Tyres

[J_Eden]

Just a question for you all....

When was the last time you checked your tyre pressures, and do you know what pressure they are meant to be?

I'll tell you why I've asked after I get a few replies.

James

[Alex]

Is this for cars or aircraft James?

I checked mine last about 3 weeks ago I think.

Alex

[ZK-MAT]

On my car I only check when they 'look' low - of course that's completely wrong but the tyres are only 6 months old, but that's still no excuse ....

On my motorbike I check before every ride, when cold using a gauge at home, and usually check again when putting petrol in at the servo.

[Jimmy]

I don't have a car as of yet, but I knwo my parants haven't checked tyre presure, ever

Just the "when it starts driving funny" and "when parked its on a lean" time to put some air in the tyres

James

[Bingobob]

This is where I so off

My Dad is a former Traffic Cop and accident investigator so of course it rubs off on me

Tyres checked visually daily minimum, pressures checked weekly or before any long trip over 100km.

Tread depth checked every 1000km if it goes below 3mm tyres are biffed immediatly and two new tyres go on the front. Below 4mm I look for any uneven wear and consider replacing before reaching 3mm.

Less tread increases stopping distance, so called legal tyres with 1.5-3mm in the wet or on ice just DO NOT cut the mustard. Less tread increases the chances of a slide out and accident.

My dad has seen to many fatel accidents when the main cause is the tyres being uneven pressured or poor condition. Speed is often blamed for the cause of the accidents yet the tyres play a big part in why control is lost. Your trusting 4 palm sized pieces of rubber contacting the road so they are the most important thing between you and a coffin.

Is that the answer your looking for James?

[Zöltuger]

I was walking past a late model Audi the other day and its tires had worn down so that only the outside of the tyre had tread! Would not like to meet that car in the wet under heavy braking

[kiwiflyboy]

My tyres are 6 months old (all 4, it cost an arm and a leg...) but I check them once a month or so.... and of course do the old "visual check" everyday... and my tyre pressure is supposed to be around 36-40psi..... if i can recall correctly

[J_Eden]

15 points to Bingobob!

Thats exactly what I wanted to hear from someone. The reason I asked the question is because a lady who came into work this morning abused the heck out of me. So much so, I ended up calling the police.

The story goes like this:
The vehicle in question had been brought in because she had a bad vibration thoughout the car. Upon looking at the car, I could see why...
All 4 tyres would've had about 5-10psi in them. Not to mention, the steel was hanging out of them. When telling her that the tyres were extremly unsafe and offering to put some secondhand tyres on for free (not perfect, but a good sight better than what was on!), she started to rant and rave that she had "only just brought the tyres from you guys" and should get a free set. I explained to her that there was no way that they could be brand new. But I was wrong apparantly.
I looked through our records, and yes she had brought a set of tyres from us. 3 years ago.
So yet again, she wanted to know why her tyres went flat...apparantly the principle of air leaking through small holes was not logical enough.
After 15 minutes of her yelling at me, I decided enough was enough. Police arrived and escorted her away.

Happy days!



Remember, 35 psi (the average) and when shopping for tyres, they may seem freaking expensive, but can you put a price on your safety (especially with wetter weather arriving). Always better to get the $20 pricier tyre than the cheap budget tyre.

Drive safely
James

[Bingobob]

That all I get 15 points better than 120 demerit points

small point though

Remember, 35 psi (the average) and when shopping for tyres, they may seem freaking expensive, but can you put a price on your safety (especially with wetter weather arriving). Always better to get the $20 pricier tyre than the cheap budget tyre.

My dad always said to me that 32 psi is a good average if you can not find a label on the door piller or in a manual somewhere. Then again he also said if you dont know find out.
Will agree 100% about budget tyres. You may think your saving $20 per tyre in the short term but that extra $20 most likely will get you 50% more kms before needing replacing.

