Some Hypermiling techniques denounced by AAA

[MazdaMatt]

In the case of hypermilers vs. morons with high tire pressure, as in the case of responsible performance enthusiasts vs. morons with big exhausts street racing downtown... education is everything. Educate the morons to stop doing what they are doing, and educate the general public that the purists are not morons.

Hypermilers get a lot more good press than performance enthusiasts... feel lucky.

[Blue07CivicEX]

Touche! I think I will record the intersection outside my office and post a clip sometime, it's really quite funny.

[12voltsolar]

My buddy is a professional mechanic and his shop has been sent waring via fax & e-mail from most of the major tire mfg'ers warning that customers my be over inflating their tires and that shops need to be on the look out to warn these folks of the dangers.... So I talked to him and he agrees that max sidewall psi is really too high for MOST passenger cars. BUT my 7 psi (39 up from the A4 suggested 32) extra is not hurting the tires, my 'ride', or my handling safety!
Like the old saying goes look out for the other morons on the road....

[MazdaMatt]

My protege suggusts 32 all around. This is just too squishy for me. I actually get better turn-in response with my fronts at 36 and my rears at 34. "knowledgeable" drivers can benefit from some increase. I prefer to turn around an accident than slow down and hit it softer.

With my recent drive to lower my fuel consumption, i may bump it up to 39/36

[ebacherville]

Now i know why i have never been andnever will be a AAA customer.. 1 my car has no power anything.. Yes my tires are inflated higher then recommended.. but it doesnt effect the drivability of my car. Tire wear.. why cares there MY tires.. My breaks are going to last a hell of a lot longer and wond become over heated from gassing it up to stop light after stop light.. as for tail gating trucks.. a standard 3 seconds is more than close enough to pick up the draft of a big truck..

I have never been in a accident and have been driving motor vehicles since I was 12..

AAA sit on it and spin

[trikkonceptz]

Well I will have my proof on un-evenly worn tires in about 50K miles I guess....

Prior to Hypermiling I had a set of tires on my vibe that didn't even last 12K inflated to 32psi, I replaced them with the exact same tire/brand/size and have had them inflated to 50psi since day one .... 20K miles later, they still look new and the car handles and coast incredibly well.

So already, I have proven AAA wrong, how wrong only time will tell.

[Frank Lee]

Looks to me like AAA was right on everything. See, they have to have a cover-your-a$$ mentality, or else face liability when some moron misuses the data they provide or endorse. They cannot endorse anything that smacks of illegality either, and the drafting and coasting and rolling through stops are all illegal. Additionally, it has been my experience that tires do wear unevenly when way overinflated, and it seems the r.r. benefits of overinflation don't keep increasing along with increased pressure. I believe some overinflation is justified and good- up to and maybe even a little over sidewall max- but beyond that it just can't be something to tell the general public to do.

[ttoyoda]

My protege suggusts 32 all around.

That was the maximum cold sidewall pressure limit for the car tires themselves for many, many years. I guess that is why the car makers rarely suggest higher pressure, it is all inertia and history.

[RH77]

Don't forget that a large division of the AAA is their Car Insurance business. Reducing liability looks to be the aim.

Frankly, I don't really care if large organizations or the Press disagrees with the practices. It's odd -- I don't see any hard data of accidents caused by these practices.

I think people will still do what they want -- and if that means investigating into hypermiling, people will do it.

Even if folks used the MINIMAL techniques suggested (that are all perfectly legal), then they would likely boost their FE to a noticeable degree.

More sensationalism, if you ask me.

[LostCause]

Originally Posted by dcb

So what is their position on driving while using a cell phone?

I think the argument against cell phones is poorly thought out.

I've heard people argue that our upcoming "hands free" law needs to be expanded to "cellphone free." Keeping your hands on the steering wheel makes sense. Keeping people from having telephone conversations is ridiculous.

- LostCause