How many PSI do you run in YOUR tires?

[CargoBoatTails]

Originally Posted by ksa8907

I run 44psig in tires that are 51psig max.

Im curious, do cheapo tires with less advanced construction techniques and materials wear the center faster at elevated pressures?

I dont know but mine are Michelin Primacy and wore the center down at 46 instead of 30.

[cowmeat]

I bought my Nakang 155-80 R12 tires for 33 bucks each online, and had them mounted for six bucks each, so I'd have to say I'm running the absolute cheapest tires on the planet
I keep the Nakangs at 55 psi (they read 45 max on sidewall), and so far the tread wear is even throughout the tires, and I've never had an issue with them, other than feeling every bump in the road
Of course, I pretty much creep around like most people on here who don't have highway commutes

[California98Civic]

The treadwear/psi discussion has been had many times on this site (maybe in this thread already). Higher pressure is not going to unevenly wear tires at the center. Steel belted tires cannot flex like that along the tread and so they do not balloon under higher pressures along the center of the tread, as people think. Numerous folks on this website have tens of thousands of miles of experience at ten and 15+ psi over sidewall to demonstrate that fact, myself included. But lower pressure will cause more flexing along the sidewall when you're in motion. That flexing will building up heat in the tire and increase the likelihood of the occasional blowout.

[Gasoline Fumes]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

Higher pressure is not going to unevenly wear tires at the center.

I'm running something like 60 PSI in my summer tires without uneven wear. But I've seen some tires wear out the centers quickly. The ones I've observed myself are Bridgestone Blizzaks. One set (175/70-13) was at the max pressure of 35 PSI. The other (185/70-14) was at 40 PSI (44 PSI max). On both sets, the centers wore out about twice as fast as the edges. I'm assuming the wear was related to pressure, but maybe Blizzaks always wear out the centers? My current Blizzaks (155/80-13) are wearing OK at 45 PSI (max 35). I'm assuming this is due to their narrow width.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Gasoline Fumes

I'm running something like 60 PSI in my summer tires without uneven wear. But I've seen some tires wear out the centers quickly. The ones I've observed myself are Bridgestone Blizzaks. One set (175/70-13) was at the max pressure of 35 PSI. The other (185/70-14) was at 40 PSI (44 PSI max). On both sets, the centers wore out about twice as fast as the edges. I'm assuming the wear was related to pressure, but maybe Blizzaks always wear out the centers? My current Blizzaks (155/80-13) are wearing OK at 45 PSI (max 35). I'm assuming this is due to their narrow width.

Yeah, it would leave a person wondering. As you realize these examples in which you saw wear at the centers were on tires that were at or under pressure. And the one you saw wearing evenly was over the recommended psi. Likely there's an explanation for the center wear that is not tire-pressure related. Tires are designed to sustain far greater pressures before one in good shape will blow out (in excess of 100psi, I'm told).

Here is the text of the 2005 US NHTSA rule on tire pressure (note that the agency has apparently been singling-out under inflation for regulation since 1970):
Tire Pressure Monitoring Final Rule

Here is a 2007 Australian study by insurance industry advocates/regulators that also singles out under inflation as the problem:
http://www.maic.qld.gov.au/forms-pub...port-final.pdf

If there are counter studies--perhaps there are--for modern tires, I'd be interested. I found these looking for any tire pressure related studies, not strictly under inflation.

Cheers,
james

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

The treadwear/psi discussion has been had many times on this site (maybe in this thread already). Higher pressure is not going to unevenly wear tires at the center. Steel belted tires cannot flex like that along the tread and so they do not balloon under higher pressures along the center of the tread, as people think. Numerous folks on this website have tens of thousands of miles of experience at ten and 15+ psi over sidewall to demonstrate that fact, myself included. But lower pressure will cause more flexing along the sidewall when you're in motion. That flexing will building up heat in the tire and increase the likelihood of the occasional blowout.

Higher pressure isn't going to unevenly wear the center? Oh yes it can. This must be a YMMV thing. I've had the centers wear first due to higher pressure and of course many on here haven't. Steel belted tires CAN flex like that. I've done contact patch experiments and saw how inflation pressure lifted the edges. We can all be right- for our circumstances. I wouldn't want to make a blanket statement of it. Who's to know what the criteria is for when the centers are going to wear out prematurely or not?

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

...Steel belted tires CAN flex like that. I've done contact patch experiments and saw how inflation pressure lifted the edges. We can all be right- for our circumstances. I wouldn't want to make a blanket statement of it. Who's to know what the criteria is for when the centers are going to wear out prematurely or not?

Far be it from me to pretend you guys don't have real experiences and knowledge! But I have a hard time imagining steel stretching. That's my hangup in these discussions. What tire designs could allow steel belted tires to stretch, some sort of mesh?

And if there are tires designed in ways that allow that steetching and others that don't it would useful to know which they are. I've had no trouble with Michelin Defenders and Harmonys as well as a nonname cheapo brand labelled Ultra GT.

Also, a BF Goodrich "tire problems" page I was just looking at claims center wear on some tires can be a consequence of UNDER inflation on some tires.

J

[Frank Lee]

Steel belts are comprised of cords. You have noticed that they deform at the contact patch; why wouldn't they also deform in the other axis?

I'm all for higher than mfg recommended pressures but I'd say a person needs to monitor the center tread wear vs the edges and adjust psi if needed.

[TheManVan]

I run 42, max is 44

[redpoint5]

I've never worn out the centers on an automobile.

I've always worn out the centers on the motorcycle.