Well, I can only legally recommend that you press them to max sidewall. However, tire burst pressure for one in good shape is ~200 PSI if I recall correctly. My tires were up to 74 PSI yesterday after sitting out in the 100 degree heat, directly in the sun on newly-sealed blacktop.
If you want to be careful about it you can wear some ear protection. But, that 10 psi increase is a drop in the bucket, really. I'd probably recommend wearing hearing protection when filling tires anyway just beacuse my dad had a serious accident with a tire bursting while filling it ...even when he was operating the tire at its recommended pressure. However, the tire was a higher pressure tire than any old regular car tire.
I'd be more concerned about EYE protection from a bursting tire. I have a 4x8 utility trailer with 12" tires...they rate at 60lbs, it's kinda weird pumping those up, I always have this fear they're going to explode right there.
You know, it's a jugement call really. My father suffers from constant ringing in his right ear now, but his eyes are fine and saw no damage. The badge on his work shirt was litterally blown off the shirt. So, I can see where eye protection would also be good, but you can always just look away from the tire too. Your ears don't exactly have to be facing the tire to get damaged. The doctors say the only reason why his other ear wasn't affected the same way was because he had some wax in it. The tire he was filling was a 90 psi rated tire.
Well...the BEST thing of course when over inflating tires would be to wear both ear and eye protection. ...I hope you don't think you could turn your head fast enough (or even close your eyes fast enough) to avoid face/eye damage from an exploding tire...?
What I mean is you don't have to be watching the tire to fill it . Like: you put the pump on the tire, look away, then start pumping. But, I dunno, I'm not sure if a bursting a tire at 45 psi would even be enough to do damage to your body. Theres a big difference between 90 and 45 psi.
Hi Ryan: ___A tire with a burst pressure at least 5X’s max sidewall that burst at 45 #’s was going to blow for any other reason other than inflation. ___Good Luck ___Wayne
Hi Ryan: ___That is correct and standing next to any tire while filling no matter the pressure could fail right in front of you. ___Good Luck ___Wayne
wow you guys are nuts !!!!!!:Banane40: to think that i go 28 to 30, of course before reading this n appliying what im learning from u. I also have to check my sidewall n head to the air hose. this should help me with coasting n fas.... I/ll let y'all know what psi n how it goes:Banane27:
I went out to check and increase the tire pressure a little while ago. Last time I checked them a week ago they were set at 35 PSI. It's close to 100* today and they are 42 PSI before the truck has even been driven. So I increased the pressure to 50 PSI cold, well, ambient temperature anyways... I hope that is not too much...
Based on the information I've gathered here, I've kicked up the tire pressures on our vehicles to sidewall pressure ratings. No feedback on mileage yet (ScanGauge is in the mail) but these machines certainly roll great distances now. Can't believe how such a simple (and low cost) concept can make such a difference. Thanks for putting me on to this!
When I first read on Clean MPG that people were inflating their tires to 40 PSI - I thought they were insane - I was advised to inflate 3-5 psi at a time. So I went from 32 to 37 - scared to death that all four tires would explode at the same time......nothing, so I went from 37 to 43 PSI - Again, i thought they'd pop just from the bump in the gas station driveway........nothing..........now" Ran max sidewall (50 PSI) for some 12,000 miles - tires look and wear great ! 3 - 4 weeks ago went up to 60 PSI - ride is nice and firm - the car glides forever - I'd never go back to 32 PSI - its way too unsafe
I could design a bumper sticker that the average guy could relate to: 25 PSI = 25 MPG 35 PSI = 35 MPG
So maybe I'm being too worried for nothing? When do we know what the limit is beside ending up on the side of the road staring at a blank rim?
The tires that I run are max at 80psi, now the van rides a bit harder, but mileage is up some, will know more at the end of the month. The challenge that one faces is that a shop will go with the lower psi and if one wishes to have at max they are going to have to do it on their own. It is a legal thing.
