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Author Topic: Do higher tire pressures help mpg? Post a Reply Back to Topics
iaqxf

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Ohio

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Message Posted: May 19, 2011 6:29:26 AM


.............................................

tires at 10psi = 3.7% increase in consumption

tires at 30psi = 1.2% increase in consumption

Control, 35psi (manufacturer recomendation)

tires at 40psi = 6.2% decrease in consumption

tires at 60psi = 7.6% decrease in consumption

From Mythbusters test....


[Edited by: iaqxf at 5/19/2011 6:31:29 AM EST]
REPLIES (newest first)
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streetirsx
Veteran Author North Dakota

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Message Posted: May 18, 2013 7:01:38 PM

Yes
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DHIGAJ
Rookie Author Toronto

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Message Posted: May 18, 2013 3:22:37 PM

yes
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mybigtruck
Sophomore Author San Jose

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Message Posted: May 18, 2013 1:04:13 PM

Ride a bike with different tire pressure settings. Let you legs decide which helps mpgs :-)
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Houckster
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: May 18, 2013 11:17:52 AM

HYEBLENN writes: Yes, but your tires will wear bad.
_____
Bias tires would wear faster if they were overinflated but it's been almost 50 years since the nation converted to radial tires and they have belts to control tire shape. Most people gain some tire mileage by running a higher pressure than the OEM recommends.
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hyeglenn
Champion Author Fresno

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Message Posted: May 18, 2013 10:53:24 AM

Yes, but your tires will wear bad.
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GLM4205
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: May 17, 2013 6:18:40 AM

Maybe but at a sacrifice of ride and possibly safety.
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kmapjr
All-Star Author Detroit

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Message Posted: May 16, 2013 4:13:24 PM

I put the amount it recommends from inside the door jam, my back 2 tires require 36 PSI, while my fronts call for 34 PSI, I read the manual and it stated the reason for this is the suspension has something to do with how the tires are inflated on my car, so that's why I just go with the sticker inside the door's recommendation.
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eyegotgas2
Champion Author British Columbia

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Message Posted: May 15, 2013 3:44:07 PM

I think they do
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diesdown
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: May 14, 2013 12:27:09 PM

Yes, but too high will cause abnormal wear....and replacement is more expensive that any fuel saved.
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JOEZ2012
Rookie Author Idaho

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Message Posted: May 14, 2013 10:57:29 AM

Yes
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JOEZ2012
Rookie Author Idaho

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Message Posted: May 14, 2013 10:57:23 AM

Yes
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JOEZ2012
Rookie Author Idaho

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Message Posted: May 14, 2013 10:56:13 AM

Yes
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JOEZ2012
Rookie Author Idaho

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Message Posted: May 14, 2013 10:56:07 AM

Yes
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JOEZ2012
Rookie Author Idaho

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Message Posted: May 14, 2013 10:55:59 AM

Yes
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JOEZ2012
Rookie Author Idaho

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Message Posted: May 14, 2013 10:55:51 AM

Yes
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forestghost07
Veteran Author Miami

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Message Posted: May 13, 2013 11:59:22 AM

it should - to a point. Overinflation makes tires more vulnerable to impact shocks, gives a harsh ride, and may increase wear to the tire centers.
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BBF_PFS
Sophomore Author Washington

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Message Posted: May 13, 2013 11:26:51 AM

It helps my car if I run them just under tire rating instead of at manufactures recommended rating. They help my truck a lot 25% better MPG.
You will just have to run a few tanks and decide for yourself.
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WEPSMAN
Champion Author South Dakota

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Message Posted: May 13, 2013 9:12:05 AM

It might help mileage, but will hurt handling and braking.
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63pioneer
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: May 13, 2013 5:56:02 AM

I agree with what 73CH13 said especially about the control and safety. Over inflation changes the profile of the tire and how it does it's job, wet or dry or ice. Over pressure will cause undue stress upon the tire that it's not designed to handle. The tires recommended pressure is when the tire is cold, so that when the tire's temperature heats up under use, it will be at a safe working temperature as you drive.
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73CH13
Rookie Author Phoenix

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Message Posted: May 3, 2013 12:32:17 PM

This is one of the biggest and easiest things you can do to save on fuel. Flatter tires give more rolling resistance or friction. This means your cars engine has to work harder and consume more fuel. I usually stick with the manufacturer recommendations or 5PSI over because over inflation can affect control and safety.
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geno700
Veteran Author British Columbia

