As you know, in almost every car operation manual there is such a plate as the size of tires, rims and recommended tire pressure. And it is not in vain that these parameters are indicated to help in the proper operation of the car. If everything is clear with the sizes of tires and disks, then few people pay attention to such a parameter as the necessary normal tire pressure. Some motorists, out of habit, when buying a new car, shake the wheels as much as on the old one. But this is fundamentally wrong. It is necessary to download as much as indicated in the Manual, since even the slightest deviation from the norm is invisible at first glance, leads to a change and reduction in the resource of individual elements of the car and a change in the handling and safety of the car as a whole. Therefore, a separate topical topic about the effect of tire pressure on the components of a car is considered below.
Effect of tire pressure on fuel consumption
In this case, we will focus on the effect of low tire pressure on fuel consumption. And we can immediately say that with low air pressure in car tires, it increases fuel consumption. Surely every future and present owner rode bicycles as a child. So everyone should have noticed that it is much more difficult to pedal with flat tires than with inflated tires. Therefore, the car engine needs to spend more power, and, accordingly, fuel to maintain the driving style set for the car. This happens due to an increase in the tire deformation area in the contact patch. Accordingly, this leads to an increase in rolling resistance. Next, using an example, we will analyze how reduced tire pressure affects the fuel consumption of a standard passenger car and how much it turns out in money.
Savings calculation
We take a car with a fuel consumption of 7 liters per 100 km and the corresponding tire pressure indicated in the Operation Manual - 2.3 kgf / cm2 on the front wheels and 2.2 kgf / cm2. The cost of 95 gasoline will take 40 rubles per liter. Next, we consider how much money will turn out:
7l x 40 rubles = 280 rubles Those. This is the approximate cost of driving a car for a distance of 100 km.
We reduce the tire pressure to 1.5 kgf / cm2. Accordingly, at this tire pressure, fuel consumption will increase by 0.3 liters. And let's calculate how much it turns out in money per 100 km. run.
7.3l x 40 rubles = 292 rubles Accordingly, the cost overrun will be 12 rubles per 100 km of the car. It doesn't seem like much, but it's not worth it. After all, you can simply pump up the tires as much as indicated in the documentation.
Influence of tire pressure on tire life
As described above, low tire pressure creates an increase in the deformation area of the tire, and accordingly, when rolling, the tire tread may slip relative to the roadway. Which in turn will lead to heating of the tire itself. Also, with an increase in the deformation area of the tire, internal friction increases. All this will lead to a rupture of the threads, as well as to an increase in fatigue stresses in the frame. In addition, the edges of the tread tread that are not designed for this quickly begin to wear out.
Apart from low tire pressure, increased pressure also affects tire life. With increased air pressure in the tires, the tension in the threads of the carcass increases. Therefore, there is a possibility of rapid destruction of the cord. Since the air pressure in the tires is increased, the tire begins to interact with the expensive middle part of the tire tread, which leads to rapid wear. It is also worth mentioning that with increased tire pressure, the cords are under great stress, which can lead to tire damage when hitting an obstacle. But it is important to know that increased tire pressure affects wear less than reduced tire pressure. But in order to prevent premature tire wear at all, the recommended pressure must be observed in order to also eliminate uneven tire wear. At normal pressure, the load is evenly distributed.
Effect of tire pressure on vehicle handling
On this occasion, we can also say that the tire pressure, depending on whether it is low or increased, will depend on the car's handling in various situations. For example, with increased tire pressure, the car will be easier to drive when driving on a dry road, but again it all depends on the situations. On the road, there are different and risky situations that require the fastest decision-making and actions of the driver. So, when the wheels are heavily inflated, then during sharp maneuvers the car can skid (especially in rainy weather) and, accordingly, practically lose control over the car.
With reduced tire pressure, depending on which drive wheels, the ability of the car to turn also depends. For example, if the car is rear-wheel drive and the front wheels have low tire pressure, it will be harder to turn accordingly than with normally inflated tires.
By the way, in front-wheel drive cars, the pressure in the tires of the front wheels must be normal, otherwise, the reduced pressure can cause the car to skid in emergency situations.
From the above about the effect of tire pressure on handling, we can conclude that it undoubtedly affects, but it all depends on the pressure (low or high), the situation and the style of operation of the car. In any case, this average will be the best option, i.e. normal pressure.
Effect of tire pressure on suspension components
In this case, tire pressure seriously affects the life of the suspension elements. As is known, part of the purpose of a tire is to absorb minor vibrations caused by uneven road surfaces. Accordingly, in the case when the wheels are heavily pumped, this is the same as wooden wheels, and therefore, when driving through bumps, the tires will not perform their function of partial absorption of vibrations, but will transfer them to the suspension elements. Therefore, we can conclude that in this case, in addition to accelerated tire wear, the wear of vehicle suspension elements, such as shock absorbers, etc., will also accelerate.
Accordingly, why increase tire pressure to reduce the life of individual elements of the car?
