Cold tire pressure question
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
Beginning to wonder if I was the only one running those #s from my manual....been running them since day one (36/42)(25 in my shocks), tires are wearing real well.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 2,877
From: Oklahoma
My experience with the owners manual tire pressure recommendation was that the tires reacted more to longitudinal seams or rain grooves in the road surface at those pressures than when at higher pressures. additionally, heat is one of the greatest threats to tire integrity. Lower inflation generates much higher heat in the tire and it can cause hidden damage even if the tire is later inflated to the proper pressure later or cause catastrophic sudden failure. Hydroplaning is also affected by tire pressure. There are many variables, but one thing is constant. Given a particular tire and depth of water and varying only inflation pressure, the lower pressure tire will hydroplane at a lower speed than the same tire at a higher pressure.
All of the above leads me to run my tires slightly above the max indicated pressure on the sidewalls. This allows for possible gauge inaccuracy and for a bit of seepage between checks and provides protection from heat buildup and minimizes the possibility of hydroplaning. As always, do what YOU think is correct but for me the extra margin of safety makes the slightly rougher ride no problem whatsoever. For those wondering about increased wear rate, I got 15,000 miles each out of two D402 rear tires and had 18,000 miles on a rear E3 when a nail sent it to the trash heap with only 50% tread wear.
All of the above leads me to run my tires slightly above the max indicated pressure on the sidewalls. This allows for possible gauge inaccuracy and for a bit of seepage between checks and provides protection from heat buildup and minimizes the possibility of hydroplaning. As always, do what YOU think is correct but for me the extra margin of safety makes the slightly rougher ride no problem whatsoever. For those wondering about increased wear rate, I got 15,000 miles each out of two D402 rear tires and had 18,000 miles on a rear E3 when a nail sent it to the trash heap with only 50% tread wear.
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