask me what all this means, I only have a vague idea).

Toyota recommends the tire pressure to be 26PSI. I drove it at 26 PSI since I got them (07/05), but for some reason I felt inclined to put more pressure on the tires and bring them to 30PSI, you see I was going on a 3hr ride to Charlottesville VA, and some time ago I heard that the higher the pressure the better the gas milage (not that I noticed any dramatic change). I did notice that the ride was a bit rougher (not a concern since I drive on paved roads all the time).

This was purely experimental, but as I look out the window I can tell you the tires are still at 30PSI.

If I were to leave the tires at 30PSI instead of the 26PSI like TOYOTA recomends, what can I expect to occur to the tires? or better said why does TOYOTA reccomend this PSI level? What are the pros and the cons?

Thanks

 

[JB.]

Hello everyone,
I currently have on my '03 SE V6 a set of BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T P265/65R17 110S M+S (dont ask me what all this means, I only have a vague idea).

Toyota recommends the tire pressure to be 26PSI. I drove it at 26 PSI since I got them (07/05), but for some reason I felt inclined to put more pressure on the tires and bring them to 30PSI, you see I was going on a 3hr ride to Charlottesville VA, and some time ago I heard that the higher the pressure the better the gas milage (not that I noticed any dramatic change). I did notice that the ride was a bit rougher (not a concern since I drive on paved roads all the time).

This was purely experimental, but as I look out the window I can tell you the tires are still at 30PSI.

If I were to leave the tires at 30PSI instead of the 26PSI like TOYOTA recomends, what can I expect to occur to the tires? or better said why does TOYOTA reccomend this PSI level? What are the pros and the cons?

Thanks

I'm wondering where you got the 26psi figure. On the door panel it should say 32psi like on mine and every other 4th gen I've heard about.

 

[MDT4RNR]

YOu are absolutely right. I have confused the tire pressure for my wife's HONDA CRV with the TOYOTA. I did them on the same day and Now that I think of it it is the HONDA CRV to which I increased the tire pressure.

The tire pressure on the Toyota tires was about 1 to 2 psi's low on each tire.

I'll post this question on the Honda Forum.. but if any one here knows what the possible effect of the above mentioned is please post.

Kids kept me up all night last night :bash:

Thanks for the reply JB

 

[Bobby]

I don't know of any car manufacturer that recommends tire pressures less than 32psi.

At 26psi, your tires will wear more on the center of the tread and has more of a chance of folding over in a quick medium/high speed maneuver (ie. avoid debris on the road). If the Honda dealer is suggesting 26psi on ANY vehicle, find another dealer. Your life may depend on it. Seriously.

I would say 32psi is a minimum for almost every street car. Going to 34-36psi will give you a little better mileage but at the cost of a stiffer ride, as you found out.

 

[HuntRunner]

I don't know of any car manufacturer that recommends tire pressures less than 32psi.

At 26psi, your tires will wear more on the center of the tread and has more of a chance of folding over in a quick medium/high speed maneuver (ie. avoid debris on the road). If the Honda dealer is suggesting 26psi on ANY vehicle, find another dealer. Your life may depend on it. Seriously.

I would say 32psi is a minimum for almost every street car. Going to 34-36psi will give you a little better mileage but at the cost of a stiffer ride, as you found out.

My wife's Honda Accord says 30 psi on the door panel and in the owners manual. I thought this was strange too because I have never seen anything lower than 32 psi until this. Maybe a Honda thing???
Anyway, the recommended tire pressures on the vehicle plate are suppose to give the best, even wear and performance for the stock tire. Running higher pressure may cause the centers to wear more than the edges of the tire.

 

[Bobby]

My wife's Honda Accord says 30 psi on the door panel and in the owners manual. I thought this was strange too because I have never seen anything lower than 32 psi until this. Maybe a Honda thing???
Anyway, the recommended tire pressures on the vehicle plate are suppose to give the best, even wear and performance for the stock tire. Running higher pressure may cause the centers to wear more than the edges of the tire.

Interesting. They might just want the car to ride more plush. It's not uncommon for racing cars to use the tires as part of the suspension (ie Formula 1). I wouldn't go lower than 32psi on any street car with street tires.