Mate of mine has a Subaru thing and boasted on how fast it could go (He has the demerits to prove it ) He dont like it when I say you maybe able to out accelerate me but could you outbrake me without skidding?
Guess who wins in that competition

Oh and if you skid you create a flat spot and wear the tyres faster

[pois0n]

I check my tire pressure usually at least twice a week

I'm a petrol saving b*stard, I'll do just about anything I can to save fuel

Really irrotates me when you see people driving around in a low gear and the engine revving its nuts off

[ardypilot]

Oh and if you skid you create a flat spot and wear the tyres faster

A good way to have fun just before you replace then with new tyres

[Bingobob]

Oh and if you skid you create a flat spot and wear the tyres faster

A good way to have fun just before you replace then with new tyres

Fun is that what you call it?

Tell that to the relatives of people killed in road accidents

[ardypilot]

Fun is that what you call it?

Tell that to the relatives of people killed in road accidents

When doing a standstill burnout, I tend to be moving at 0kph... not trying to kill anyone.

[ZK-Brock]

Just wondering, what disadvantages are there in having a higher than normal tyre pressure? Obviously this would improve fuel economy slightly, but what are the downsides?

[J_Eden]

Increased tyre wear for one, harder ride, and there will be less tread on the ground. The only vehicles that should have anything other than 32-35psi are commercial vehicles. A lot of tyres also have a maximum safe inflation pressure too, which usually is about 40-42.

James

[ZK-Brock]

Thanks, good to know (though I shoulda really guessed the harder ride one)

[Bingobob]

Increased tyre wear for one, harder ride, and there will be less tread on the ground. The only vehicles that should have anything other than 32-35psi are commercial vehicles. A lot of tyres also have a maximum safe inflation pressure too, which usually is about 40-42.

James

No comment to Trolly it will come with age assuming his driving allows it

James you should also point out that overinflation means that less tread means less grip also will wear the centre of the tyre faster. Another disadvantage is that you could over stress the tyre on a corner the result being a blowout which on a corner can be quite nasty.

Dont think we could both over empathise that having the correct tyre pressure with a couple of lbs is the only way it should be especially in the wet or icey conditions. One thing to note that in the rare (unless South Islander) you get caught in a snow storm without chains that reducing the tyre pressure aids grip. However you should reinflate as soon as the hazzard passes and not exceed 30kph.

Interestiing comments James and very sensible advice coming out and education one thing I find lacking in general to our driving standards in this country.

[Zöltuger]

Increased tyre wear for one, harder ride, and there will be less tread on the ground. The only vehicles that should have anything other than 32-35psi are commercial vehicles. A lot of tyres also have a maximum safe inflation pressure too, which usually is about 40-42.

James

from a motor racing standpoint, higher tyre pressures mean higher top speed and less tyre wear but less grip into the corners

[ardypilot]

Here's another tyre related question(s):

My mate recently got a new car, with some mean rims on it, yet he is replacing with some better ones. I want the rims, but they have 'snow tyres' on them with massive grooves everywhere. Why is this? Will there be hardly any traction on the road? How do they perform on ordinary streets, and is it possible to just take the snow tyres of the rim and put my current ones on, assuming the wheels are the same diameter?

[pois0n]

Here's another tyre related question(s):

My mate recently got a new car, with some mean rims on it, yet he is replacing with some better ones. I want the rims, but they have 'snow tyres' on them with massive grooves everywhere. Why is this? Will there be hardly any traction on the road? How do they perform on ordinary streets, and is it possible to just take the snow tyres of the rim and put my current ones on, assuming the wheels are the same diameter?

Get rid of snow tyres ASAP! They're bad for 99.9% of NZ roads, and very dangerous. They're only on the tyres on imported cars mainly, and only because they're cheap and they meet minimum international standards. They're exactly that, minimum standards, you should always use tyres fit for the conditions. Take the rims into a tyre shop and they'll fit new tyres on them, should be able to get some the same size without any troubles