Check Tire Pressure When Cold ?

**taterjuice** · 01-02-2014, 01:54 PM

Working at a mechanic/tire shack, I do all my own tire work. And from my expreince, cars will usually drop 5-10 psi when the cold hits, and 10-12 psi on a tire running 80 psi. Get the heaviest ply possible, I recommend those for two reasons, more plies ALWAYS means less flats and 10 ply tires almost always have more tread depth than 6 or 8 ply tires. Avoid bias ply, nail magnet and horrible tire life. And don't rely on those dam tire sensors to save your tires ! About 9 out of ten times when someone comes in with a tire light on its a false alarm fixed by setting tires to the same pressure. Buy a good quality gauge, I would recommend Milton brand, and check them often. And btw, to those mr armchair tire experts, you can't "eyeball" tires for pressure and get anywhere close, trust me it's impossible, checking with a hammer, with much practice, is possible but your eyes aren't that good. And for the love of god put those f&$$ing valve caps back on when your done airing or checking a tire.

**waredu** · 01-02-2014, 05:21 PM

I've always checked my air pressure when the tires are hot after driving around at speed for at least 15-30 minutes. Every tire has a max pressure rating on the sidewall. As long as I'm a bit under that, I should be good. Leastways, that's the way I was taught.

**Bear** · 01-02-2014, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by waredu

I've always checked my air pressure when the tires are hot after driving around at speed for at least 15-30 minutes. Every tire has a max pressure rating on the sidewall. As long as I'm a bit under that, I should be good. Leastways, that's the way I was taught.

There's a label on the door post with recommended tire size and recommended pressures for that particular vehicle, and then it says on the tires to check when cold

**Yunkman** · 01-02-2014, 08:46 PM

I occasionally get useable tires from the junk vehicles I haul. Got two 215/75/15 tires this week and will mount the second one on my trailer in the morning. $12 will get a R&R (remove and remount) on my rim. Realized the junk rims are aluminum....now WHY didn't I pull all four instead of leaving them on the car. Can't save everything, but I did pull the battery and cut the battery cables. Removed the cat but found it was a remake and only worth $5.

**luniticfriend** · 01-03-2014, 09:08 AM

There are some very good points here. Hydrogen is better in a tire due to the molecules being bigger than air, thus hardly any flats. The tire pressure (in my opinion) should not be taken off the door of a vehicle for they are not the people who make the tire. Remember the Ford problems with firestone tires and that huge recall? The door said to inflate to 26 psi max.. There is no tire out there that will not give you trouble at that low of a pressure. I use a "tire thumper" for checking my tires on the truck and check pressures every time the truck goes out. Semi tires are not cheap by any means (usually between $600-$750 per tire for something decent that will last). As far as smaller tires (14-16.5's check them with a gauge every trip off the yard. I fill to what the tire manufacturer says on the tire no matter of the vehicle. I would rather have a little less comfortable ride than blow out a tire with a full load of scrap on and pay the piper to due a roadside replace or just have the downtime when I could be prevented at home. Remember that a full tire will run cooler than a under inflated tire also. I never trust the low tire sensors due to them running off the abs system counting the revolutions of the tire.

**Bear** · 01-03-2014, 10:43 AM

Good points LF, I believe there was more to that Ford/Firestone story though

**taterjuice** · 01-03-2014, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by luniticfriend

There are some very good points here. Hydrogen is better in a tire due to the molecules being bigger than air, thus hardly any flats. The tire pressure (in my opinion) should not be taken off the door of a vehicle for they are not the people who make the tire. Remember the Ford problems with firestone tires and that huge recall? The door said to inflate to 26 psi max.. There is no tire out there that will not give you trouble at that low of a pressure. I use a "tire thumper" for checking my tires on the truck and check pressures every time the truck goes out. Semi tires are not cheap by any means (usually between $600-$750 per tire for something decent that will last). As far as smaller tires (14-16.5's check them with a gauge every trip off the yard. I fill to what the tire manufacturer says on the tire no matter of the vehicle. I would rather have a little less comfortable ride than blow out a tire with a full load of scrap on and pay the piper to due a roadside replace or just have the downtime when I could be prevented at home. Remember that a full tire will run cooler than a under inflated tire also. I never trust the low tire sensors due to them running off the abs system counting the revolutions of the tire.

I'm unaware of anyone using hyrdogen in tires, remember that german airship ?, nitrogen yes. Tire sensors read the pressure from a sensor inside the tire, has nothing to do with the abs system. Tire pressure all depends upon what your doing, I don't recommend a cookie cutter approach. There's no need if running 80 psi if your driving a half ton pickup hauling 500# in the back. Running too much pressure always reduces tire life and tends to "eat the center" or wear the middle of the tire out first, too little air and the outside edges wear out first. And never run a 10 ply at less than 40 psi.

**luniticfriend** · 01-03-2014, 04:58 PM

Bear, yes it was. I still have pickups with these tires on them and they are just fine. Taterjuice, I meant nitrogen, When my wife took her car in they told her it was from the abs (counting teeth for the abs). Im not too terribly hip on the newer stuff. I was referring to tires and hauling good sized loads, a small load to me is 3 ton. for lighter trucks and cars I agree to lighten up on the tire pressure.

**NHscrapman** · 01-04-2014, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by taterjuice

. And never run a 10 ply at less than 40 psi.

unless mudding rock climbing or driving in deep sand. but then again they are 36'' super swampers on that rig

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