Tire Pressure on Fuel Economy

great price too!

 

I don't know how to quantify the possible wear and tear on suspension for any given long term increase in tire pressure. It would actually probably take a long term study...and that isn't going to happen.

But in much simpler terms....firmer is harder..and harder is harsher....

There is no "Free Lunch" with whatever choice you make. Cause and Effect....

I give my reasons why I did not...and continue to NOT....pursue the "benefits" of inflating above recommendation. Those reasons are NOT just limited to concerns about suspension stress.

But also like I said, I realize that those of you convinced it IS worth it? And those of you that DO practice it? I'm not going to be able to say anything that has you bleeding the air out of your tires to reach the PSI written on the door jam placard.

I guess I would also say?

Why NOT just the recommendation?
I'm also somewhat convinced that "Whatever" Toyota said the PSI was recommended for the vehicle would instantly be ignored by a faction of people. The desire to "experiment" or "make it better" or "find the hidden or unspoken...really the best PSI" seems to be just too tempting an action for many.

With the Prius? I had no problem with maintaining the recommended PSI...and/or the MPG that resulted when at that level.

 

Ok, thanks guys. I've been using the simple pencil gauges for 40 years. (I have the Milton) They work fine.

But then I thought I needed something more fancy, and more expensive, so I bought one of those digital air pressure gauges. But I don't like it as much as the simple pencil gauge.

And the electric air pump I bought has its own gauge... so now I got three gauges all showing a different pressure. I'll just stick with the Milton.

 

Same boat, got a digital gauge, reads about the same. But the pencil gauge is handy, reliable, and doesn't need batteries.

Latest pencil style I bought was junk, for some reason very hard to seat on valve. So I continue to use my older one. Works fine so far but the rubber gasket is starting to look knackered. So I was researching, this Milton looks good, knock on wood.

Actually does anyone know a source for tire gauge replacement gaskets?

 

All I was saying is that suspension parts seem very long lasting even with these higher pressures. So the effect in suspension wear and tear has to be small.

I’ve always used higher than recommended pressures on all of my cars.

You can feel the sharper handling created by that. Sharper handling (with higher pressure compared to standard pressure) is especially noticeable with winter tires. Some winter tire manufactures even suggest running their tires with higher pressure than what car manufacturer suggests.
And you can notice the difference in costing distances created by less rolling resistance created by higher pressures. Also better fuel economy is a fact.

And since I haven’t seen any bad effects caused by high pressure why wouldn’t I use them.

Many Toyotas (I think Prius as well) come with one tire pressure suggestion for driving under 160km/h or 100MPH and another (higher) for driving over that speed. And they don’t say to lower the pressure immediately when driving at lower speeds. Which I would think means that they are sure that at least those (a bit higher than for lower speeds) pressures won’t compromise safety at all at lower speeds.

 

Go in peace...my High Inflation Brethren.
I leave you to your faith in your chosen ritual.

 

A lot of conjecture in there. Higher tire pressure in a tire will mean it'll be less absorbent of small deflections in the road, and will transmit more jars up into the bearings and suspension. It's debatable how much effect that has.

It's also debatable if you have to use Toyota ATF WS in the transaxle. If an aftermarket oil filter is ok. Lots of things like that.

 

Which of those facts are you denying?

 

GO IN PEACE!...
GO IN PEACE!...

I've been in this debate enough...not just in this thread....
If you "enjoy" the benefits you perceive you are getting from inflating the tires beyond the recommendation?

Then I would not pretend I could stop you.

I've already outlined in pretty good depth all the reasons I choose to NOT do it.

 

But the parts (other than front bearings) seem to last very long time even with those high pressures. Proving that the effect has to be small.

 

and yet, toyota chose to bump the pressures in the two eco...

 

Damn you Bisco!
I knew somebody would waltz in and throw that reality into the murky swamp of never ending debate....

 

But if you’re saying that this is a religion you must think that the facts that I did say aren’t facts.

I’m not trying to get you to change your tire pressure either.

 

Gimmick!

 

I keep spinning my tires, i'm going to lower mine down to 20 PSI!

All that Gen4 power is getting away from me…

 

Well if you want me to take the gloves off? And REALLY want me to?
The things you are presenting as "Facts" are your own personal observations and "feelings"...

The only REAL FACT is the numbers Toyota puts on the placard in the door jam...and the phrase "recommended".

The minute anyone decides they know better?
It gets into the realm of personal preference and personal observation...personal feeling.

I believe in physics...
Therefore I wouldn't deny that a harder tire won't result in lower rolling resistance and "some" improvement in MPG.

But again...for numerous reasons I have already outlined....not worth it to me.

 

I got tired of my Dentist asking me: "How come your teeth are showing all this increase in wear lately???"

 

What things in my message are not true?

Sharper handling with higher tire pressures? Physics and the fact that people increase their tire pressure when they go to autocross track profess this.

Better MPG? That you did understand already.

The fact that effect in suspension wear and tear has to be small since suspension parts seem very long lasting even with these higher pressures. Newer did I claim that it wouldn’t increase wear and tear.

The fact that Toyota gives higher tire pressures for high speed driving on some cars?

If you mean this part:
“With tire pressure above 40psi (above 2.8 bar) traction is still good on (even on) snow and ice. And testing on race track on ice all the systems including stability control system seem to work fine with higher pressures.”
It’s all true and in that part I just said that traction is good and systems seem to work fine. Newer claiming that they would be even as good as with recommended pressures.

 

Not The Prius.

Again..Not Worth It ........TO ME.....

Evidently....butt shaking firmness in search of 2 MPG improvement and tire squealing turns, IS worth it TO YOU.

My advice?
Stop when you hear a pop.

I've given my opinion....I'm out of this debate in this thread.

 

.... or a loud BANG, like I heard when I spun the wheels (at 40 PSI).