I've got 225 55 16 on my 2003 2.2 dti Estate so plan to run them at 34 F and 36 R normal use, but was wondering what do people recommend with a cravan on the back and luggage in the boot; I was thinking 40 F and 45 R (we usually try to get the caravan noseweight to about 75/80kgs) - Any thoughts?
Sounds a bit high for those tyres, but experiment a bit, keeping an eye on overall handling (primary concern) and wear (secondary)
Exessive wear due too high pressure is a myth these days. It did cause this to old tyres without belts but modern steel-belted tyres are not that prone to wear when over-inflated. Pressure 0,5 bar under recommended will result as wear but pressure 0,5 bar above recommended will not; it is just more uncomfortable and probably more difficult to drive in some circumstances.
Many studies have been made (been reading some from domestic tyre manufacturer...) and findings are that under-inflation does make tyres to wear. Over-inflation does not, because of the extremely rigid belts; tyre keeps its shape very well when pressurized.
One interesting thing is that driving wheels (rears on Omega) wear in the middle and this is due that the tyre disforms to "donut-shape" (toroid might be correct mathematical term?) in high speeds/acceleration. This can be seen in e.g. top fuel dragsters when they start. And this also demonstrates why low-pressure tyres would wear.
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Topic: Tyre pressures (Read 3500 times)