42/40 = uneven tire wear or unsafe?

plasm · 01-03-2006, 01:29 AM

Does anyone know if running at 42/40 (on any tires) will wear the center before the outer edges of the tire? If the tread is wearing unevenly, it would indicate that the tire isn't contacting the ground optimally, so that would be a safety issue. I'm just wondering because it's quite a bit higher than the recommended 35/33 pressure.

I've been running at 42/40 for a while now, and I love the increased MPG and handling, but I'm wondering if I'm sacrificing safety and/or tread life at the same time.

Thanks!

Jack 06 · 01-03-2006, 01:34 AM

I ran 40/38 on my '02 for 54K mi. and the wear was perfectly even. Those were Bridgestone Potenzas, too, not a very good tire otherwise.

And yes, technically safety could be a slight factor---mostly, I think, in the event of having a slight bounce if you drove over something, thus temporarily losing grip with that wheel, instead of "squishing" over it.

DaveinOlyWA · 01-03-2006, 01:40 AM

nope... on LRR tires, pressure has to be much much higher before crowning becomes a problem

Paradox · 01-03-2006, 03:47 AM

Picked up my 06' yesterday and checked the pressure after the car sat several hours. They had 31 all around... So I got my portable little compressor out and riased em' right up to 37/35. I'm nervous about running 42/40 or even 40/38... No one who runs that high and has had their car say 2 years now has experienced early wear of their struts etc? I live in NYC and hitting the inevitable pothole(s) around here can be a bitch on the suspension and running that high, well, can it really be good?

plasm · 01-03-2006, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DaveinOlyWA@Jan 3 2006, 02:40 AM
nope... on LRR tires, pressure has to be much much higher before crowning becomes a problem

[snapback]183529[/snapback]

I actually just got Goodyear TripleTreds put on... I don't think those are LRR. Do you think those should be okay at 42/40 as well? Thanks!

**efusco** · 01-03-2006, 08:44 AM

My integrities wore more out the outer edges than the center...I religiously maintained 42f/40r pressure.

I've had my Prius for over 2 years and have no issues with struts/handling and have never heard a report of any issues.

Modern steel belted radial tires should have no issues of crowning/center wear at the pressures we're talking about here.

john1701a · 01-03-2006, 09:09 AM

It's a non-issue.

Pressure all the way up to the maximum is what a good quality tire will maintain its shape at nowadays. After 30,000 miles with my HydroEdge tires running at 44/42, the wear is still even all the way across the surface.

The days of rounding tires are just bad memories from decades past.

plasm · 01-03-2006, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by john1701a@Jan 3 2006, 10:09 AM
It's a non-issue.

Pressure all the way up to the maximum is what a good quality tire will maintain its shape at nowadays. After 30,000 miles with my HydroEdge tires running at 44/42, the wear is still even all the way across the surface.

The days of rounding tires are just bad memories from decades past.

[snapback]183627[/snapback]

thanks for the expert advice, john and evan.

you guys are awesome!

jsorger · 01-05-2006, 04:23 AM

I'll second Evan's response - I kept my stock Integritys at 42/40 for 50k and they still wore out on the edges first. Started to become evident at 25k or so. I was scared to go higher, but wondered if I could even out the wear.

DaveinOlyWA · 01-05-2006, 12:11 PM

edge wear is normal under all conditions if the tires are not properly rotated and balanced. front tires will wear on the edge faster and this wear is FASTER for underinflated tires. normal for ANY other pressure. that is why front to rear rotation is critical. a rebalance is recomended for each 25-33% of usable tread wear loss.

edge wear occurs while turning and can not be avoided. for most tires, a small amount of overinflation will slow the wear down. the rears because they are pulled around the corner with minimal weight on them, dont distort and dont wear on any spot unevenly

01-03-2006, 01:29 AM	#1
plasm Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 56 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Does anyone know if running at 42/40 (on any tires) will wear the center before the outer edges of the tire? If the tread is wearing unevenly, it would indicate that the tire isn't contacting the ground optimally, so that would be a safety issue. I'm just wondering because it's quite a bit higher than the recommended 35/33 pressure. I've been running at 42/40 for a while now, and I love the increased MPG and handling, but I'm wondering if I'm sacrificing safety and/or tread life at the same time. Thanks! __________________ 2005 Salsa Red Package #4 - "Mooberry"

01-05-2006, 12:11 PM	#10
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,544 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	edge wear is normal under all conditions if the tires are not properly rotated and balanced. front tires will wear on the edge faster and this wear is FASTER for underinflated tires. normal for ANY other pressure. that is why front to rear rotation is critical. a rebalance is recomended for each 25-33% of usable tread wear loss. edge wear occurs while turning and can not be avoided. for most tires, a small amount of overinflation will slow the wear down. the rears because they are pulled around the corner with minimal weight on them, dont distort and dont wear on any spot unevenly __________________ My 2006: Last tank 463.1 miles @49.2 pump (49.4 computer) 4.22 cpm winter mpg 50.70 summer mpg 54.59 lifetime: 33,038.3 miles 52.79 mpg pump (54.04 mpg computer) 5.74 cpm My 2007 Zenn Driven 5849 miles, 2.00 cpm/ 105 mpg (at $2.05/gal), 4.04 miles/ Kwh Savings over my Prius $300.79 The Corolla...567.79 The REAL SAVINGS from not driving Corolla 657.39 +Prius= 958.18 (excludes maintenance costs...would be unfair to ICE vehicles) My Plate: DUALPWR (Dual Power)

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01-03-2006, 01:34 AM	#2
Jack 06 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Winters, CA: Prius capital of US. 30 miles W of Sacramento Posts: 2,567 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I ran 40/38 on my '02 for 54K mi. and the wear was perfectly even. Those were Bridgestone Potenzas, too, not a very good tire otherwise. And yes, technically safety could be a slight factor---mostly, I think, in the event of having a slight bounce if you drove over something, thus temporarily losing grip with that wheel, instead of "squishing" over it.

01-03-2006, 01:40 AM	#3
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,544 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	nope... on LRR tires, pressure has to be much much higher before crowning becomes a problem

01-03-2006, 03:47 AM	#4
Paradox BourbonEnthusiast Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SI, NY Posts: 208 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	Picked up my 06' yesterday and checked the pressure after the car sat several hours. They had 31 all around... So I got my portable little compressor out and riased em' right up to 37/35. I'm nervous about running 42/40 or even 40/38... No one who runs that high and has had their car say 2 years now has experienced early wear of their struts etc? I live in NYC and hitting the inevitable pothole(s) around here can be a bitch on the suspension and running that high, well, can it really be good?

01-03-2006, 08:44 AM	#6
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,059 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 24	My integrities wore more out the outer edges than the center...I religiously maintained 42f/40r pressure. I've had my Prius for over 2 years and have no issues with struts/handling and have never heard a report of any issues. Modern steel belted radial tires should have no issues of crowning/center wear at the pressures we're talking about here.

01-03-2006, 09:09 AM	#7
john1701a Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,690 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Pioneer #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	It's a non-issue. Pressure all the way up to the maximum is what a good quality tire will maintain its shape at nowadays. After 30,000 miles with my HydroEdge tires running at 44/42, the wear is still even all the way across the surface. The days of rounding tires are just bad memories from decades past.

01-05-2006, 04:23 AM	#9
jsorger Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 81 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I'll second Evan's response - I kept my stock Integritys at 42/40 for 50k and they still wore out on the edges first. Started to become evident at 25k or so. I was scared to go higher, but wondered if I could even out the wear.