Running higher pressures does not cause the center to wear more, lower pressures do. With the right pressure or higher, the steel belts and construction of the tire will make the tire form into the shape it was designed and give a better contact patch. With lower pressure, centrifugal force will deform the tire and the center will rise higher than the edges causing the center wear faster. This is all at highway speeds. You will get better traction at lower speeds with lower pressure but at the cost of mpg.

This applies strictly to street radial tires, not offroad or race tires.

 

[MDT4RNR]

Just called the Stealership and they aknowledged the 26psi on the door panel.
She said that I should bring it up higher now since it is winter, up to 30psi.

The Tires on the CRV are fairnly new, got them in 08/05. and I could not help but notice that I can feel and hear the tires as I make tight turns, such as backing out of my parking space.

I'll pump them up tonight to 30psi and do a few turns. I'll post my findings later..

Thanks guys or taking your time to reply ;-)

Dax

 

[HuntRunner]

Interesting. They might just want the car to ride more plush. It's not uncommon for racing cars to use the tires as part of the suspension (ie Formula 1). I wouldn't go lower than 32psi on any street car with street tires.

Running higher pressures does not cause the center to wear more, lower pressures do. With the right pressure or higher, the steel belts and construction of the tire will make the tire form into the shape it was designed and give a better contact patch. With lower pressure, centrifugal force will deform the tire and the center will rise higher than the edges causing the center wear faster. This is all at highway speeds. You will get better traction at lower speeds with lower pressure but at the cost of mpg.

This applies strictly to street radial tires, not offroad or race tires.

I am very confused on this wear thing now......When I chalk tested my tires, the chalk stayed on the edges and was gone in the center with higher pressure (additional 10-12 psi). When I lowered the air pressure (close to normal), the chalk wore more even all the way across.
I am not going to disagree with your statement because it makes sense, but it goes against my own test (I am NOT an expert). My theory was that higher pressure tends to round out a tire more, causing more center wear. I even experienced this with a set of LT tires once. I had them aired up to close to 50 psi on an old 1/2 pick-up. The center of the tires definitely wore before the edges. This is also what tire people have always told me and I just believed it. Good discussion......

 

[Bobby]

What I said was more of a general rule, not an end-all to the discussion. Tires have many different constructions and they've all evolved through the years. Some perform differently than others. Runflats have a much more rigid construction and will allow up to 55mph w/o deformation but it isn't suggested to go long distances.

I wasn't expecting someone to put in 10-12psi over the suggested pressures . That would have a similar affect on older tires but the newer constructions, expecially higher speed rated tires, will hold their form much better at higher psi. When you lower the pressures, centrifugal force at higher speeds will deform the sidewalls as well as the tread causing center tire wear.

Tire pressure is extremely important, moreso in race cars where 1/2psi will make noticeable differences to handling and grip. In most street cars, 1-2 psi will make a difference some people can feel.

 

[Koz]

I am very confused on this wear thing now......When I chalk tested my tires, the chalk stayed on the edges and was gone in the center with higher pressure (additional 10-12 psi). When I lowered the air pressure (close to normal), the chalk wore more even all the way across.
I am not going to disagree with your statement because it makes sense, but it goes against my own test (I am NOT an expert). My theory was that higher pressure tends to round out a tire more, causing more center wear. I even experienced this with a set of LT tires once. I had them aired up to close to 50 psi on an old 1/2 pick-up. The center of the tires definitely wore before the edges. This is also what tire people have always told me and I just believed it. Good discussion......

:iagree:

I have also have done some chalk testing on several different vehicles and tires and had the same results.

Koz

 

[trd_style]

Hmm, i have a '97 4Runner on a '04-'05 Rim on it. I believe it said 35 psi on my tires. Uh Oh? I usually pump it to 38-40 psi all the time. Haven't notice anything 'bad' about it. But found out today that i have a screw on one of my tires. -_- Had to put a spare on and going to get it patch today.

 

[NCSCOTT]

I don't know of any car manufacturer that recommends tire pressures less than 32psi.

I have a 2005 Toyota Camry LE which came with 15" Steel wheels (Aluminum Now) and wheel covers factory and the Sticker in the Door Jam list 30PSI front and back. My mother-in-laws 97 Civic EX Sedan list 29 PSI front and back. My sister-in-laws 2000 Pontiac Grand Am List 30PSI front and back. I think you may find many cars recommend lower than 32 PSI pressures. Not just Honda.