An Arizona Energy Office Report notes if your tires are inflated to 24psi, and you increase the air pressure to 32psi, your fuel mileage should increase by 3 miles per gallon (an average increase of 10%!)

 

That's okay as long as raising the pressure does not OVER inflate the tire thereby reducing the life of the tire and the money you save in gas will go towards new ones. 32 psi should not over inflate but will get you a rougher ride.

 

it made me think of what i practice on my 4x4 - 31" x 10.50 tires
.
for city driving i carry about 34psi,
traveling unloaded gets 36psi, usually sustained 70mph 2 wheel drive,
on really rough ground, i drop it to about 25 psi, under 45 mph, 4x4 drive engaged,
on the sand i will go as low as 20 psi, under 30mph, 4x4 drive engaged,
capacity loaded, 1/2 ton, i will go to 44psi (within tire max limit).
it often carries 6, plus dog and cargo.
sounds nuts .. but i carry electric air pumps to do that.

i got 60,000 miles out of theUniroyal A/T's, cracked after 11 years..
i just put on BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A® KO Tires - 31X10.50R15
vehicle unloaded curbe weight is 6,000 lbs

when it comes to tires, u'r the man .. any recommendations on
the past practices?

 

It could save fuel but it could also mess up a lot of things like ride quality and tire life if you’re tires aren’t meant to be inflated to that psi.

 

We are talking about 4,000+ lbs cars.

32 to 36 psi is never going to be over inflating on such cars. maybe on a honda.
modern radials DO NOT BOW at the thread at these pressures.
We are talking about modern radials, not bias, not 1st generation radials.

I just put new tires on the Allatne and the old ones are sitting in the tool shed, the thread worn as
even as i have ever seen it on any car and they got the high pressure of 36 psi throughout their lfie.

 

iv got close to 50k on a set of goodyear integrity.......running 38 and sometimes 40lbs all day long..... i'll probably drop to 32lb and run them through lake erie winter with no problem... tires are still 65 to 70 %..... have them rotated every 5k............ will replace at about 50% tread life
rickyd