[aerohead]

Originally Posted by RH77

OK, here's a question:

During testing, how high has a tire's pressure limit been tested?

Let's say we put 60 psi/warm in a 44 psi-rated passenger tire. In a controlled lab facility, has anyone witnessed a tire failure? How about 60, 80, 100? What is the maximum average pressure a "gas station pump" can inflate a tire?

So far, a valve stem failure and potential road debris can likely cause an overinflated tire to fail. Further questioning:

What is the statistical different in overinflation vs. recommended for road debris failure?

A valve-stem failure would not likely cause a catastrophic blow-out. The pressure would be released a ordered fashion, as not to heat the tire to a catastrophic blow-out, but rather to a uninflated condition -- which is very noticeable to the driver.

I had a catastrophic blow-out on a brand-new '96 Civic. Highway speeds at 70 mph. The tire disintegrated into 2 separate rings with sidewall separation. Stabilizing the vehicle was a challenge and nearly resulted in a loss of control. Tire experts examined the carcass and blamed a weak manufacturing process. Dunlop's lawyer argued underinflation. Long story short, I was screwed out of a brand new tire and had to buy a new one out of pocket. Good luck getting any "Warranty" replacements on failures.

I vowed never to buy a Dunlop product again -- and recommend the same for any reader.

The questions in the first portion of this thread are requested for consideration. Otherwise....

I propose a collective experiment.

If there is interest, I plan to draft an experiment using the Scientific Method. Those who utilize overinflation could volunteer to offer data based on pressure, number of miles driven, tread wear (inside, middle, outside -- and last vehicle alignment), pictures of the tire, and reports of any failures. A long-term extension study could be offered to track the longevity of these pressure. I propose weekly check-ins with consistent testing of pressures (warm) and ambient temps. A control group of normal-pressure participants would be requested.

Statistical analyses could generate some conclusion on this subset of data. Although it's not a final conclusion, a basis for additional, repeatable testing could be derived.

RH77

At Bonneville,and during some of the Mileage Marathons with the unlimited classcars,tires have been routinely inflated to up to 200-psi.At Bonneville,the old Mickey Thompson speedway slicks are "hyperinflated" to prevent Standing-Wave which melted the tires right off Malcolm Cambell'
s Bluebird racer( you don't want to crash at 350-mph ). For the Mileage Marathon's,the hyperinflation would prevent any deformation of the tire,and reduce the contact patch to the bare minimum in efforts to reduce RR.NOTE all these cars run on a closed course,with Emergency Medical Technicians and ambulances(air ambulance at Wendover) and must pass a rigorous safety inspection before allowed access to the track( see World's Fastest Indian).