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Message Posted: May 3, 2013 10:14:53 AM

yes but not good for long tire wear
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ihredneck
Rookie Author Missouri

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Message Posted: May 3, 2013 8:20:17 AM

yup, imagine walking on dry ground then try walking through the mud.
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dvx4002004
Sophomore Author Medford

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Message Posted: May 2, 2013 3:10:45 AM

Yes
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: May 1, 2013 8:58:41 AM

Yep
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51stovi
Sophomore Author Nashville

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Message Posted: May 1, 2013 7:11:52 AM

Thanks for the Mythbusters results.
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mybigtruck
Sophomore Author San Jose

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Message Posted: May 1, 2013 1:23:15 AM

Ever try riding a bike with different tire pressures? Let your legs decide what works best!

I set mine to the max rated PSI rating on all 4. Ride is a little harsher, but I have adjustable shocks to compensate
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pbarbee
All-Star Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: May 1, 2013 12:25:19 AM

Yes, I think it does
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Houckster
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Apr 30, 2013 2:47:22 PM

THE1ROADHOG writes: [higher tire pressures] wear out tires faster . . .
____
Nope. Almost everyone uses radials now and radials don't wear out faster with higher pressures like bias-ply tires did. Radials have belts to keep them from distorting.

[Edited by: Houckster at 4/30/2013 2:50:32 PM EST]
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HotRod10
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Message Posted: Apr 30, 2013 9:51:39 AM

6.2% better mileage at 40psi than 35psi? That's huge! Only a gain of another 1.4% from 40psi to 60psi, not so huge. All the tires on my vehicles have a max of 44psi, anyway, so I keep it under that.

"My engineer that works at a tire plant says he has never heard of a tire failing because the pressure was between the OEM recommendation and the side wall max."

That's why I run mine in that range.

"wear out tires faster..."

I hope you're referring to running the pressure low, because running it high has always made my tires last longer.

[Edited by: HotRod10 at 4/30/2013 9:56:04 AM EST]
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the1roadhog
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Apr 30, 2013 8:30:37 AM

wear out tires faster...
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DHomz
All-Star Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Apr 30, 2013 8:22:36 AM

I run my tires at 42psi and get about 45 mpg highway. If I run them at the recommended 35psi then I get about 42. I always run mine with higher psi.
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waynester1955
Veteran Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Apr 30, 2013 6:00:12 AM

I think a little higher would mean better fuel economy. Sure makes peddling on a bike.
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Houckster
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Message Posted: Apr 29, 2013 2:25:00 PM

DRYDEM writes that the following conditions are necessary for higher tire pressures to improve mileage:

1) the roads are very smooth and dry
2) the vehicle is going less than 35 mph
3) the vehicle stays in motion without stopping for a long time ( e.g. 30 minutes).

I don't follow this.

1) The roads must be smooth and dry? Why? If the road surface is less than optimum, mileage may suffer but a tire inflated to a higher temperature will still retain an advantage over a tire with less inflation.

2) The advantage of higher tire inflation is confined to 35 MPH or less. I don't think so. Tires tend to deform more as a function of speed. A tire with more PSI will always have an advantage over a tire with less inflation regardless of speed. I would expect the advantage to be small at very low speeds and that the differential in favor of the tire with more inflation would increase as the speed is increased.

3) Tires that have developed a temporary flat spot from extended parking will eventually return to proper proportions as they are driven. Tires with less PSI will develop a greater flat spot and that flat spot will take longer to go away. Tires with more pressure will recover faster because the flat spot will be less.

In short, I see nothing true with any of these contentions and in fact, I'm wondering if DRYDEM is trying to pull our legs.

[Edited by: Houckster at 4/29/2013 2:28:46 PM EST]
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oilpan4
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Message Posted: Apr 29, 2013 11:06:11 AM

"I usually keep mine 4-6 psi over what's on the vehicle door panel, as long as it's still at least 2 psi below the max on the tires. "

My engineer that works at a tire plant says he has never heard of a tire failing because the pressure was between the OEM recommendation and the side wall max.
Remember all those ford explores with firestone tires that rolled over after the tire tread seperated?
Yeah those people followed OEM recommendation.
The funny thing is there were over 8000 complaints about tread separations with the firestone tires yet explores equip with the "factory upgrade" goodyear tires only had 1 complaint of tread separation.
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drydem
Sophomore Author Maryland

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Message Posted: Apr 28, 2013 8:36:14 AM

Higher Tire Pressures decrease rolling resistance of the tire but that is only part of the equation to improve fuel efficiency.. in addition, the following must also occur before there is any significant improvement to a vehicle's fuel efficiency.

