QUOTE (someguy @ Jul 6 2011, 05:07 PM)
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I'm skpetical too but I'm also skeptical about the claims that tires wear out faster when over inflated. Also technically they aren't overinflated per the tire manufacturers specs only the car manufacturer.
The accelerated wear claim dates back to the old bias ply tires. Modern tires have thick steel belts that would require stretching of the woven metal band in order to wear more quickly. In my years of driving, the only tires I've ever had to replace were the ones inflated to the pressure shown in the door jamb. Although the current record for tire wear was on my old GranD Ammit - traded in at 165k miles with the original rear tires still at 7/32 tread, I didn't rotate those tires and so the fronts wore more quickly. When I traded the car at 165k, it was on its second set of front tires that were down around 4/32" - translating into about 90k miles on each set. They were worn evenly across the tread surface. Let's just say they had more air than what GM printed on the door. ;-) It seems to me that tire manufacturers - who only make money when they can sell you new tires to replace those that are worn - are the leading source of scary monochrome photos of bald tires. If increasing pressure really did increase wear, they would want to endorse it in order to preserve their profits. But if higher pressure makes tires last almost twice as long, that will scare the vulcanized pants off them because that means they're selling only half as many tires.
QUOTE (someguy @ Jul 6 2011, 05:07 PM)
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I am aware that many performance cars call for different PSI in front and rear tires and often have different size tires but I didnit know it varied that much. I don't expect myself going much higher than the recommended pressure on the sidewall.
It doesn't have to, but there is room for experimentation. Larger pressure differentials will affect handling. The actual result depends on the car and the tire used, and so I experiment to find what works best for me. The days of wild tire pressures to correct handling problems are far in the past, but as you noted, some performace cars do specify different F/R, and even a whole different set of numbers for driving on the track instead of on the road.
QUOTE (someguy @ Jul 6 2011, 05:07 PM)
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42 psi isn't exactly rock hard actually it rides nicer than I expected. I have only been experimenting for a few days and plan to give it a few weeks before I can make educated statements about how it handles. I have followed the psi on the door frame for almost 20 years now and had suspension related issues anyway on other cars. Not sure this will help or hurt anything in that regard
Yup. The only wear item to consider if you go to Fred Flintstone pressures may be the rubber suspension bumpers. But I'd rather replace them than the wheel rims if I hit a pothole that's deep enough to do damage. The more air the tire has, the less likely you are to lose a wheel rim to a pothole. I've hit some interesting potholes over the years, and never lost a tire or wheel rim. On the other hand, my brother lost the tire (bubbled sidewall) on his AMG Mercedes because of low (placard) pressure. He replaced the tires, aired them up, and hasn't had a problem since - even when hitting some serious craters on unlit portions of neglected NYC interstate pavement.
Other "nevers" for me - Never had a ball joint replacement or tie rod end replacement except for cars I purchased used that needed the work done. I've never had bent/damaged wheel rim or sidewall bubble. I've never had a car lose its alignment (and I do have them checked periodically). I've never had shocks/struts replaced other than due to wear at high mileage (approx 100k miles). My tires last long enough that I tend to trade the cars with the OEM tires (as is the case on the car I traded for the Elantra). Either I lead a charmed life, or increasing tire pressure - within reason - doesn't seem to cause the troubles so often described.
The experience of others may differ, and so this is a great thread to share actual experiences over miles travelled, and the pros and cons we have noted along the way.
