All in all, I agree that slightly overinflating is a Good Idea (the rough ride can be palliated by a sound investment in better shocks, stuts, etc.), but your readers should be aware of one hazard: hyperinflated tires can be very dangerous in slick conditions!
I lease taxis at a garage and many drivers hyperinflate to max out the mileage on their shift. But if you fail to notice that has been done and go out in a heavy rainstorm, you will find yourself going into a spinout. OK, maybe 35 psi won’t do it, but I knew there were going to be readers out there thinking, “heck, I’m really strapped for gas money this week: let me try 40 psi…” You get even better mileage, but it’s very dangerous in slick conditions. Corollary: lowering psi (if you don’t mind paying for the gas…) will marginally improve traction in slick/sleet conditions, but it will degrade your tires in short order (so it is only to be done in an emergency, when sacrificing the life of the tires might be worth avoiding an accident…) I would say to this strategy of lower psi: “kids: don’t try this at home…”
Hi Taxidriver welcome to the Straight Dope!
It is customary to put a link to the column in question so other may read it
here is the column
It would appear that the column in question is several years old at least. The tire pressures mentioned are way out of date for many modern cars.
My car has a recommended pressure of 38 PSI and a max of 44PSI.
I think it might be time for Cecil to consider re-doing this one.
Agreed; read my post carefully. I did not state that it was suggested that tires be hyperinflated, but I knew that many, upon reading that article and being strapped for cash in this ongoing depression, would extrapolate and do just that. So I was attempting to avert dangerous incidents from a likely inference to be taken from the article…
To me, overinflating is inflating above the recommended range. Not at the upper limit, above it. So yes, when you say you “agree” then you are saying the column recommends overinflating.
I am also not sure what is meant by “hyperinflating”? Is that overinflating? Is that really overinflating? Is that just inflating to the max limit?
You may be right that traction is a more immediate concern than rupturing the tire.
Many (though not all…) manufacturers suggest a range of pressure for a tire. There is an average (the midpoint of that range); by saying “over inflating”, I was implying over the average suggested by the manufacturer, but still below the highest acceptable amount.
By “hyper” I was suggesting on the surface “way over”, and in my mind over the acceptable limits the manufacturer states. While these are not “terms of art” in the tire business, this is the raison d’etre of the message board: to ask for clarification, as you did…
One should not, as Cecil recommended, inflate their tires according to the maximum pressure guideline printed on the sidewall of the tire. Each vehicle has specific requirements for tire inflation and that can be found either in the owners manual for the vehicle or displayed elsewhere on a placard attached to the vehicle.
This column needs to be updated to include a link to Cecil’s column on inflating with nitrogen.
I got new tires & shocks last summer. The dealer offered nitrogen and I went for it. I have noticed that my tire pressure hasn’t dropped. So far, I haven’t needed to add any nitrogen at all.