Reduced pressure can even have a beneficial effect on the suspension elements, but it is not worth reducing for the above reasons, and this will also worsen the stability of the car.
The effect of tire pressure on the stopping distance of a car
It is important to remember that the safety of the driver and passengers depends on the size of the braking distance. Therefore, it is always necessary to do so in order to minimize the stopping distance of the car. There are many factors that affect the stopping distance, and one of them is tire pressure.
Increased tire pressure, as mentioned earlier, has the least grip on the road surface. Consequently, the braking distance will increase. Decreasing tire pressure will reduce the stopping distance. But again, there are downsides - exchange rate stability will decrease.
Conclusion.
From the foregoing, we can conclude that tire pressure is a rhetorical question, the solution of which must be approached individually, taking into account the information contained in the vehicle's operating documentation. After all, any constructor, when specifying the necessary normal tire pressure calculations were made for a particular car and took into account various factors that could affect the correct operation of the car.
Of course, somewhere you can win with low or high tire pressure, but the result will always be proportional. Therefore, you should always be guided by optimal data. And do not forget to check and pump the wheels before each, especially a long trip, taking into account the load on the car, possible weather conditions, the roadway, etc. and so on.
The inhabitants of Russia have an inquisitive mind, tend to distrust anything and independently conduct experiments with anything. For example, in Germany, people are not like that at all. When a technique has instructions for its use, the German will carefully study the recommendations and will follow them. A Russian citizen, in most cases, will not even read the instructions, since he prefers the experiment and his own experience, perhaps even the introduction of his own know-how.
That is why, for a Russian, a car is a godsend, using which you can prove to everyone how developed his intellect is. Not for the first year, a bike has been circulating among car owners, according to which, dropping tire pressure by half a unit can help save on fuel. In reality, if you lower the pressure in the tires by half atmospheric units, this is what happens.
That's right, the car will go a little smoother than before. But small potholes and cracks, and possibly even large irregularities on the roadway, will not be noticeable. The reason for this is that the wheels have become softer, due to the fact that they are more "deflated".
Such trips can be considered a game of Russian roulette - whether an accident happens or not, this should keep the driver in constant tension. In addition, it is a well-known fact that under reduced pressure, tires wear out much faster. This again results in an increased risk of an accident.
- There is also a reverse moment - the tire is too much inflated. This often happens when, on a cold winter morning, it is discovered that the wheels have been inflated overnight. A caring owner, of course, decides to pump them up to the required atmospheres.
- After some time, the frost on the street, one way or another, will pass, it will get warmer on the street. The air that was in the tires will also warm up, increasing the pressure force in the tire. To this can be added the heating of tires from movement, and an even greater increase in internal pressure.
- An overinflated wheel will not ride, but will jump along the road, providing too hard a ride. Even if visually the road will seem even and smooth, the car will shake, vibration will appear. Any hole can lead to damage not only to the tire, but also to the disk.
Inflated tires
Here, nevertheless, it is possible to reveal the dependence of the wheels pumped to the floor of a unit of pressure and economical fuel consumption. But consumption will be reduced by only 1.6 percent. At low speed, it will seem that the car is really easier to control. But in fact, this will lead to an increase in the braking distance and a deterioration in the grip of the tire and the road, due to a decrease in the area of the contact patch of the tire. The car will try to skid, with a decrease in speed, the handling will become very bad, the “sensitivity” of the steering wheel will disappear.
Each driver wonders what air pressure in the tires of a car is considered optimal. The fact that for different machines this value is also different is understandable without explanation. The easiest way is to find the desired value in the data sheet, but in practice it does not always correspond to reality.
Tire pressure level - what do manufacturers not talk about?
Pumping wheels exactly as manufacturers indicate is considered by many to be the only right decision. And under certain conditions it is, but what are those conditions? We are talking about the condition of the roads beyond the “hillock” and in our native cities, and these, as they say in Odessa, are two big differences. Testing and determining tire pressure takes place on high-quality, perfectly smooth European and Asian roads, but driving cars on ours is just right for trying on.
Accordingly, drivers of foreign cars should think about adapting tire pressure to our own roads. Get ready for the fact that whatever decision you make, it will be wrong to some extent, and will cause controversy among motorists. This is also called the word "compromise" borrowed from the French language - the resolution of a disputed situation through mutual concessions of the parties.
To comply with the atmospheric pressure in the tires prescribed by the manufacturer, in our conditions is an uncompromising solution in relation to the suspension of the car. She will experience all the delights of Russian roads in a particularly tough form, which could be smoothed out by slightly “underinflated” tires.
The pressure in the tires of a car - we lower the wheels
In winter, you should consider and test the option of driving on tires inflated 10-15% less than the required indicator. This is just a recommendation - the final decision is up to you! However, it is hardly worth explaining why such a need is caused - for sure, more than once on your own skin and car suspension you have felt half-wheel holes hidden in puddles or slipped in a swamp. Under-inflated will help you get out of snowdrifts or a fresh swamp.
