Tire expert needed

Chuck, this is a good question, one that I have wondered about. It would be nice to see an in depth article in the Bulletin on this subject. I run Lester 6.50 X 19?s on my ?29 Studebaker President. When the car was new it had ?Balloon? tires. I am no tire expert, and don?t know the technical difference, but from the old factory pictures I have seen the tires today don?t look anything like the factory original equipment. So, I am sure the tire pressure recommendations would also be different. I run 38psi in the Lester?s. It would be nice to know if I am running to much or not enough pressure. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

About an hour after I posted my question, the mail arrived with my latest issue of Hemmings Motor News. Inside the plastic cover with all the rest of the stuff was a tire catalog from Coker Tire. To its credit, they list maximum tire pressures and weight capacities for almost all their products. I?m not sure if these specs are suitable for every occasion, but it looks to me like a good place to start.

Knowing what is right for our cars is a problem that I fear will only get worse. In the past owners knew about service items almost intuitively. They grew up with similar cars so it was simply second nature. As new people come into the hobby they don?t always have the benefit of first hand experience. It?s not just tires. There are all kinds of routine maintenance items older cars require that aren't considered with modern day vehicles. Unless we just want to park our cars, I think its is very important to pass on this kind of valuable information, no mater how mundane it may seem to ?those who know.?

If you drive the car the correct pressure can be determined in a relatively short time. Using Coker's recommendations for pressure as a starting point take a tread depth measurement every 200 or so miles. The tread wear pattern will tell you whether or not the inflation is correct. The beauty of this way of doing it is that it will work even if oversize tires are used.

dont most tires have a maximum pressure rating written on them? I have just been reading my tires. most seem to say 32 or so. I usually go with 32 unless it looks too low. then again most of my cars are more modern so for really old cars with say 20 inch wheels it may be very different.

Shawn

Most modern style tires have maximum pressure marked on them, but many older style tires don't say anything (even though they were recently manufactured).

If you are inflating your tires to the max pressure listed on the side you may be overinflating for the vehicle. New vehicles have the recommended pressure listed somewhere in the car.

That is correct, the maximum pressure is rarely the factory recommended pressure. I would suggest (only my opinion) to use the factory recommended pressure which is listed in most owners manuals. I might inflate a few pounds over, but never to the maximum pressure. If the recommended pressure cannot be found, ask other owners of your car model and try to form a conclusion, best wishes, Todd C