Gas mileage!

Interview with Sgt. Dave Storton is the Director of the San Jose PoliceAcademy, and lead instructor for the Emergency Vehicle Operations
Course. He has some good insights into tire pressure.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/330698-driving-under-pressure.html#post8716249

 

The chalk tests i've seen are only straight line, I turn a lot.

This isn't unique to one brand of tire, I've been doing this for 25+ years and haven't seen uneven wear, why should I do a chalk test that has it's own limitations when I have consistent prior information?

 

If you got the PSI right the first time then more power to you, that's why they won't show uneven tread. What I am saying is if you were to get new/different tires and refused to use the chalk test, and instead just "looked at your tread after 30,000 miles" you would be taking a risk because if the pressure was wrong, it's been wrong for 30K miles. The chalk test prevents that. As for turning alot, I'm pretty sure the chalk test applies to you no matter how much you turn... If you are really concerned with the tread wear while turning (Are you a nascar driver or something?) I would just run the chalk test...while turning

 

And I already said i don't trust the chalk test, turning or not. I didn't wait until 30K to look for the first time.

I checked my tires at lunch and found the most rubber in the center, apparently 50psi is too low?

 

Then we're back to this,

How do you measure wear accross the tire before driving it very far?

 

You are really trying to make this more complicated than it is. It's not, and a chalk test won't help. You don't need to go this far to see uneven wear. But measuring with one of these today the center was not wearing faster after 30K.

 

Sorry, not trying to be an arse, let me rephrase my question.

If I go buy new tires and put them on my truck, I don't know what the optimal PSI to run is. If I want to have the correct PSI for even tread wear before I drive it any more than a few miles, how can I tell what the right PSI is for me?

 

This might be a good starting point

Tire Tech: Understanding the relationship between PSI & Load. LT265 and LT255 data!

Can't seem to make a clicky but it s thread on here about tire pressure

 

All i can say from experience is I don't think there is some ideal correct PSI. People are getting fairly even wear from 32 to 50 psi.

My experience is with 185-215 sized tires, if you have 285-305 your wear may be different.

 

Thank you! I will research that later

I had hoped you had a method. Okay, nevermind. Btw I will be running 245-265

 

Method: pump to max sidewall, and monitor for undesired effects. No matter what psi you run you have to monitor things or your tires are going to be at risk.

 

I have just raised my tire pressures from 34 up to 45. Will make a few runs up north with these settings, and leave all else the same. I may even try 48 or 50 after I see these results.

On the ecomodder site they discuss vehicle height and I am leaning towards dropping mine down 3-4 in if possible. Also thinking the 3.91 ratio Front & Rear diffs I bought recently may still be to low (high numerically). So before I change them I will try to find some 3.53 gears somewhere. I am glad I have a first gen 04 model. The earlier production Tacos have the gears I prefer.

I want to drop my tire sizes down as well. The fat tires I have now are great for off road, but just too big & heavy for improving fuel mileage.

The very next purchase will be the ScanGauge II, so I can track my improvements accurately. Anyone know of a deal being offered right now?

Len

 

The ScanGuage II is a really good idea. I run UltraGuage because it's only $60, but I really like it. I noticed instant acceleration improvement when I went to smaller tires and this helps me allot with my driving style (I mostly pulse & glide).

 

Not sure how but with a mix of highway and stop/go traffic, my last tank averaged 24mpg. Straight highway driving with cruise only nets me around 21mpg.

 

Be careful before you do this! I am an MPG seeker like many others here but I am still about to lift my truck and put slightly larger (yet skinnier!) tires on it. Reason I am warning you is that my truck was lowered when we bought it and it just does not feel or look like a Tacoma should to me. I didn't notice for a while but when you park next to other trucks it is almost degrading! It got to where it affects how much I love driving my vehicle, so I am lifting it for no other purpose than looks because while MPG is important, what's more important to me is enjoying the truck you drive, especially considering how much time we spend in and on our vehicles.

My 2 cents.

Oh crap... Did not consider the bigger tires hurting pulse and glide ability... Was relying on that!

Dang! Your definition of city must be similar to mine then. I say city but I really mean long stretches of 45 MPH. That could be it? Plus stop and go allows for lots of coasting.

 

For me, it more short distances with stop lights and signs. I just filled up (put 12 gallons in) and the last time I filled up was May 18. I work from so I don't drive my truck all that often or that far.

 

Then I couldn't imagine where 24 came from, except coasting like I stated.

 

my commute is 5.6 miles with about 12 stoplights, and 1 tunnel. Takes 35 minutes :|