how do you know what psi to run

[CapriRacer]

Originally Posted By: Ken2
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
I found out that the reason a lot of firestone tires failed was because people ran than above 10% below the max rating thus effecting the tire with to much heat and ruining the glue atleast that is what I was told ...
Wrong.

The failures were one model of a very mediocre tire from one factory...Firestone's Decatur plant, now closed. Overloading was a critical factor, plus the fact that the Explorer of that model (around model year 2000) was known by Ford to be top heavy. Recommended tire inflation pressure was 26 psi, and the combination of running low tire pressure below 26, plus overloading, plus hot weather, plus the top heavy vehicle killed people. Goodyear original equipment tires run under the same conditions did not fail at the excessive failure rate of the Decatur Firestone tires.
http://www.ce.berkeley.edu/~sanjay/REPORT_WEB_Secure.PDF
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firestone_and_Ford_tire_controversy


Allow me to add:

http://www.barrystiretech.com/fordfirestone.html

 

[[RT] ProjUltraZ]

or your gauge is off. i've seen dial gauges 5 psi off at 35 psi compared to $125 race dial gauges (they could be off too but less likely). i have two of those craftsman digital gauges, they seem almost as accurate as the expensive gauge we tried.

 

[KitaCam]

Originally Posted By: [RT
ProjUltraZ]or your gauge is off. i've seen dial gauges 5 psi off at 35 psi compared to $125 race dial gauges (they could be off too but less likely). i have two of those craftsman digital gauges, they seem almost as accurate as the expensive gauge we tried.


When I bought a $7 gauge last week I made the tire guy (at Sears) check his in the shop against mine to make sure it was accurate...he had no problem with that.

 

[loyd]

I don't buy tires from tire manufacturer that don't publish load and inflation tables. When a tire manufacturer publishes a load and inflation table for a particular tire, is lists the correct pressure for the stated load on the tire. It also gives recommendations for higher driving speeds. These are the things you need to know, NOT what the auto manufacturer says. The auto manufacturer is only interested in a comfortable ride. If you follow the tire manufacturers published numbers you will be as safe as possible at the rated load and speed and will likely get nearly maximum tire life.

 

[CapriRacer]

Originally Posted By: loyd
I don't buy tires from tire manufacturer that don't publish load and inflation tables. When a tire manufacturer publishes a load and inflation table for a particular tire, is lists the correct pressure for the stated load on the tire. It also gives recommendations for higher driving speeds. These are the things you need to know, NOT what the auto manufacturer says. The auto manufacturer is only interested in a comfortable ride. If you follow the tire manufacturers published numbers you will be as safe as possible at the rated load and speed and will likely get nearly maximum tire life.


You're aware that all the tire manufacturers recommend using the pressure the vehicle manufacturers specify, right?

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: loyd
I don't buy tires from tire manufacturer that don't publish load and inflation tables. When a tire manufacturer publishes a load and inflation table for a particular tire, is lists the correct pressure for the stated load on the tire. It also gives recommendations for higher driving speeds. These are the things you need to know, NOT what the auto manufacturer says. The auto manufacturer is only interested in a comfortable ride. If you follow the tire manufacturers published numbers you will be as safe as possible at the rated load and speed and will likely get nearly maximum tire life.


Absolutely NOT true for everyone. Particular cars and manufacturers publish specs that are very performance oriented for some of their line up.

And mfgr's are looking at many other aspects of the vehicles performance envelope, not just the ride!