Re: [Chrysler300] TIRE PRESSURE

[Michael Moore <mmoore8425@xxxxxxx>]

On Apr 7, 2011, at 11:00 AM, Keith Boonstra wrote:

> Too often we find that "recommended" pressures are not necessarily 
> optimal, but they yield a value that has greater importance to the 
> specifier of the recommendation than it does to you as the final user. 
> E.g.- American Classic wants your whitewalls to last, or Chrysler wants 
> you to feel like you're getting a softer ride.
> 
Keith, I guess I have to wonder about where the interests of the tire industry lobbyists, 
insurance companies, car manufacturers etc.  are  in this. 
Who sponsored the law in California to insist that ALL cars have their tire pressure checked whenever a car comes in? 
I'm not a conspiracy theorists in general, but laws like this seem to be in someone's interest. 

> For more decades than I'm ready to admit I've had a practice in setting 
> my tire pressures that has worked extremely well. I take very precise 
> measurements of the tread depth on a brand new set of tires when I first 
> get a different car, then I inflate them to a pressure I suspect will 
> provide an even wear across the footprint of the tire. After I put on 
> five or ten thousand miles, I go back and take exacting new readings of 
> the tread depth to see how much they are wearing - the fronts may very 
> well be different from the rears. If the outer edges are down, I'll add 
> a pound or three. And likewise, if the centers are wearing a little 
> more I'll lower the pressure some. Once I get the pressures set for a 
> completely even wear, I'm good for as long as I own that car using 
> similar tires.
> 
My case is probably pretty different. I replace my tires based on age, not wear. 
That's true of many of my friends with collector cars. My E Type has very expensive Dunlop tires which I'll have to replace.
The tires have less than 20,000 miles on them-but are 8 years old. So whether or not my American Classic tires make it to 45,000 miles is a moot to me.

> 
> In most of my radial tired cars with all-season tires I do find that the 
> 35-36 pound range gives me that even wear.
> 
I can not disagree.
> But, that being said, I live 
> in Michigan and going to the Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires for ice 
> and snow traction presented an interesting case in point. I found out 
> that these tires are constructed very differently. When I first started 
> running them I pumped them up to my regular 35-36 pound range and took 
> off down the road without another thought. About 15,000 miles later I 
> found I had run the centers right out of them. The centers were wearing 
> at least twice as fast as the outers.
> 
> I found that I had to drop all the way down to 29-30 psi to get those 
> Blizzaks to wear evenly. I've had nine sets of them over the years, and 
> dropping to that low figure has given me completely even wear on all the 
> cars I've used them on.
> 
> 

> It's amazing how much difference a little change in inflation makes, but 
> then on the racetrack they'll adjust by as little as 1/2 pound on a 
> single corner of the car and win (or lose) a race on it. Bottom line is 
> that every tire was designed to have a certain flat footprint. The 
> size, design, and construction of the tire, and the weight you press 
> down on that particular corner, will determine what the real optimal 
> pressure for that tire is. You just have to measure and find it.
> 
> 
I bled my American Classics down to 28 lbs this morning 
(from the 38 they were) and I like the car's ride and handling much better. If the worst tghat happens is that the whitewalls
crack, so be it. 

Mike Moore
> Keith Boonstra
> 
> -
> 
> On 4/7/2011 1:11 PM, Bob Jasinski wrote:
> >
> > Mike,
> >
> > I run 35 PSI in all my vehicles and have for years. I've never had a
> > problem, get good mileage and handling, and tire shops I've worked 
> > with all
> > recommend it. All my vehicles have radial tires and include my 300G, 
> > Dakota
> > pickup, PT Cruiser, 2006 300, Chrysler Town & Country van as well as 
> > my '88
> > BMW 325i
> >
> > Bob J
> >
> > From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> > <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> 
> > [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> > <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com>] On
> > Behalf Of Michael Moore
> > Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2011 10:04 AM
> > To: Chrysler 300 Club International
> > Subject: [Chrysler300] TIRE PRESSURE
> >
> >
> > Here in California, a new law went into effect which requires garages to
> > check tire pressure whenever a car comes in for service.
> >
> > I believe in factory recommended tire pressure as a baseline. The standard
> > herein Ca seems to be 35 psi.
> > My 2007 Subaru, my 1997 Benz, as well as my 59 TR3 have all had the 35 
> > pound
> > treatment and they each ride like an oxcart and steer differently at that
> > tire pressure. The Benz ought to be 28 all around, the TR ought to be 
> > 22 and
> > the Subaru something else ? but lower.
> >
> > They all are much nicer to drive with FSM correct tire pressure.
> >
> > My 300H picked up 38 psi last week while visiting the garage.
> > The FSM specifies 24 for the 300H.
> > In 1968 when I bought my first set of Michelin X's for the 300H, the
> > Michelin dealer said they would look low at 24 because they were 
> > radial, but
> > the only reason to pump them up was if people kept telling me they 
> > were low!
> >
> > This morning I noticed American Classic, the mfgr. says to keep them at 35
> > psi or the whitewalls will crack.
> >
> > Any experience with that? (I don't like 35!)
> >
> > Mike Moore
> > Morgan Hill, Ca
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> > 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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