The importance of tire pressure

[cbaber]

I learned a pretty important lesson today. Check your tire pressure on a regular basis! I decided to check my tires today before heading to work and was shocked to see them at about 30 PSI when I had just pumped them up a few months ago to 40. I pumped them up to 45 PSI and headed to work. My usual trip average from home to work has been about 46 MPG. One time I managed to push it to 47.6 MPG. But today after airing up the tires, I hit a trip average of 53 MPG halfway into my commute before having to exit off and get gas. That stop was cluttered with rush hour idiots and it dropped my trip down to like 46 and I was not able to make it up for the rest of my commute.

But still after pumping up the pressure I instantly saw a huge jump in my ablility to P&G. Before I would struggle to hit even 45 MPG at the same point of my commute where I was hitting 53 MPG today. I am hoping to get at least 50 MPG on this tank of gas!

[mcrews]

Originally Posted by cbaber

I learned a pretty important lesson today. Check your tire pressure on a regular basis! I decided to check my tires today before heading to work and was shocked to see them at about 30 PSI when I had just pumped them up a few months ago to 40. I pumped them up to 45 PSI and headed to work. My usual trip average from home to work has been about 46 MPG. One time I managed to push it to 47.6 MPG. But today after airing up the tires, I hit a trip average of 53 MPG halfway into my commute before having to exit off and get gas. That stop was cluttered with rush hour idiots and it dropped my trip down to like 46 and I was not able to make it up for the rest of my commute.

But still after pumping up the pressure I instantly saw a huge jump in my ablility to P&G. Before I would struggle to hit even 45 MPG at the same point of my commute where I was hitting 53 MPG today. I am hoping to get at least 50 MPG on this tank of gas!

GREAT POST!!!!!
I run nitro in my Infiniti Q45 at 43psi. it stays at that.
I drove my daughter's Kia Sportage and the tires were at 28-30. I put them up at 40 and got the exact same resut as you!
A dramatic improvement!

[BHarvey]

I did the same thing once, but not twice!

[jtbo]

Also be careful with gas station air pressure meters, those are typically abused quite a bit and can be way off. That is why I carry my own tire pressure meter so at least if there is error, it is constant, it did not cost much and is rather small digital unit, battery has lasted 10 years on it.

Of course, old mechanical pen type might be bit better as those might be more accurate than cheap chinese plastic things, but haven't seen those elsewhere than at my grandfather's garage when I was a kid.

[cbaber]

I keep one in the car that is an analog gauge type that looks like a tire. Got it from autozone I think. BTW I got a trip average of 51 MPG on the way back from work that night, so first trip was no fluke.

[Frank Lee]

If everybody regularly rode those bicycles that are hanging in their garages, they'd be a lot more sensitive to tire air pressure and how often it needs to be checked!

[jtbo]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

If everybody regularly rode those bicycles that are hanging in their garages, they'd be a lot more sensitive to tire air pressure and how often it needs to be checked!

That is very true!
Just two days ago put LRR tires to my bicycle, it goes by itself now, or that is compared to how it was with coarse all terrains, less burned energy, needs to eat less, so bicycle is now too ecomodded (narrower tires and wheels) and for that also I did use recycled tires (old broken bicycle was stripped for wheels) and pumped to max sidewall pressure

[Frank Lee]

I've taken to riding a full-suspension mountain bike all over vs my old road bike- the MTB is cheap and heavy like a tank but I like the cushyness. Anyway, I put new 26x2 slicks on there and at identical psi vs the old knobbies, I can now pull top gear all over the place where before top gear was pretty much not useable thus demonstrating how much tread block flexing contributes to r.r.

[brucepick]

Yes, you have to keep checking tire pressure and top off as needed. See my sig below.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

If everybody regularly rode those bicycles that are hanging in their garages, they'd be a lot more sensitive to tire air pressure and how often it needs to be checked!

Oh gee, when I biked to school (in high school), I was always late and biked as fast as possible. I had a road bike, tires recommended 90psi. My previous bike had different tires rated for 110 or something, so I always overfilled to 105ish. If they had over 100psi, I got to school on time. Once I tried having them at 90, and I could tell the difference! If they dropped anywhere below 80 I'd be exhausted and slow down.

The "suspension" on mountain bikes saps a surprising amount of energy too. I had a "mountain bike" (by that I mean a cheapo Target bike with some shocks), and adjusting the rear springs to the highest possible preload I could give them with a wrench, it became much easier to ride.