Tire pressure question
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
You're overcomplicating this. And a conversion van is not a motorhome. It's a dressed up "luxury" van. The first clue would have been the 15" tires it came with. These were common to "half ton" vehicles in the USA before the recent drive towards larger diameter wheels.
While I never really think about MPG's recent half-assed calculations show I'm about 15 MPG which is better than I originally thought. Along with other possible fuel-saving practices the higher tire pressure certainly doesn't hurt.
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New User
Joined: Jun 2015
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I suppose my original worry was that if I use too much pressure, there is less tire in contact with the road, thereby making it easier to skid or loose control.
Do I understand correctly that if I have, for example, a 5000 pound vehicle, and 40psi in the tires, I will have 5000/40 = 125 square inches of tire on contact with the ground. If I increase the tire pressure to 50 psi, I then only have 5000/50 = 100 square inches of tire in contact with the ground.
I think this simplification ignores the stiffness of the sidewall.
Les
Do I understand correctly that if I have, for example, a 5000 pound vehicle, and 40psi in the tires, I will have 5000/40 = 125 square inches of tire on contact with the ground. If I increase the tire pressure to 50 psi, I then only have 5000/50 = 100 square inches of tire in contact with the ground.
I think this simplification ignores the stiffness of the sidewall.
Les
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,112
Likes: 286
From: Eastern TN
There are other factors at play but basic physics friction equations are based on load and coefficient of friction. Contact area is not a factor. I don't know then why wide tires are more difficult to steer at a standstill than narrow tires absent power steering.
Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 191K miles
Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 191K miles
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
I suppose my original worry was that if I use too much pressure, there is less tire in contact with the road, thereby making it easier to skid or loose control.
Do I understand correctly that if I have, for example, a 5000 pound vehicle, and 40psi in the tires, I will have 5000/40 = 125 square inches of tire on contact with the ground. If I increase the tire pressure to 50 psi, I then only have 5000/50 = 100 square inches of tire in contact with the ground.
I think this simplification ignores the stiffness of the sidewall.
Les
Do I understand correctly that if I have, for example, a 5000 pound vehicle, and 40psi in the tires, I will have 5000/40 = 125 square inches of tire on contact with the ground. If I increase the tire pressure to 50 psi, I then only have 5000/50 = 100 square inches of tire in contact with the ground.
I think this simplification ignores the stiffness of the sidewall.
Les
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,015
Likes: 131
From: Maryville
What are you more concerned with, ride or tire wear, my 99 E350 suggests 60 PSI, the tire max is 80 PSI, when my tires are below 80 PSI you see visible wear on the fronts, it's due to running I-beams, but at max they wear even. I have seen the argument and will no longer play in it, you can see it for yourself but it is common with vehicles that have I-beams, fully inflated verse partially inflated, you will be lucky to get 30,000 miles from a set of tires if you drop pressure for a better ride, as suggested by the factory.
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
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From: south louisiana
10 psi under is perfectly safe. (41 vs 51) as well 15 psi under may be too. That is why I suggested you try different levels and DRIVE it to see what you're comfortable with. And I'm saying this as a truck driver with well over 4 million miles behind him, in all types of vehicles, in all kinds of weather. That kind of experience you will not find using a calculator.
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f150cobrajet
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