(Fwd) tyre pressure

["Greg Woodard" <gwoodard@ndsuext.nodak.edu>]

paul sez:                                                                       
> I have heard that for driving on sand, you should reduce tyre pressures       
> to get more of the tyre in contact with the sand.  Does the same thing        
> apply to snow driving?                                                        

NO!                                                                             
when driving in sand, the object is to float on the sand.                       
otherwise, your belly be dragging and your wheels be hanging.                   
hence, low tyre pressures, so they don't cut in and sink.                       
when driving in snow, the object is to get the tires on the pavement.           
in this case, low pressure = no traction                                        
frank                                                                           

Maybe where your from, but not here in NoDak land.  After about the 
second snow, you *will not* see pavement in my home town until the 
birds return in spring.  Tire pressure is a trial and error thing, 
too much pressure and you will be stuck on main street, too little 
and your tires wont see spring.  The big problem is that the air 
pressure will change with the temperature of the tire.  In the 
morning when the tires are at ambient temp (30-40 degrees below 0) 
you have one pressure.  When you get to the interstate (actual 
pavement) the tires warm up, can be more than 100 degrees differance, 
and the pressure increases.  The trick is not too low when cold and 
not too high when warm (trial and error), get to know your gauge on a 
personal basis.  Either that or fill your tires with warm summer air 
now. ; )

have a good one 

Greg