Pump your tyres up and get Free Fuel (I am an idiot)

[Welly]

I have been waiting 3 weeks to say this just to make sure I was right.

Well then, 3 weeks ago I checked my tyre pressures and they were on about 28PSi front and 30PSi rear - now bear with me a bit because historically when I've checkd them at home I've kinda thought those pressures were ok (based on previous cars). How wrong was I? I never actually thought the pressures should be 34PSi all round even though I have the sticker saying 2.3 bar which I just ignored

Anyhoo this increase in rubberised inflation has paid off my average MPG has increased by some 3.8MPG to 41.5MPG and I've been waiting for a good solid reading here and I am confident it will stay higher now than it was before.

So in summary all those times I've said my car won't do more than 37MPG was my fault it seems who'd have thought it would make that much difference

And the best bit is that I used Tesco's Petrol Station's air compressor - which is FREE (I confirmed the actual PSi with my Sealey Proffessional tyre pressure gauge which is ubber-accurate and surprisingly Tesco's digital machine was bang on!

So there you have it- Welly's free money saving tip!

*dons flame-proof overalls*

[mjb]

hahaha why do you think I put a good 4psi extra in my rears? ;)

I posted a while ago about the effect of over-inflating the rear on my drives up to manchester... iirc it boosted me from 39mpg average to over 42

[teamster1975]

hahaha why do you think I put a good 4psi extra in my rears? ;)

I posted a while ago about the effect of over-inflating the rear on my drives up to manchester... iirc it boosted me from 39mpg average to over 42

Funnily enough I did the tyres on mine before my wife went off to her parents at the weekend (I had to work )
They were varying beween 25 and 28, I did 34 on the rears and 32 on the front. What were the pressures you were running on the tubby Matt?

[mjb]

Not sure, think it was about 35 on the front and 38-40 at the back. Pretty much what the door sticker says for a full loading. Don't forget the estate has around 140KG more over the rear than the saloon...

[teamster1975]

Don't forget the estate has around 140KG more over the rear than the saloon...

That's true, I forgot you had an estate.

[mbell666]

I ran mine at over a little bit over the recommended pressures. Which gave a few mpg more, did notice if i had a bit too much pressure the frontend liked to start understeering in the wet, so i ended up back a few psi.

[Welly]

Massive Bumpage

Having had 2 new front tyres fitted recently (November I think) I've kinda omitted to consider the state of the tyre pressures relying on the fact they're brand new and shouldn't need touching etc

Anyways I thought I'd have a look yesterday and the fronts only had 26psi out of the 34psi recommended

So either the place used the wrong pressure, they've leaked a bit, or I'm just stupid and shoud have got to grips with this before

Maybe now my 37.7mpg will improve

In other news the rears were 31psi so just needed a squib of air each

[steve_earwig]

So, you only check your tyre pressures every other month?

(says he that hasn't checked his in a month 'cos he can't get to his compressor because of all the snow )

[Welly]

To be honest the standard alloys have always done a good job of remaining air tight in the past given the number of times I've checked them and got the same reading as last time

I do a daily 'visual' as I approach the thing to look for a squishy tyre but that won't tell you they're down by 8psi will it

I have been lacking in the tyre checking department though and will take a bollocking on this one

[rapport25]

Have to say welly. Some garages have the habbit of putting 30 all round without even checking the correct pressure for your car.

Have noticed this many a time on previous cars I have owned.

Also another money saving tip washing your regular will increase your mpg a dirty car creates more drag.

[DaiRees]

Had to argue with the monkeys in the local tyre shop in order to get them to put 37 in the rears on my 'state, "That's waaaaay too much mate, 32 you want in these at the most!" . I generally run about 35 in the front.

Used to run 33 in the front and 35 in the rear until I decided to try a couple more for economy's sake, besides I usually have to cart around a boot full of training materials these days

All tyres allow air to permeate out, albeit very slowly (faster in warm weather than in cold), and this process can be sped up by flexing and impacts experienced in day to day use. Also air pressure changes with temperature, so it's important to check your tyre pressures regularly. As the ambient temperature changes your tyre air pressure changes with it (about 1PSI per 10 deg) so you'll need to top the tyres up in the winter and you may find in the spring that you'll need to let a bit of air out

Also worth remembering that tyre pressures should be checked when cold (before a journey, not immediately after it).

[DaiRees]

Also another money saving tip washing your regular will increase your mpg a dirty car creates more drag.

Oh yes - washed and polished slips through the air much better

More money saving tips....
- Take the roofrack / bars off if you aren't using them.
- Keep all the windows closed.
- If you've got one of those flags that clips ont your window, bin it! It just makes you look like a tosser anyway
- Don't let the kids fly a scarf out of the windows, and don't tie a ribbon or have a mickey mouse head or whatever on your ariel

[steve_earwig]

And throw out all extra weight - tools, building supplies, cows...

[munfred]

Got 34 at the back and 36 at the front.
Surely the ambient temperature at the moment will play a part with how much the tyre pressure in your tyres is??

If I put 50psi in all the tyres do you think my mpg will go up

[TooT]

And throw out all extra weight - tools, building supplies, cows...

And switch off heated seats/rear window, air con, radio....

Remember the Top Gear when JC drove that V8 TDI A8 to Edinburgh and back on one tank?