Tire Pressure and Its Importance 

By: Drew Palmer    (Edited: 11/19/2009)

  

Tires are something that every vehicle needs.  They come in all shapes and sizes, and all types of tread patterns.  So what makes tire selection and tire choices so complicated?  Well, you always take into consideration the cost factor, but most often you wonder "what exactly makes this tire better than that tire?"  The differences can be anywhere between brand (you pay for what you get), speed rating, tread design (all season, winter, summer, sport, etc.) and many other factors.  One thing that is often over looked is the type of tire that are on the vehicle currently.  Did they wear unevenly and did they not last long?  If you answered yes to any of the questions, you need to think about a few things. Here are some things to consider:

 

Air Pressure Is Key: Tires aren't simple anymore - they want a certain air pressure.  However, your car manufacturers drivers door plate says the tires should be set to 32 psi cold while your tire says it should have 44 psi.  So who's right and who's wrong?  Well, neither!  The problem starts when you take into consideration that the car manufacturer is setting the pressure to a certain range for ride comfort.  The tire maker is telling you what you should put it at for maximum life of the tire! Ok, so where's the happy medium?  You should take into considertion of what matters most to you.  Set your tires to 40 psi if you can stand a little less ride comfort and better tire wear.  Just remember, it'll save you money!

Remove Excessive Weight: Keeping heavily weighted items in your vehicle that does not need to be there will take away from your MPG average.  Every hundred pounds reduces fuel economy by about 2%.  It is not a lot, but when added up over time it can be significant.  The weight change also changes your alignment which can change the way your tire is meeting the road.  If you ride often with a lot of weight (like bricks in the back of a pick-up), bring the truck in for alignment with the bricks in the back.  That way the technician can align the vehicle for what the vehicle usually does every day!

Just Rotate Please: Yes, just rotating the tires is cheaper than rotating and balancing the tires, but balance plays a role in proper tire wear as well.  Duffy's recommends that you rotate and balance your tires every 8,000 miles (which is every other oil change if running convential oil).

Over Inflating Your Tires: Too much air pressure in a tire causes the center of the tire to wear prematurely.  Even though it is hard to see, the center of the tire will be in contact with the road the most when over inflated.  Too little of air pressure will cause the outside edges of a tire to wear prematurely. 

Heavy Vehicles: So you drive a big 4-door Cadillac Sedan and you notice it drives like a boat?  Well it weighs like one too.  You need to keep that in mind when purchasing tires that will last. Ask your service writer for what they recommend for your heavy vehicle.