Proper Tire Pressure For Better Mileage
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 06.18.05
Keeping your car's tire pressure at the optimal level is a small and easy eco-tip that would help save a lot of precious oil if everybody did it. The principle is simple: an under-inflated tire adds rolling resistance, so the engine has to work harder to move the car. Best way to understand it is to imagine pedaling on a bicycle that has almost flat tires. So it's easy to see why we strongly recommend that you buy an inexpensive tire gauge and make sure to check once in a while if your tires are at the recommended pressure.
Once you own a tire-gauge, why not offer friends and relatives to check their tire pressure too? Tell them it will save them a bit on gas and I'm sure they'll get interested. And for those wanting a bit more fuel economy, you can try going a bit over the recommended pressure to reduce rolling resistance some more, but if you do, make sure to check for uneven wear, particularly in the middle; that means too much pressure and could shorten the life of your tires. Whatever you do, just make certain not to exceed the maximum inflation pressure noted on the tire.
Have any suggestions for a treehugger-esque way to imflate a car tire?
Safety is always a good way to get people to pay attention to doing the right thing. Proper tire pressure provides for better handling and vehicle control. Side-wall damage -which can result from low tire pressure- can also cause hazards to those who repair tires...especially on split rims and heavier duty tires. Save a buck and be safe ... makes too much sense !!!
I AM TRYING TO FIND THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE FOR A FORD ECONLINE E-250 VAN. I HAVE LOOKED EVERYWHERE, IN THE MANUAL, ON THE DOOR PANNEL, UNDER THE HOOD. CAN YOU HELP RICH
Take a road test!
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Great advice, I totally agree. Imagine if everyone kept proper tire pressure, the savings would be astounding. I inflate mine at least to the sidewall max pressure - I've read that the wear isn't a problem with radial tires. The ride just isn't as smooth, a sacrifice I'm willing to make. I recently wrote a little about this myself, I linked to an article about a police department that inflates to max sidewall pressure http://improvingmpg.blogspot.com