Car Tyre Pressure way too high

So, I have been using Kayla's car as she prefers me to drive than criticise her driving all the time. I decided on Sunday that I would check the tyre pressures as we are going away soon and I would keep an eye on them for the next couple of weeks. Checked the tread depth whilst I was there, all seem good.

So, I get to the petrol station caps off and on the pump goes, the recommendation is 30fr 30r for heavy loads and speed, so thought we are gonna be loading it up soon so we'll go with that. Back two, 26 each, not bad, back up to 30. So I get to the front left, 48 psi, I was like WTF, I go to the front right, to my even greater suprise, 112! I think, maybe the pump is bust. I've just drove down an A road at 60 mph for at least 5 mins, I'll check them when cold and leave them and go somewhere else.

Tesco's next day, tyres left to get cold for half an hour, over to the pump at the garage, 28 rears (okay so I did them warm yesterday so do them back up to 30), front left 45, okay i'll put it back to 30, front right 108, back to 30.

Now, when we used to turn right (before the pressure changes), the car would make a horrible noise on the right hand front wheel (I thought maybe a bearing), sort of like a pulsing noise, since we changed the pressures, this noise has gone, the car feels safer on country roads, and I'm damn right fecked off that I think I now know why I nearly killed us on the motorway one night.

Is there any reason why the tyres would be that high? Could it be covering anything? I am keeping a watchful eye on them and checking them every night if i can to be sure. I woulda thought, having a tyre that high would end in fatal circumstances at high speeds...

[fizzwheel]

When did you last check the pressures or have you not checked them since the tyres were fitted.

Over inflation IIRC can cause excessive wear on the centre of the tread so want to check or keep an eye on the tread depth.

I would have thought at the pressure they were in danger of blowing off the rim, but I might be wrong on that.

Heres a tip - get a tyre pressure guage and a foot pump and check your tyres at home with a guage and pump that you trust. I never use the pressure guages / pumps at garage forecourts because I dont trust them to be consistent.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

When did you last check the pressures or have you not checked them since the tyres were fitted.

Over inflation IIRC can cause excessive wear on the centre of the tread so want to check or keep an eye on the tread depth.

I would have thought at the pressure they were in danger of blowing off the rim, but I might be wrong on that.

Heres a tip - get a tyre pressure guage and a foot pump and check your tyres at home with a guage and pump that you trust. I never use the pressure guages / pumps at garage forecourts because I dont trust them to be consistent.

Car was only bought about 2 months ago, the front right is a completely different tyre to the other 3. I had nothing to do with the purchase of the car, therefore couldn't check it over.

Over inflation I would agree on blowing off the rim.

For two to read in roughly the same area of pressures says that they are nearish to consistent but I get what you mean mate.

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I would have thought at the pressure they were in danger of blowing off the rim, but I might be wrong on that.

Tyres on my car have a ~50psi max rating, normally 32

Like fizz I can't see them lasting long at that pressure, if they really were that high the car would feel very skittish, the tyre is part of the suspension and needs to deform to stay in contact with the road surface

As for how they got that high, have you had a tyre changed recently? some shops seem to use a crazy high pressure line to pump the new tyre up quickly, I've had mine come back from some places with 40psi in them, but 100+ is insane...

[fizzwheel]

Sounds like previous owner was a muppet and has over inflated the tyres then.

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

Tyres on my car have a ~50psi max rating, normally 32

Like fizz I can't see them lasting long at that pressure, if they really were that high the car would feel very skittish, the tyre is part of the suspension and needs to deform to stay in contact with the road surface

As for how they got that high, have you had a tyre changed recently? some shops seem to use a crazy high pressure line to pump the new tyre up quickly, I've had mine come back from some places with 40psi in them, but 100+ is insane...

Yes, and only the other day (saturday, before pressure check) I was battling with it down one of my favourite stretches of road with my mate in the car saying the suspension on these cars are carp, it takes every bump and doesn't sit comfortably at all. Now it is like bliss

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Sounds like previous owner was a muppet and has over inflated the tyres then.

Would you believe it, the previous owner was a dealer and had it fully MOT'd before she bought the car More like - Sounds like the previous owner got a dodgy MOT.

Sounds pretty dangerous! It may be that the previous owner over inflated one side at the front to compensate for dodgy tracking. Does the car, now set at correct pressures at the front, drive in a straight line with your hands of the wheel? If not then it may be that the previous owner over inflated one side to decrease the rolling resistance on that side to make it drive straight. So yes, I think it COULD be masking something else. But whoever did it was clearly an idiot or insane

[the_lone_wolf]

I reckon it's bordering on a miracle you didn't have a tyre blow out or end up skipping off the road mate, if it were my "new" car I'd be phoning the dealer I bought it off to complain at the very least

Well, it does drift over to the left a bit yeah.

The interesting thing on the motorway once was when I pulled into the left hand lane, I seemed to hit the grooves from lorries and almost lose control of the car as if it wanted to go one way and no other, guess that coulda affected it. The car is a Clio BTW guys.

I am going to get the tracking etc checked at the weekend hopefully.

Originally Posted by plowsie

Well, it does drift over to the left a bit yeah.

The interesting thing on the motorway once was when I pulled into the left hand lane, I seemed to hit the grooves from lorries and almost lose control of the car as if it wanted to go one way and no other, guess that coulda affected it. The car is a Clio BTW guys.

I am going to get the tracking etc checked at the weekend hopefully.

Was it the Left that was ridiculously over inflated?