Quote:
Originally Posted by sickpuppy318
I've been following this thread with much interest since it started. I also bumped up the tires on the protege to sidewall max, 44psi. All was well for a while...
I got married on the 8th, so made 4 120mile-round-trips to the airport that week. Well, 80+ empty and late twice, 80+ full and late twice, and always 65 and drafting on the way back. It was always 90F or above here in FLA.
The day of the wedding my now wife heard a weird noise, sounded almost like a siren. Maybe like airpressure through a valve stem?...
Gas mileage went way down (filled up on monday and WTF???). So today i checked and pressure was 0psi  according to my awsome chrome $3 guage.
Filled it back to 37, it was at 35 an hour later... I haven't found any punctures, but based on the weird noise report, i'd say this wasn't your everyday roofing nail or whatnot.
My gut says the valve stem couldn't hold a full car at 95F and my wife driving  |
Any time there is significant air loss in a tire, there has to be a cause. The fact that the tire is now holding air doesn't mean the problem has gone away. Check the tire for bulges by rubbing your hand over the entire tread surface (I'd recommend using gloves).
If you don't find anything, monitor the pressure and the tire's tread surface (by rubbing) over the next few weeks.
If you do find something, replace the tire IMMEDIATELY!! Once it is off the vehicle, look for cuts in the vicinity of the bulge. A cut in the belt will weaken the tire's structure and a separation will grow off the cut.
Keep us updated. I'm sure all of us are interested on reports of probelms using higher pressures.
BTW, did the gauge register ZERO pressure? It may be time to replace the gauge.