Brian Nystrom

Jon W. wrote:

> On Sat, 25 Sep 2004 08:33:36 GMT, Brian Nystrom
> <brian.nystrom@att.net> wrote:
>
>
>>>My experience with overinflated tires in the past has been uneven wear, harsher
>>>ride, and hyper sensitive steering and pulling to the grade of the road.
>
> Overinflating steel belted tires is a proven disaster waiting to
> happen. The pressure could cause the tire to explode, with the steel
> belts actually ripping the tires to shreds. The bad part of this is
> that it usually happens at highway speeds after the tires have heated
> up. Please never overinflate the tires beyond what is stamped on the
> tires as the max PSI.

First off, I NEVER advocated overinflating tires. My recommendations are
well below the maximum pressure that the tires are rated for.

Secondly, tires are tested to pressures well in excess of their posted
pressure rating, so the scenario you portrayed is highly unlikely. It
would take severe overinflation to cause it. Tires are routinely
overinflated to prevent wheel damage when the car is strapped down for
shipping and it's quite likely that many are driven that way initially
(my EGT had 48 psi in the tires when I picked it up). If overinflation
was a serious problem, there would be a lot of failures.

Third, there are FAR more tire failures from underinflation than from
overinflation. Low pressure causes more tire deflection, which causes
more internal friction until the tire fails due to excessive heat
buildup. I've witnessed this on tractor trailers where one tire has gone
flat and begins to smoke, then ultimately disintegrates. Underinflation
was the cause of the huge Ford/Firestone problem years ago.

Forth, your tires will never gain pressure, other than a small increase
when they warm up (typically 2-4 psi). However, pressure loss is quite
common and is a much more serious problem. A substantial percentage of
accidents are the result of people never checking their tire pressure
and not catching underinflated tires, which ultimately cause control
problems and/or blowouts.

Check your tire pressure, people!

Michael Abbaticchio

When I said oveinflated, I meant beyond what is stamped on the door jamb
label. Not what is stamped on the tire. That would be plain stupid.

--

regards,
Michael Abbaticchio
MVP for Exchange Server
http://exchange.mvps.org


"Jon W." <JWalker@yahoo34.com> wrote in message
news:mr4bl01clktg5gg3je3hm54dp3aicjt2j4@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 25 Sep 2004 08:33:36 GMT, Brian Nystrom
> <brian.nystrom@att.net> wrote:
>
>>
>>> My experience with overinflated tires in the past has been uneven wear,
>>> harsher
>>> ride, and hyper sensitive steering and pulling to the grade of the road.
> Overinflating steel belted tires is a proven disaster waiting to
> happen. The pressure could cause the tire to explode, with the steel
> belts actually ripping the tires to shreds. The bad part of this is
> that it usually happens at highway speeds after the tires have heated
> up. Please never overinflate the tires beyond what is stamped on the
> tires as the max PSI.
>
> J.W.