The compromise is that Tires that lack the prescribed pressure wear out faster and are more difficult to drive on level roads. But in city driving conditions, lowered wheels have a large area of contact with the roadway, and the tire's permeability increases due to the weight of the car distributed per unit of contact area. In addition, the wheels become soft in the literal and figurative sense - the car does not react so much to bumps in the road, the tires absorb unpleasant shocks, due to which the key components of the car get less.
The braking distance is also reduced, which is also important on slippery roads. In summer, it is enough to under-inflate the wheels by at least 5% - this is already enough to neutralize the most unpleasant bumps and not cause much harm to the tires themselves. However, if you are a fan of fast driving, then follow the recommendations of the manufacturers - in this case, the controllability of the car is much more important.
Pumped pressure in car tires - pros and cons
There is an opinion that exceeding the recommended pressure saves fuel. With ever-rising gas prices, this trick is being tested by more and more drivers. Indeed, a small amount of fuel is saved, but not more than 5%, but you get a lot of unpleasant consequences.
By reducing the contact patch with the roadway, stiffness, the load on the suspension and other components, increases. Moreover, the latter wear out unevenly. Therefore, in the near future you will pay the masters from the service station, only this is unlikely to be an amount equivalent to five percent saved.
In order not to face technical difficulties on the way, the driver must monitor the level of tire pressure and be able to control its permissible level.
After all, if the wheels are too pumped, then this complicates the practical control of the vehicle. The original article lists the main dangers that a driver can expect in the presence of excessive elasticity of the wheels.
What can high blood pressure affect?
To some extent, tightly inflated tires become the key to more economical use of fuel. But even this small difference in gasoline consumption is hardly able to cover the shortcomings from a similar negative phenomenon.
And it consists of the following main risks:
- High rigidity does not contribute to vibration damping, so the process of controlling the machine becomes much more complicated.
- The suspension of the car under the influence of various shocks will quickly become unusable.
- All road irregularities will become extremely noticeable for the driver and passengers.
- Steering and ball bearings receive excessive mechanical stress.
- Traction is broken, and this is the risk of accidents.
With all this in mind, we can definitely say that tire pumping should not be allowed. Otherwise, the car can quickly become unusable or even get into an accident right on the highway.
That's why important closely monitor the level of pressure present inside the wheels. This criterion is of paramount importance not only for a beginner, but also for an experienced driver with extensive experience and practical skills.
Why it also affects comfort
It is extremely difficult to drive a car when it feels like the tires are poorly inflated or completely pumped over. Therefore, it is worth monitoring them at least once every 2 weeks, as well as promptly correcting existing malfunctions.
When the tires are inflated, people inside the cabin clearly feel:
- every hole in the concrete road, when the car, as if by an invisible force, is thrown up, and it does it very sharply;
- vehicle vibration;
- a sharp movement of the car when the brake system is working.
It also happens that companies responsible for the transportation of passengers also make a mistake in their work related to the excessive elasticity of the wheels in their cars.
But in this situation, customers have every right to write complaints about the quality of services provided to a similar carrier. And here their claims will be fully justified.
If it is possible to maintain a clear control regarding the level of pressure inside the wheels, then the driver must do this and take into account all the nuances in practice.
Otherwise, he risks not only his health and even life, but also the safety of all passengers and people in the salons of cars passing nearby.
It is always better to monitor the condition of the tires yourself, without the help of outsiders. So it will be possible to quickly determine their condition, as well as carry out the necessary repair or adjustment work.
It is believed that driving with overinflated tires leads to fuel economy. And apart from saving, there are no special problems in operation.
Normal and recommended pressure is indicated in the operating instructions for your car and duplicated on the plate on the driver's pillars
If you inflate a tire by adding 0.5 to normal pressure, fuel consumption will drop to 0.2 per 100km
If you pump the wheel, adding 1 atmosphere to normal pressure, fuel consumption will drop to 0.4 per 100 km.
On pumped rubber, there is a lot of wear, as the rubber does not adhere tightly to the asphalt. At normal pressure, the tire life is 80-120 thousand mileage, with an increase in tire pressure + 0.5, the tire life is about 40-60 thousand mileage, with an increase of 1 atmosphere, there will be premature wear of the rubber, which will last only 25-30 thousand km. run.
In addition to wear, excessive pressure affects comfortable driving, reduces grip with the road surface, which leads to premature replacement of suspension elements.
Not finished wheel by 0.5 atmospheres leads to increased fuel consumption up to 0.7 liters per 100 km, strong side tread wear, and acceleration dynamics decreases. There is a risk that if the rubber gets into the pit, it can fly off the disc. There are not so many pluses, but they are present, more comfortable movement and a 10% reduction in braking distance.
Do not save on matches, pump the wheels to the values indicated by the manufacturer and monitor the tire pressure.
