Tire Pressures

[chopped]

Maybe a bit off key here , but I understand why they don't have a tire pressure printed on tractor tires. We all seem to run them different pressure due to uses.
Ive been mounting tires since the 70's. And now with all the hoopty about the sensors for tire pressure, I wonder why the air pressure is still printed so small. I myself use glasses but when I have to use glasses and a magnifier I wondered wy they dont have the number bigger.
We are supposed to be more concience of this nowadays.
Is it just me or is this common sence if you wanted to keep them aired up? usually just go with 40 even..with no problems with wearing

 

[Qapla]

On some of the cars and trucks I have seen, the "recommended tire pressure" is listed on the door sticker along with all the other info now posted there.

My tractor tires have the psi printed on them. (a 2005 model)

 

[Bird]

Printed so small? Well, I agree; small for me anyway. But since I started working on tires in 1956 and didn't have any trouble reading the tire pressures in years past, I thought it was just my age and deteriorating eyesight.:laughing: In fact, I just recently bought myself a Great Point Lighted Magnifier.

 

[SandburRanch]

And plus all the above we need to sometimes adjust for the tire condition too. This one actually has air pressure above atmospheric and the trailer it was on was pulled to the auction.

I couldn't see the numbers and I couldn't hear the leak if it had one. And if I were told on TV some idiot would be beating on a 55 gallon drum in the background so I couldn't hear. Come on society, cut us old folks a little slack.:laughing:

 

[skipmarcy]

The pressure listed on the sidewall of a tire is the max. pressure at the full load rating of that tire. Lets say it says 40 psi cold and the rating is 1750 lbs. Assuming your vehicle has 4 wheels/tires this means that at 40 psi those 4 tires will safely carry a vehicle that weighs 7000 lbs. and the sidewalls will be flexed properly and the tread surface will be in proper contact with the road and sheds heat, water etc.

Now what if your vehicle only weighs 3500 lbs ? They use that size/rating of tire on many,many different weight vehicles. Those sidewalls are going to be too hard and tall, and the tread surface is going to be more convex to the road instead of say flat and the tires are going to ride pretty hard and wear the center of the treads out faster than the edges of the tires. The DOT requires automakers to list what air pressure will give the proper stance etc. for the tires that they use on that particular vehicle - that's what that decal is for and that's what air pressure is ideal for that size/rating of tire that came on the vehicle. One guy's similar Chevy truck may have 500 lbs more weight than the next guy's because of certain options it has and might have a different air pressure listed. Now when you change size/style/rating of tire from the original, that decal may not apply anymore and you have to figure it out some other way. With a tractor tire you simply look at your bar contact pattern for proper stance and/or your specific needs. The air pressure on the sidewall is still a max pressure at rated load for that tire, not necessarily the tractor & tire combo you have.

 

[Qapla]

skipmarcy - Thanks for that explanation. It helps.

 

[dcyrilc]

My complaint is that I carry heavy loads and tow a trailer often. Every time our truck is serviced, we get it back with 20# in the tires. All it takes is a cold day to trigger the pressure alarm.:confused2:

 

[Willl]

but I understand why they don't have a tire pressure printed on tractor tires

Huh ?, mine do.

 

[lostcause]

Ive been mounting tires since the 70's. And now with all the hoopty about the sensors for tire pressure, I wonder why the air pressure is still printed so small.[/I]

people like you will use whatever device is needed to magnify the small print so they can read it. the person driving their 6000lb crackerbox-on-wheels at 80mph from the mall to the soccer game couldn't be bothered to check their own air pressure if the world was coming to an end - hence the birth of the pressure sensors. i guess the manufacturers figured it would be a waste of time to change the size of the print anyways.

 

[oldballs]

I've been tempted to print the recommended tire pressure on the fender above each wheel. ... like the Army did. It seems that with several pieces of equipment, I sometimes forget which is which.:confused2: