would it matter much?

Killermalibu

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May 29, 2003
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Do you think tires being 5-8 PSI low would cause a dramatic change in fuel mileage on a daily driven SUV? Stupid question, I know, but I gotta settle something with a guy from work.
 

MEGABU

Top Fueler
Aug 20, 2007
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Blue Island, IL
i don't know about dramatic, but definitely noticeable. especially on the freeway. not really safe either.
 

MEGABU

Top Fueler
Aug 20, 2007
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Blue Island, IL
anyone with any racing experience at all will tell you that less rolling resistance=more efficiency, and tires low on pressure have more rolling resistance, and it takes more engine power to overcome that resistance. to make more power, the engine needs more fuel, and so on... anyone who argues this simple logic is a moron, plain & simple! :lol:
 

T5MalibuWagon

Dragway Regular
Sep 27, 2004
1,386
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Fort Worthless TEXAS!
I would think so. If you want to show him the difference in rolling resistance find a willing person with a suv, the heavier the better, and have him push it with proper air pressure. Then go ahead and lower the pressure down to 6 psi and have him do it again. If he still doesnt get it than revert back to the end of megabu's post.
 

TOMS78BU

MalibuRacing Junkie
Dec 13, 2007
4,896
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gadsden, alabama
i believe it will make a difference, and i believe if you look for fuel saving tips that it is recommended to run the highest recommended pressure. seems as though i have heard that somewhere. didn't low tire pressure play a hand in the whole firestone/ford explorer fiasco with the blown tires and resulting loss of control/rollovers? better to run highest pressure recommended, imo.
 

LS6 Tommy

MalibuRacing Junkie
May 15, 2004
15,847
1
38
North Jersey
It makes a good enough differnce. Being 5# low decreases your mileage by around 10%.

Tommy
 

T5MalibuWagon

Dragway Regular
Sep 27, 2004
1,386
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0
Fort Worthless TEXAS!
TOMS78BU said:
i believe it will make a difference, and i believe if you look for fuel saving tips that it is recommended to run the highest recommended pressure. seems as though i have heard that somewhere. didn't low tire pressure play a hand in the whole firestone/ford explorer fiasco with the blown tires and resulting loss of control/rollovers? better to run highest pressure recommended, imo.

I know that a low tire will heat up like a sob, and heat is what causes most blow outs, at least in my opinion. I think that a good full contact patch is what you need, a over inflated tire can be almost as bad as an under inflated one.

I was driving one of my fathers cars, swerved to miss a deer and the rear of the car came around it was like I hit a patch of ice. Never went all the way around but I think I was as close as a person can get without doing so. Anyway it turns out that the rear tires had 6psi in them :x I thanked my pops for that one! Watch out for low profile tires some times they dont look low even when they are
 

Killermalibu

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May 29, 2003
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Litchfield NH
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LOL, thanks guys for the input. I'm gonna low the pressure in my TBSS and let him try pushing that, then fill it up with the built in air compressor and let him try again. BTW he is kinda a moron, so this will be fun proving him wrong. :D :twisted:
 

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