1) the roads are very smooth and dry
2) the vehicle is going less than 35 mph
3) the vehicle stays in motion without stopping for a long time ( e.g. 30 minutes).

As the tire pressure goes over the maximum side wall tire pressure rating the improvement in decreasing rolling resistance declines with the more dramatic drop in improvement coming around +10 psi more than the maximum side wall tire pressure, i.e. there is a point of diminishing returns. As the tire pressure goes over the maximum side wall tire pressure rating the tire's traction (road adhesion) declines, too - this road traction loss vary from tire design to tire design - but side/lateral traction when turning is the first thing to go normally, i.e. as you go above the max side wall tire pressure spec, tire traction performance lessens.

HTH

Walter

[Edited by: drydem at 4/28/2013 8:42:12 AM EST]
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dgsteven
All-Star Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Apr 28, 2013 3:07:58 AM

I think so
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HotRod10
Champion Author Wyoming

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2013 9:28:14 AM

"I just go by the recommended tire pressures stamped on my tires."

Uh, those aren't "recommended"; the number on the tires is a maximum. You shouldn't exceed that value for "cold" tire pressure, although I haven't yet found what ambient temperature they mean by "cold", since air pressure will vary a few psi between tires at 0 degrees F and freezing and a few more psi by the time the temp is 70.

I usually keep mine 4-6 psi over what's on the vehicle door panel, as long as it's still at least 2 psi below the max on the tires.

[Edited by: HotRod10 at 4/26/2013 9:30:39 AM EST]
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2013 8:22:32 AM

For sure
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2013 8:22:20 AM

Yes
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cv
Champion Author Raleigh

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2013 6:24:23 AM

I just go by the recommended tire pressures stamped on my tires.
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PaylessKY
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Message Posted: Apr 25, 2013 9:17:07 AM

No, just go by the tire Packard for your vehicle.
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rich13251
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Message Posted: Apr 24, 2013 3:15:04 PM

yes
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pezbep
Rookie Author Miami

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Message Posted: Apr 22, 2013 4:29:17 PM

I put in the recommended PSI for best tire wear
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giwan
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Message Posted: Apr 22, 2013 12:56:51 PM

"I go for manufacturer's recommendation. This provides the longest wear on the tire, as well as good mileage."

This is a misnomer. The Man. has a performance envelope they choose from and longest wear is low on that list. Depends on the type of car, ie sports, luxury etc.

That number is a rule of thumb. Look at hypermilers and how high they pump up their tires
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dontuknowOH
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Message Posted: Apr 21, 2013 10:06:55 AM

To get a rough idea about tire pressure V/S mileage, I can say that after running out of fuel completely and then had to push my vehicle by hand/feet to a station two blocks away to refuel, only then I would prefer all 4 tires to have 10# over their maximum limits.

Whew! or Whoeee! did that once, with an old hand/foot pump and guessing about the pressure, good guesses at that, 900-915 x 15" wide whitewalls takes a lot of hand pumping!

Fifty-four years ago I could do that, today I have the 12+ volt HD type emergency portable handy air compressor plus a Cell phone to be aids just in case the fuel read-out fails. Never forgot to lower the tire pressure back down or keep gas in the vehicles since. Correct tire pressures YES!

Fuel then about $.32 - $.37 per gal. No cells/jumpers/compressors/tow straps, but metal gas cans/tire chains/laughs and chuckles....
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OilerFan
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Message Posted: Apr 21, 2013 9:26:19 AM

I go for manufacturer's recommendation. This provides the longest wear on the tire, as well as good mileage.
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going up
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Message Posted: Apr 21, 2013 9:00:55 AM

Possibly
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ace12012
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Message Posted: Apr 20, 2013 1:16:34 PM

maybe but at a sacrifice of ride and possibly safety.
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BigHorne1
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Message Posted: Apr 20, 2013 11:02:07 AM

not sure, but under inflated tires, do hurt gas mileage very much so.
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Banjoe
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Message Posted: Apr 20, 2013 7:26:22 AM

Yes
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