Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Mechanic
24,000 miles rotated once.
Contact patch size is reduced with higher pressures which places more weight per square inch on each square inch of contact patch.
|
Coefficient of friction is the single biggest factor in traction here. Reducing the size of the contact patch linearly increases the contact pressure by area, you end up with only a slight reduction in available grip.
Only, going above max sidewall may deform the tire, you start to lose traction.
With the occasional exception, running up to max sidewall pressure should not compromise the wear and performance of any decent tire. It should be designed not to lose it's contact patch shape at the rated sidewall pressure.
I have front wheel drive, the rear tires don't wear perceptably, but the front ones wear on the outside edge quite strongly (power steering, front wheel drive and macpherson strut suspension). Running my tyres at max sidewall of 41psi I can't get the tires to wear unevenly - the they are still wearing at the outside edges faster than the centre.
I can confirm that pumped up tires
will most certainly loose traction much faster on rough, loose or soft surfaces. Had a scare or two
If your driving on sandy, muddy, gravelly surfaces you want to back of the pressure a bit.