[AT] truck tires; now pressures

[charlie hill]

Herb this is getting a bit away from the issue but NASCAR
teams actually adjust tire pressure to increase or decrease
the effective "spring rate" on a particular wheel to improve
handling of the car.  That is something they can easily do during
the race on a normal tire change.  By raising or lowering the
tire pressure in one tire by as little as 1/2 PSI they can dramatically 
change the
handling of the car.  However, that is in a situation where the price and
durability of tires make little difference as long as the tire will make it
for 50 or 150 miles until the next pit stop (depending on the track size
and configuration)  they are happy.

Charlie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Herb Metz
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2014 12:59 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] truck tires; now pressures


I don't follow the Indy 500 very closely, but, if memory serves, approx ten
years ago the winner was determined by tire durability and their having a
couple pounds less pressure on one tire?


-----Original Message----- 
From: Stephen Offiler
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2014 11:57 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] OT truck tires/driveshaft?

Firestone tires on that original Explorer (circa '91) has a max pressure
rating of 35psi.  Firestone engineers recommended 28psi for the Explorer.
Ford dropped that to 26psi to tailor ride and handling characteristics.
Now add the fact that 99.9% of the driving population never checks their
air pressures, and let a year or two go by, and natural diffusion thru the
rubber has dropped the pressure to sub-20psi sort of levels.  Now we have
created a situation that exacerbated the Firestone's propensity toward
tread separation.  Lots of blame to spread all around in that whole thing.
It also gifted the driving population with pressure sensors in each wheel
in modern vehicles.

SO



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