Tires: Tire pressure too high?, root problem, t travel

Question
QUESTION: 2007 Mazda3 with Bridgestone G019 Grid 205/55R16, 3k miles.

While having my car in to investigate some intermittent vibration, mostly in the rear, the dealer told me that my tires inflated to between 43 and 46 PSI (!!)  

Background: I had it into the dealer because I was trying to pin down the cause of some rear shimmy.  The place where I'd bought the tires rotated them two days before - I was trying to determine that it was not caused by a bent rim (as they claim).  They rotated and the problem was unchanged, didn't travel up front, but the rear was now a bit more shaky.  Next step was to take it to the dealer, for a possible suspension issue (warranty).

Having had to replace the garbage OEM tires on the Mazda (Toyo) at 24,000 miles, I'm hyper-anal about pressure and rotation.  The previous Thursday (30th), I did a check after a cold front had passed, and increased PSI to 34 all around.

The tires were rotated Wednesday (5th) and I drove into work (90 miles roundtrip) Thursday, and then took it to the dealer on Friday the 7th.  So I'd say I drove about 150 miles total.  

My question: based on that size Bridgestone tires' max PSI rating of 44, what kind of damage could've been done driving 150 miles in that overinflated condition?  I'm concerned about having driven at least one of the tires with the pressure above the sidewall max.

OR, am I not aware of some circumstance where PSI can make such a increase on their own??  (then add up to 750 miles to the above, because I went out of town last weekend!)

I've never been misled by this dealer, and the root problem turned out to be out of balance tires - so much for this tire store.  And the rims checked out fine.  

Thank you for your time and expertise.

russell

ANSWER: Russell,

 Not sure where the question is but, running a tire slightly over inflated for a short period will typically not adversely affect the tire.  FYI..bad news, the tires that you have now will only generate around 20,000 - 30,000 miles as well.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So you're saying that having run one or more tires for +/- 150 miles while over the sidewall rating hasn't messed things up?  (that was my question).  

Now, another one: can you recommend a tire for a Mazda3 where I can get more than 30k on?  (thank goodness the Bridgestones were buy-3-get-one-free!)   I've heard surprisingly good things about the "cheaper" Hankook and Kumho brands.  

What's the deal with the G019 grids, anyway?  I thought that was a better wearing tire. Oh well, live and learn.

Thanks again.

R.

Answer
Russell,

 For that short period of time the tires shouldn't have been adversely affected,

 The issue on your tires Russell is not one of brands.  The speed rating of the tires, probably "V" on your car is what determines the mileage.  Given this fact, a cheaper brand may be the answer for you.  Hankook and Kumho both build good tires and have been doing so for quite some time.