Frog in a Pot; a tale of tire pressure

[Tango Charlie]

If you throw a frog in a pot of boiling water, he'll jump out. Put him in some nice cool water and slowly bring it up to boil, he'll swim around dumb and happy until he croaks. Or so I've been told.

I was that frog recently.

My last two fill-ups have not reflected the MPGs I thought I should be getting. I was wondering if the new spark plugs I put in were to blame. Then I checked my tire pressure before leaving work. Yikes. They were all lower than where I like to keep them, and the front left was down below 30 psi. I put them back up to where I want them. (I'm NOT posting this story to spark yet another PSI debate...) Sure enough, on the way home the Vibe glided further and required less LOD on the SG to maintain speed, ie; like it used to! I had slowly gotten use to shorter glides and higher load readings over a period of time. Grrr.

Moral of the story; Don't be a frog in a pot. If your car doesn't perform like it used to, investigate. Check your tire pressures!

[orange4boy]

It's a seasonal thing. Everyone should check them at least once per season because temperature changes air pressure and some tires leak slowly. Good reminder. Thanks.

A real modding freak would check them every fill up.

That's sure not me. Off to the van I go... Damn moon discs.

[Will]

It's funny... All the time and attention we put into driving style and into modding, and we STILL forget to check our tire pressure. I wonder why that is?

[whokilledthejams]

I tend to do the same-- I don't check my pressure until I notice poor coasting. Luckily, my morning commute involves stretches of coasting that are extremely consistent when everything is working right.

Interestingly, wet weather is working against me. My longest coasting stretch starts at 50mph or so, and ends at 30mph or so (over about 1km), but when it's wet or my tire pressure is out of whack (i.e., one or more get down to about 35psi), I am only doing about 20mph at the end of that stretch.

The cold weather is also killing my FE, I think, and it's only fall! I've always notices lousy fuel consumption in the winter, but I've never tracked it as closely as I do now.

My last tank was a paltry 36.5mpg. The upside-- It took me three and a half weeks to use ten gallons of gas, and it was entirely in-town driving, so I guess it's not that bad.

[cfg83]

Will -

Originally Posted by Will

It's funny... All the time and attention we put into driving style and into modding, and we STILL forget to check our tire pressure. I wonder why that is?

I'm too lazy. Also, it only occurs to me after I have been driving. I've read that the optimum time to check the PSI is when the tires are cold.

CarloSW2

[MetroMPG]

Funny, I was going to post a similar story just last week when I noticed a difference in the ForkenSwift. Not the gliding so much, but it seemed to be riding much more "cushy" than usual... Sure enough all tires a bit low, one way down.

Corrected! Can now tell again whether a penny is heads or tails when I drive over it.

Did I learn my lesson and go check the Flea? Um, nope. Tomorrow!

[Ford Man]

I've made a habit of checking my tire pressure during the first week of every month. I always know how long it's been since they were checked and it also makes it much easier to remember to do it.

[Doofus McFancypants]

i had noticed my mileage being lower than expected - so i checked the tires and sure enough - they were all below 20 !!!!!.

I like the 1st of the month check - makes it easier to remember to check.

steve

[Tango Charlie]

Originally Posted by Doofus McFancypants

I like the 1st of the month check - makes it easier to remember to check.

Yup, that's what I've determined to do. Along with a fluid check.

[silverinsight2]

I check them every day.