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Finding optimum tire pressure

mofugly13

mofugly13

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Years ago there was a thread about finding the optimum tire pressure for a given vehicle/ tire combo. It had to do with filling to what you *think* is the proper psi, recording your numbers, then driving for a period of time and rechecking psi. If psi had risen, then your initial pressure was too low, because excessive tire flex created heat which increased tire pressure.

That’s about all I can recall off hand, and I’m not even sure that it’s correct, but I’ve searched and cannot find the thread.

Anyone care to expand on, or correct what I’ve said about it? Or, post a detaile how to with explanation? Or a link?
 
The pressure will possibly go up a little even at the properly setting. The friction of contacting and transferring power to the road ( accelerating and braking) , the flexing of the tire and induced heat from being close to the brakes all can raise the temperature of the air inside the tires and raise the pressure some. An under inflated or overloaded tire will heat faster, of course. A tire that is overinflated or loaded too lightly for the correct pressure will wear the center of the tread.
I believe that some have said to try using some method of marking the tread all the way across the tire, go for a short drive and check to see if the marking comes off evenly. I don't remember what was suggested for marking the tread.
I end up trying to watch the tread wear, and hope to see what to do soon enough to avoid excessive, uneven wear.
 
I drive on a dirt road, then hit the pavement. Gives you a good marking on the tread.
 
mofugly13 said:
Years ago there was a thread about finding the optimum tire pressure for a given vehicle/ tire combo. It had to do with filling to what you *think* is the proper psi, recording your numbers, then driving for a period of time and rechecking psi. If psi had risen, then your initial pressure was too low, because excessive tire flex created heat which increased tire pressure.

That’s about all I can recall off hand, and I’m not even sure that it’s correct, but I’ve searched and cannot find the thread.

Anyone care to expand on, or correct what I’ve said about it? Or, post a detaile how to with explanation? Or a link?
Click to expand...

That’s an easy one since I remember it was posted by Grim-Reaper. And IIRC if you use chalk to mark a large patch from side to side on the tire it should wear off evenly.

https://ck5.com/forums/threads/tire-tech-very-cool-way-to-figure-out-what-to-run.70475/#post-584390

On a side note @CK5, why doesn’t Eric’s username pop up automatically in the search function when you try searching for posts by him? Is it because of the hyphen?
 
Your tire pressure will fluctuate with warm or cold. I have seen as much as 10-12 lbs difference. Best to chalk your tires and then drive straight line on pavement. Should take off chalk to edge of tread. This will get you close. Then fine tune from there , tire wear and handling.
 
Thanks for the replies. I’m aware of the chalk/puddle/dirt contact patch method. I was looking for a specific method. Thanks for dredging that up rampage.
 
tire chalk for me as this just works for any combo .

or if you know the 4 corner weights then take the max psi/weight and divide it down to each psi can do xx amount of weight and then do the math for each tire from there and have a little higher buffer just incase .
 
I use the contact patch method myself as well.
 
rampage said:
That’s an easy one since I remember it was posted by Grim-Reaper. And IIRC if you use chalk to mark a large patch from side to side on the tire it should wear off evenly.

https://ck5.com/forums/threads/tire-tech-very-cool-way-to-figure-out-what-to-run.70475/#post-584390

On a side note @CK5, why doesn’t Eric’s username pop up automatically in the search function when you try searching for posts by him? Is it because of the hyphen?
Click to expand...
I just did a search for him and everything came up -> https://ck5.com/forums/search/24632752/
 
rampage said:
Maybe I didn’t explain it correctly.
Click ‘Search’ icon
Start typing ‘Grim’ in in the ‘Posted by Member’ box
His name doesn’t show up as a suggestion. :dunno:
Click to expand...
Ahhh, have no idea, probably like you said the hyphen.
 
A good place to start is to take the load rating on the tire and compare it to the actual load on the tire. Use that percentage on the air pressure. So 3000lbs at 50psi but you have 1500lbs of actual load so you'd start at 25psi. You can look at treadwear from there.
 
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