With low priced tires with soft sidewalls, under-inflation is
definitely dangerous.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SentraSE-R
Darin did the definitive inflation testing here. The results showed big gains up to 50 psi, but nothing above that.
Darin's results:
psi / ft. traveled
20 / 479.3
25 / 524.8
30 / 621.0
35 / 621.0
40 / 639.6
45 / 687.5
50 / 702.0
55 / 699.3
60 / 702.0 |
I've used that data myself when writing about tire pressure, but of course, it's data for only one type of tire, and shows that going up to maximum sidewall pressure for that specific tire is beneficial, but exceeding it gives diminishing returns.
I frequently pump up to 45 psi myself on cars that are stickered at 28-35 psi. I'd go higher, to 50, but that causes some vehicles to wander a bit on grooves on the highway. I can deal fine, but I'm not the only driver in the family.
After a year or two at 45, nobody complains. They've gotten used to it.