Overinflated tires.....

[chief_wiggum]

So I finally get rid of the less then desirable Dueller's on our 03 CR-V -- ordered Yokohama Avid tourings from Tire Rack and have them shipped to the local NTB for installation; at 11.99 per tire balanced their price couldn't be beat. they call and say it's ready, but they did the complementary alignment check and find that it's out a little at all four corners. Had the 30K service done not quite 2 months and 2300 miles ago -- is it reasonable that the alignment would be out so soon? I told them to not fix it, i'd take it back to the dealer to have them fix it at their cost (the same dealer that failed to fill up my tranny fluid to the top causing it to slip when i picked it up...the same dealer that gave me a loaner civic with a flat tire that i had to point out to them). Anyway, back to the other problem. when i got home i checked the tire pressure and they were all inflated to at least 39lbs! i triple checked and even used a different guage, they all measured the same. The outer wall of the tire says max inflation is 35 lbs, let alone the recommended pressure of 26lbs. So, now i wonder what else they screwed up, lug nuts cross threaded, over torqued. their printout even listed the pressure should be 26 lbs. So, the question is, have the tires been damaged by being overinflated for probably 1.5 hours and driven on? I don't feel very comfortable with my pregnant wife and 3 year old daughter driving the car right now. the manager wasn't there but rest assured, he'll be hearing from me in the morning.

[2RedV's]

So I finally get rid of the less then desirable Dueller's on our 03 CR-V -- ordered Yokohama Avid tourings from Tire Rack and have them shipped to the local NTB for installation; at 11.99 per tire balanced their price couldn't be beat. they call and say it's ready, but they did the complementary alignment check and find that it's out a little at all four corners. Had the 30K service done not quite 2 months and 2300 miles ago -- is it reasonable that the alignment would be out so soon? I told them to not fix it, i'd take it back to the dealer to have them fix it at their cost (the same dealer that failed to fill up my tranny fluid to the top causing it to slip when i picked it up...the same dealer that gave me a loaner civic with a flat tire that i had to point out to them). Anyway, back to the other problem. when i got home i checked the tire pressure and they were all inflated to at least 39lbs! i triple checked and even used a different guage, they all measured the same. The outer wall of the tire says max inflation is 35 lbs, let alone the recommended pressure of 26lbs. So, now i wonder what else they screwed up, lug nuts cross threaded, over torqued. their printout even listed the pressure should be 26 lbs. So, the question is, have the tires been damaged by being overinflated for probably 1.5 hours and driven on? I don't feel very comfortable with my pregnant wife and 3 year old daughter driving the car right now. the manager wasn't there but rest assured, he'll be hearing from me in the morning.

You didn't hurt the tires one bit.The only thing you hurt was the ride you probably experienced - bumpy. Tires will raise a few per cent in psi when driven. The 35 psi on the tire is maximum COLD as it takes into account for the temperature raise of driving. If they filled them to 35 and you checked them as soon as you got home, 39 seems reasonable. Also, recommended pressure is NOT always the safest pressure. It is a compromise between comfort, safety, fuel mileage and so on. The 26psi on your 03 door is for the original Bridgestones, ONLY. You are free to put any tire pressure in the tires between the manufacturers suggestion and the actual tires maximum.

Air pressure is a tire's coolant. Too low of a pressure and the tire builds up heat rapidly. Remember Ford Explorer and Firestone and high speeds and high temps?

Your manual also says that 26 is suitable for most driving. High speeds and hot weather require higher pressures. The tire will not explode from the higher pressure. Rather, in those high heat situations, the extra air pressure cools the tire and helps it live longer. In extreme cases - running too high a pressure for thousands of miles, you will see some different tire wear.

Both of our V's have different tires than the stock Bridgestones. I run 32 psi in both vehicles because it provides sharper handling and a little better fuel economy at the expense of a slightly stiffer ride. The tires also scrub less when cornering sharply.

Do a SEARCH for tire pressure You will get an eye opening experience.

ps - I wouldn't try and go head to head with a tire shop manager about tire pressure on an SUV. You will lose. (go back to Explorer and Firestone, above)
Complaining that they didn't do 26 psi as the sheet would be OK to complain about.

The tirerack.com site actually has some great tech articles on tires and tire pressures.

[chief_wiggum]

my major concern is that they inflated the tires past the posted tire max pressure -- figuring there has to be a max pressure for a reason and that going beyond that is not good. I fully intend to run more then 26 lbs, but not 39+ lbs! it was a frustrating end to a frustrating day.

[2RedV's]

my major concern is that they inflated the tires past the posted tire max pressure -- figuring there has to be a max pressure for a reason and that going beyond that is not good. I fully intend to run more then 26 lbs, but not 39+ lbs! it was a frustrating end to a frustrating day.

Look at it this way. Honda ships all new CR-V's from Japan with 45 psi in the tires. It doesn't hurt the tires. What it does is to prevent flat-spotting and ensure that normal air leakage doesn't end up giving the CR-V being shipped a flat tire along the way.

[chief_wiggum]

i called tire rack this morning -- one of their techs stated that there really wasn't anything to worry about. i'm still going to call the manager and express my displeasure over their lack of attention to detail and potential safety/handling concerns with having a hyperinflated tire.

thanks for your help.

[2RedV's]

i called tire rack this morning -- one of their techs stated that there really wasn't anything to worry about. i'm still going to call the manager and express my displeasure over their lack of attention to detail and potential safety/handling concerns with having a hyperinflated tire.

thanks for your help.

That's the right thing to do. I would be disappointed with the lack of attention to the details as well. Ask for a couple free 4 wheel alignments and/or wheel balancing for the poor service.