Starting with the basic premises, tires are the only means through which forces are transferred between the vehicle and the pavement. Therefore, we can say that they are the most important part of the car.
The greater the contact area between the tire and the pavement, the better grip and stability the vehicle will have, which is why racing cars use slick tires, on the street, the thread of the tire only serves to displace water and avoid aquaplaning.
When a new vehicle is designed, one of the most complex functions in when engineers and the vehicle designer come together to determine the ideal pressure that will cause the tire to have the largest contact area with the pavement and the longest possible life. This area is not determined by the width of the rim, but by the weight and air pressure in the tire.
Changing the tires of a vehicle for wider or higher profile, will not increase the area, this will always be the same as long as the weight of the vehicle is not modified.
And this is the main reason why in the specifications of any vehicle the pressure changes according to the weight that is loaded on the automobile.
A tire with low inflation pressure, although apparent to be wider to the naked eye causes the weight of the vehicle to fall on the walls of the tire instead of the air inside it, therefore it becomes concave in the middle and loses a lot of contact area. In addition, this tire will wear out on the shoulders and will last much less.
IMPORTANT NOTE A tire with low air pressure can cause the rim to touch the pavement in a very tight corner or in an emergency maneuver and this will cause the car to turn over, an adequate pressure will allow the vehicle to slide when it has reached its maximum limit of adhesion.
A tire with a too much pressure causes it to become oval and that only the center of the thread has contact with the pavement causing the tire to last much less and the vehicle has much less grip in curves or in water.
A properly inflated tire:
- Lasts much longer
- Improves the maneuverability of the car
- Prevents accidents
A poorly inflated tire:
- Spend more gas
- It lasts a lot less
- Affects car performance
- Holds much less load weight
So what is the right pressure for the tires?
The one indicated in the manual designed by the vehicle manufacturer!!
It doesn't matter what the "experts" say; not even the manufacturer of the tire knows the right pressure since this has to do with many factors, only the engineers who designed the vehicle knows the correct measurement.
NOTE: Tires are not 100% sealed and therefore lose minimal amounts of pressure through their walls continuously, so it is important to check them once a week.