Underinflated tires

[Sunshine]

I think after having my tires check at the Honda dealer when I went in for my first oil change, Honda forgot to inflat my tires or something. Before going to the dealer for the oil change, I swear I had at least 32 PSI on all four tires. I checked it yesterday and I found it was 25 PSI for all four tires. I must have driven over 2 weeks at this level. The tires looked fully inflated and only thing that made me check the tires was when the tires squeaked a bit during high speed turns. I'm just wondering if my rims could be damaged by driving at 25 PSI? I know it's bad for the tires.

[Steve-o]

no they probly are not damaged. unless u hit some potholes

[Yodums]

Disadvantages of Underinflation

An underinflated tire can't maintain its shape and becomes flatter than intended while in contact with the road. If a vehicle's tires are underinflated by only 6 psi it could weaken the tire's internal structure and eventually lead to tire failure. Lower inflation pressures will allow more deflection as the tire rolls. This will build up more internal heat, increase rolling resistance (causing a reduction in fuel economy of up to 5%) and reduce the tire's tread life by as much as 25% while increasing the probability of irregular treadwear. Drivers would also find a noteworthy loss of steering precision and cornering stability. While 6 psi doesn't seem excessively low, it typically represents about 20% of a passenger car tire's recommended pressure.

Disadvantages of Overinflation

An overinflated tire is stiff and unyielding and the size of its footprint in contact with the road is reduced. If a vehicle's tires are overinflated by 6 psi, they could be damaged more easily when encountering potholes or debris in the road, as well as experience irregular tread wear. Higher inflated tires cannot isolate road irregularities as well causing the vehicle to ride harsher and transmit more noise into its interior. However, higher inflation pressures reduce rolling resistance slightly and typically provide a slight improvement in steering response and cornering stability. This is why participants who use street tires in autocrosses, track events and road races run higher than normal inflation pressures.

Source: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...e.jsp?techid=1

When are you getting your readings? The best time to properly get a reading would be first thing in the morning with no load on the tires. Try doing it 2-3 days straight every morning prior to driving.

[KingMarineM16a4]

Originally Posted by Sunshine

I think after having my tires check at the Honda dealer when I went in for my first oil change, Honda forgot to inflat my tires or something. Before going to the dealer for the oil change, I swear I had at least 32 PSI on all four tires. I checked it yesterday and I found it was 25 PSI for all four tires. I must have driven over 2 weeks at this level. The tires looked fully inflated and only thing that made me check the tires was when the tires squeaked a bit during high speed turns. I'm just wondering if my rims could be damaged by driving at 25 PSI? I know it's bad for the tires.

Lol, no bro you didn't mess up your rim at all, you tire side walls are the strongest part of the tire they will be fine for a while but I would recommend you get them replaced eventually. There is a black line around your tire huh?

[Tom1222]

What is everyone running their tires at? I know the factory say 32 up front and 28 in the rear. not sure why they should be lower in the back than the front but I guess Honda knows best.
How about 34 psi all around? Would that hurt or possibly gain a tad of mileage on long highway trips?

[Sunshine]

I checked my tires in the morning and during that time I haven't driven the car for over 12 hours. I'm just somewhat worried because I did drive over some short mini incline/declines on small bridges at about 40-45 miles per hour and it makes your car almost fly in the air. The part when it goes back into the flat ground worries me... anyone here think it might have damaged the rims? Just to let you now again, all four tires looked fully inflated even at 25 PSI.

[cypress]

i actually have them all at 32 psi

[KingMarineM16a4]

Originally Posted by Tom1222

What is everyone running their tires at? I know the factory say 32 up front and 28 in the rear. not sure why they should be lower in the back than the front but I guess Honda knows best.
How about 34 psi all around? Would that hurt or possibly gain a tad of mileage on long highway trips?

I'm really starting to love this saying...

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Having a full weeks course in just tires(yes, there is THAT much to learn about tires ALONE!) I have no clue what the stock tire psi is but i'm sure it's about 40psi. 34will be fine so will 32 and 28 is getting kind of low... Summer tires max out at 51psi, so the regulars are probably what? 48ish?

[KingMarineM16a4]

Originally Posted by Sunshine

I checked my tires in the morning and during that time I haven't driven the car for over 12 hours. I'm just somewhat worried because I did drive over some short mini incline/declines on small bridges at about 40-45 miles per hour and it makes your car almost fly in the air. The part when it goes back into the flat ground worries me... anyone here think it might have damaged the rims? Just to let you now again, all four tires looked fully inflated even at 25 PSI.

Dude, your rims aren't damaged at all... Stop worrying. It takes a lot to bend a rim, not just running on low psi.

[Sunshine]

What do you mean by a black line around the tire? Nope, I didn't see it.

[KingMarineM16a4]

Originally Posted by Sunshine

What do you mean by a black line around the tire? Nope, I didn't see it.

When you drive your car and the tire is underinflated there will be a blacker line around the area taht rubbed against the rim and ground. But hell if you don't even have that then you didn't even damage your tire.

[Sunshine]

I'll have to check my tires again to see if I do have it. Although, I did not remember seeing it.

[mO 64 StAnG 06]

This is bad... Your tires might explode!

[Vince]

Originally Posted by Sunshine

What do you mean by a black line around the tire? Nope, I didn't see it.

only if the tires were grossly underinflated would there be a "line" around the sidewall. The low pressure would allow the tire to collapse enough that the sidewall became the portion of the tire in contact with the road. Youd have to be darn near flat to do that...25psi isn't enough, I don't think.

to the OP, your worried about nothing, not likely that you damaged anything other than you've been fined 2 man cards for not checking your tires.

[CatScratched]

The only thing I lost driving on 25 psi tires was gas mileage. I put 33 all the way around and went from 23 mpg to 27 mpg all town driving, no hwy.

[Sunshine]

I always have pumped air to 33 PSI on the gauge because when you remove the air pump you'll lose about 1 PSI in the tires. Anyway, I went as fast as 90 miles per hour on my 25 PSI tires and they performed great except for the turns, it squeaked a bit. I have driven on a complete flat before with my old tires with my old car about 15 miles and even that, I couldn't see visible damage marks on the outside of the tire. If you're wondering, I'm using my OEM 16" Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires. I discovered that my tires aren't as smooth after inflating back to the correct tire pressure. I wonder if it was caused by the underinflation.

[CatScratched]

^ Yep. I heard dealerships used to underinflate the tires on Buicks to sell them to seniors. Cushy tire = smoother ride at low speeds.

And dangerous at highway speeds...

[Sunshine]

Dude, I'm not a senior. I'm in my 20's. I don't know if they actually underinflated my tires, but right after the oil change and when I took my car to highway speeds while turning, the tires squeaked. Tires squeaking usually means underinflated tires.

[CatScratched]

Yeah, I know you're not a senior citizen!

I meant that underinflated tires will give a really smooth ride, so the Buick dealer here in town would be able to sell them to seniors wanting that easy ride.

LOL