Change tire pressure in the cold??

[buckshot85]

I was wondering if anyone changes their tire pressure in the cold weather? With my big tires i notice more bounce when they are cold untill they warm up about 10-15 miles. Just wondering if tire pressure made a difference.

 

[Zembonez]

I know tire pressure drops like a rock when it gets cold out. Even here where 50 degrees is a typical cool night, the PSI readings drop 5-7 pounds in my 20s. I bumped em all up to 36 just last week.

 

[vansdonk]

I know from working with a/c tires that looking at their shape isn't really a good indicator of air pressure, unless they are flat. In the winter months mine lose alot of pressure just due to the temp change. Normally I run 40 psi. In the winter I bump it up to 45. Just seems to ride and look better.

 

[buckshot85]

Thanks i'll check mine when they warm up and see what they read. and add a little and try that

 

[BLOWN454]

The tires in my car dropped only a couple pounds all around over the course of the last few weeks when temps here went from 60s and 50s to below 10 degrees

 

[Zembonez]

The tires in my car dropped only a couple pounds all around over the course of the last few weeks when temps here went from 60s and 50s to below 10 degrees

The amount they drop is directly proportional to the volume of air they hold. Smaller tires are affected... just less so.

 

[Matt_]

You should adjust your tire pressure periodically with seasonal changes.

If you run 35psi during the summer when the temp is 90 degrees, then you need to reset the tire pressure to 35 Pei when atmospheric temp drops to 10 degrees in the winter.

Tire pressures should be checked and adjusted when cold. .. not after driving on then. Best time is early morning before you leave for work.

 

[Matt_]

And its actually independent of volume.

If you have two seperate tanks of different volumes filled to the same pressure at a given temp and reduce the temperature of both tanks equally, they will both have the same pressure reading.

 

[Zembonez]

Not buying it.

The tires on my truck lost about 8 pounds each when it started getting colder. They even triggered the TMPS light. The tires on the Accord only lost 1-3 pounds. All of my tires are set at 35 psi.

Your science might be right on... but in tires it doesn't work.

 

[Bigredmariner]

I need to check mine.