I live in the Adirondack Mountains northern NY. THe mornings can be quite cool and by mid day it can be 80+ degrees. This scenario will happen this weekend. I normally run 55-60 lbs. of air in my tires Is this ok or should I start out with more?....Chip
PS--I have 2 older Commander tires on the rear and 2 new Universal T Drivers on the front. All are 30 x 3 1/2. We are traveling 50+ miles to a show.
I live in Minnesota and in the summertime we're really bad for temperature differences. Yet when I air my tires up I put 55 PSI regardless of the temperature and I don't think it's made such a difference it would hurt the tires. Your climate sounds like ours, however maybe your altitude could create a difference.
Usual recommendation is 20 psi per inch. A 3 1/2 should take 70 psi.
I usually run 65 and never a problem (and no tires passing me on the road).
I don't think you would see more than 4 psi difference from hot to cold so 65 should be plenty safe.
Cheers
schuh
After WW2 a 30 x 3.5 tire became a 30 x 3.5 oversize tire (30 x 4). Maybe the molds were melted down for the war effort. As far as I know all 30 x 3.5 tires today are 30 x 4. I use 60 pounds for my 30 x 3 tires and 80 pounds for my 30 x 3.5 tire. Haven't had a flat since 1991. In Victor Pages book he calls for 20 pounds per inch.
See the following past threads on this topic:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/151001.html
and
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/95356.html
and
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/95547.html
All 30 X 3 1/2 tires are not oversize. The Firestone Non Skids for example are nominal sized.
Gary, 30x4 tires would be for a 22" rim. Dave
I want to learn so I don't mind being wrong. So what is an oversize 3.5 tire anyway? Why did it change during WW2? Recently on the our local Lowland tour two members had flat tires. When I first had my '14 touring I had a flat and my friend Phil Lawrence told me about Victor Pages book. I have been putting 80 pounds in my Firestone white tires (30 x 3.5) for a long time. The front (60). I just went in the the garage and looked at my tires. Both the 30 x 3 and the 30 x 3.5 say EX-SIZE directly above the number. What does that mean?
I have done some googling and found out that a 30 x 3.5 oversize tire is a 31 x 4 tire. Based on that a 30 x 3 oversize tire is a 31 X 3.5 tire. With Victor Pages formula of 20 pounds per inch that would be 70 for the 30 x 3 oversize tire and 80 pounds for the 30 x 3.5 oversize tire.
Ford recommends 65 in the fronts and 70 in the rears for 30 × 3.50's so that's what I run.
Craig , Was that for a standard clincher tire or an oversize tire?
It sounds like my 55 psi is a little light. I'll put them up to 65 when I get it back on the road. I figger that's where I'll be the safest.
Clinchers Gary.
Sounds like the US books must vary from the Canadian period books for clincher pressure,
50 to 55psi front and 60 to 65 rear, 5 pounds less for hot weather. I have not had any problems at 55 all round, no bands or flaps.
I run 55PSI all around and have had no problems. JMHO. Dave
I run 55 PSI in 30 X 3 tires and 65 PSI in 30 X 3 1/2. Flats are caused by nails or other road debris if you will do this.
One time on a tour, I actually saw a guys 30X3 1/2 tire pass him up as he was driving down the road. This was due to low pressure I think.