It’s a good thing every car owner reads their manual and knows this stuff, right?
Now that is funny!
If you are operating a piece of machinery weighing 3000+ lbs, travelling at 60+ mph, you should DAMNED well know WTF you are doing.
Until then, expect trial lawyers to be exceedingly well paid.
couple of other things I would like to toss in here.
Sometimes car makers list two pressure settings. The lower one is the “comfort” setting, the higher one is the “performance” setting. If the ride is acceptible to you, use the higher one. Gas mileage, and handling are improved, and wear is lowered. On my current car the comfort setting is 29# the performance (or optional) pressure is 38#
Contary to what Corbomite says it is not uncommon to see a different pressure spec’d for front and rear.
Sace saver spare tires run much higher pressures
Tire pressures are checked cold not hot. Never bleed air from a hot tire. As the tire runs, it heats up and it’s pressure is raised. This is all normal.
Absolutely go with the automobile manufacturers recommendation!
The number noted on the tire is a maximum pressure value.
The vehicle manufacturer sets air pressure value to maximize a compromise. Ride quality, contact patch, grip, wear, water removal – there are way too many variables to go with anything other than the vehicle maufacturer’s reommended inflation value.
The Explorer/Firestone debacle was caused by ignorant consumers using their trucks as appliances, IMHO. Check your tire inflation weekly. You will appreciate the consistency in handling and fuel consumption.
Too many folks make the decision to ignore their cars. THAT is exactly how Ford and Firestone became defendants in many, many lawsuits.
So, yeah, RTFB and do as is written.
I did add in parens (at least front-front and back-back), Rick. And I’m pretty sure I know where happyheathen is coming from. It is difficult (i.e. hard) to inform (clearly state in a coherent manner) how to maintain a car and keep it safe (The DMV only covers moving your vehicle). I, somewhat facetiously brought up how commercial pilots are obligated (and maybe private too) to do a ‘walk-around’ of the aircraft.
Perhaps, as a minimum, it would be good for drivers to know the weight limits, what’s written on their tires, what it takes to do a controllable skid and how far it takes to stop - and do donuts in the snow. Invoking lawyers only annoys me as I pay more and more insurance every six months and have never gotten a ticket or been in an accident.
" “Goodyear recommends that tires be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation as found on the Vehicle Tire Information Door Placard or the Vehicle Owner’s Manual.”
Sure, if you keep the original size. What if you put on bigger ones? I did because my car can take larger ones. It’s interesting, but when you visit the shop ask them how large a tire you can put on.
All cars can take larger tires, so long as the wheel rim is the same size, of course, but that doesn’t mean you should do it. To do something because you can is no good reason.