QuestionQUESTION: i have a 94 honda accord ex and i have summer rims and tires. the stock tires say 32 psi and my new tires are a runway enduro 205-40-14. i dont know what tire inflation to use
ANSWER: Christian,
Every vehicle sold in the US has a sticker - commonly called the placard - that will list the original tire size and the proper inflation pressure for that size. Please locate the placard, becuase what I am about to do next depends on that information being correct.
My book says that a 1994 Honda Accord EX originally came with 195/60R15 89H's inflated to 32 psi front and rear.
If that information is correct, then a 205/40R14 . ..... well ...... ah .... doesn't exist, so are you sure about that size?
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QUESTION: i meant to say that my new tires are 205-40-17 runway enduro 17 inch msr wheels
ANSWER: Christian,
You have a problem. You do not have enough load carrying capacity on your tires. Your original tires had an 89 Load Index (You did check that, right?), so your new tires should have at least an 89 Load Index, and they have an 84 and they are Extra Load on top of it.
Now I can't tell you what size will work because I would need to know how big the fenderwells are on your vehicle. The folks that measure that sort of thing think the information gives them a competitive advantage, so they don’t share.
I suggest you contact Discount Tire or Tire Rack. They both do those sorts of measurements and should be able to advise you about the proper size.
In the meantime put in 44 psi. At least that will minimize the heat buildup, but beware of pot holes. Tires at this high of pressure are prone to impact failures.
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QUESTION: you said in the mean time to use 44 psi. but on the sidewall the tire says a maximum of 42 psi. also what can happen because of a wrong load capacity tire
AnswerChristian,
I don't want to alarm you, but using a lower capacity could lead to a tire failure - and they sometimes have tragic consequences. These are rare events, but getting the proper load carrying capacity greatly reduces that probability.
In spite of the tire saying 42 psi max, I would use 44 if I were you. You have a difficult circumstance and you are trying to make the best of it, and that sometimes means you have to go outside the box. Once you get properly sized tires on the vehicle, then you will operate within the box ....... and below what it says about the max pressure on the sidewall.
Also, I would greatly increase the amount of inspection you do on the tires. Depending on how often and how far, and how fast you drive, you might consider a once a week inspection. You are looking for bulges and cracks. Tiny cracks in the rubber are OK - except the ones on the face of the tread - Those indicate the durability of the rubber is being used up.
Driving gently ought to be the operative word. Avoid carrying heavy objects - meaning more than one passenger. Avoid high speeds. Avoid high cornering. The more stress you put on the tire, the more likely it is to fail.
But the sooner you replace your tires, the better. And remember you are looking for something with at least an 89 load index.
