Mark,
I understand the points you are making, but in most cases, the
car's weight, type of tire, (eg: low profile), and conditions are all
factors in the pressure required.
I once read an article by Goodyear admitting that the tires that
they put on cars are not really very good in all conditions. They cite
that treadless tires are perfect for dry weather, and another with
special tread for rain, and another for snow.
Yes of course I'm sure most of us on this group realize that
hard cornering in our lbc's would increase heat build up in the tires,
but I was more concerned for the millions of people that drive ordinary
sedans, in a "normal" fashion. Tire manufacturers spend a reasonable
amount of time calculating what psi should be used for their tires on
different vehicles. My other point was that it should not be an option
for the customer, since many would not have a clue as to what would be
best for their driving conditions.
Race teams use probes to check tire temperatures across its
width, and then increase or decrease the volume of air inside. It's
become a science now, but not an exact one.
With all of this information in mind, I still stand by my
original comment that 44psi on each tire is not desirable on a car that
only weighs about 1800 pounds, (800kg). In an emergency braking
situation on a wet road the car would be difficult to control.
Nick D. Benson
Department of Industrial Sciences
Colorado State University
Fort Collins CO
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