Tires in San Antonio TX

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Tire pressure and handling on the road

In a properly inflated tire air pressure promotes uniform distribution of load in the contact spot and ensures the stability of the structure of tires. And although nearly all drivers are confident that this affects the character of wear of tires, rolling resistance and durability, few know that the reduction in pressure has a significant impact on the speed and accuracy of the tires on the reaction of the driver.



To evaluate the effect of pressure on the handling and response, we conducted a comparative test tires with normal and with insufficient pressure. We took the cars coupe BMW 330Ci 2003 and installed on them 225/50R16 tires on wheels 16x7.5. Tires, participated in the trial were new, with a still good tread.



We selected all season radial tires Goodyear Eagle GT-HR, combining the durability of the tread with good handling and high traction. One of the highlights of Eagle GT-HR is their design, in which technology is applied RaceWrap, designed for tires Eagle Race, used in the championship NASCAR. In tires, built on technology RaceWrap, layer frame is held at a slight angle across the end walls, wrapped around the circular bar and, again passing through the sidewall, goes under the edge of the steel cord. Such sidewall structure, consisting of two layers, crossed at a slight angle, improves reaction on the steering wheel and driving stability.



At one test BMW 330Ci tires were inflated as recommended by the manufacturer of cars: 2 bar (29 psi) on the front axle and 2.3 atm (33 psi) on the back, while the other car, the tire pressures were at 30% below (1,4 bar (20 psi) front and 1.6 bar (23 psi) in the back). We've taken the value of 30% since it was adopted the American standard US DOT to design car as the critical value at which the system is passive monitoring would alert the driver of the decrease in pressure.



The first part of the test was visual. We asked the drivers to look at the tire and determine which of cars have tires with insufficient air. It would be easy to do on the old high-profile tires, but the modern low-profile tires mounted on BMW, have demonstrated the complexity of the problem. The drivers agreed that appearance does not allow tires with full certainty to judge how much pressure there. Eyes - not the most accurate gauge.



You can by eye to determine in which of the wheels of the pressure at 30% below? So they will look like in the morning when you come up to his car in the garage.



In the next test, which was held at the site, we tested the effect of pressure on the behavior of the tire in critical conditions. All the drivers pointed out that normally inflated tires provide good handling and jet action, but the behavior of the same tires with low pressure leaves much to be desired. With a lack of pressure tires require more active taxi began to maneuver and slower to react to the actions of the driver. Tires with insufficient air operate asynchronously during the rebuild, rear significantly lagged behind the front, and the drivers complained about the lack of adequate information on the handlebars.



These tires resisted bad tire slip during the tests for demolition, but equipped with a car every time they are extremely reluctant to change direction. He lost to an opponent for two seconds on the circle (2 seconds correspond to approximately 7% loss of controllability).



In other words, lower tire pressure nullifies all the devices manufacturers in improving manageability.



Make sure that the pressure in the tires of your car in line on the plate or in the instructions. Check pressure at least once a month, and before long trips.