<VV> tire pressure gauge

[Joel McGregor]

I set tire pressure based on traction and wear.  I don't worry about going over the "sidewall pressure".  I'm running my Buick tires at 45 right now and they work better and you know they'll get better mileage.  The max pressure listed on the tire is 35.  When I ran them at 35 the edges were showing excessive wear.  I've never seen a tire have a problem other than center tread wear from too much pressure.  I've seen countless tires that failed because of too little pressure.  Some tires need much less than sidewall pressure such as Corvair fronts.  I'm running 38/45 on my 245/45x16s on my '65 at the moment and it seems to be working fairly well.  Liability would tell you to never recommend that anyone else run more than the recommended pressure.  So  -- don't do what I do or you will explode, spontaneously combust, run with scissors, get a fatal disease, vote for Obama or any other bad thing or combination of things you can think of.
Joel McGregor
________________________________________
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org [virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of J R Read [hmlinc at sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 12:02 AM
To: Frank DuVal; virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: <VV> tire pressure gauge

Hi Frank,

Essentially I agree with the points you make.  I disagree with some -
especially the one below:

PASTE

Who cares if the best feel is
20, 30, or 40 on some arbitrary gauge, as long as you can repeat it?

END PASTE

40psi is too high for most tires - which generally have a max rating on the
sidewall of around 35.  Filling a cool tire to 40 and then taking it on a
summer time road trip could be hazardous to your continued good health.
This is likely true even if the gauge being used reads 5psi on the high side
(I assume that most don't).