<VV> Tire size vs air pressure survey

[Tony Underwood]

I know this is an older thread but I've been out of the loop for a few days.


I've not seen anyone do things the way I do it.  I don't use a tire 
gauge.  The '60 4-door gets air pressure adjustments visually, by my 
checking the profile and contact patch of each tire as it sits on the 
road surface.    That's how I've done it for a long time.  I've hung 
a gauge on the tires a time or two after visually checking/adjusting 
pressure and it generally fell around 25 front and 38 rear or there-abouts.

In other words, I run what looks right, not what a gauge tells me.  I 
get good tire wear (as in many years' worth, usually cracks in the 
rubber are the reason tires get replaced rather than tread wear) and 
the car handles well considering it's a '60, supposedly "the worst of 
the lot".   It has never given me any surprises and on the rare 
occasion (not in about 6 years now) when I have to panic-stop, the 
black marks are all linear and equal (dog hopped out directly in 
front of me, and I had my daughter and two of her chums with me in 
the car).  Nary a misbehavior nor pull nor wheel hop nor nuthin'.

Tires are currently Firestone 185-80R13s... last 4 the local 
Firestone outlet had in the warehouse.   I was told there wouldn't be 
any more after those 4 were gone.  I bought them.  Actually didn't 
truly need them but they went onto the car anyway, courtesy of Danny 
Otey at his shop who balanced them for me.   He is Corvair savvy 
(many of you easterners may know him) and he filled them accordingly, 
after which I eyeballed them and adjusted them the way I always 
do.  They show little wear and it's been several years now.  I drive 
the car whenever weather permits... not in over a month now; winter 
slop is no place for a '60 Corvair that doesn't need any more help in 
returning to the elements as it is.  Come the first hints of Spring, 
I'll be out eyeballing the tires and checking it over and back on the 
roads it goes.

...Danny had recently expressed some passing interest in buying my 
Red Lakewood... ;)   I suspect he wants to get back into 'Vairs on a 
more wholesome level.  He has another Lakewood that's show quality; 
doubt he'd ever want to drive it daily.  Mine would be a 
driver.  Either that or he knows somebody who was looking for a 
Lakewood and was considering flipping it (punsters keep 
quiet).  Always the salesman... :)


tony..

PS:   I gauge tire pressures in the Jeep the same way, 
visually.  Works.  ymmv.