Is this not a perfect example of clueless one source media?

[GasSavers_RoadWarrior]

Doesn't need a puddle at 44+ PSI just a shiny wet road and the front end will go light at 50 plus.

Edit: I think it does about the opposite to the underinflated tire, probably only the middle is in contact and it's planing like a shallow Vee boat hull. Underinflated will hydroplane earlier by the look of it, because that's like one of those tunnel hulls on a boat that plane easy. Perfectly flat boat hulls sometimes won't plane in dead calm water, because there's nothing to break them loose. Well, presuming it's only modestly powered of course. Folks who have a problem with that stick a couple of strips on the bottom, then it behaves a bit more like a tunnel hull. These would be tires that have a 36 PSI sidewall rating, and are on the last 1/4 of their tread though.

[theholycow]

I semi-determined in another thread that enough pressure where the tire is at about 30% of its maximum load is the limit of decent handling, based on a small amount of data from my own experience, another user's experience, and some guesswork. I think I put my data and analyzation in my tire pressure thread.

So, if you look up the tire's maximum pressure and load, and the weight on it is actually around 50% of its maximum load, you've got some room to overinflate without ruining handling, though I still recommend against exceeding the tire's maximum rated pressure.

[soletek]

I used to work as a Mercedes Tech in a dealership. During that time I was sent to San Francisco for update training courses. While in SF I got to see the process used by Mercedes Benz to ship their cars here from Germany. Most people aren't aware that the entire car is completely coated with cosmoline and has to go through an automatic High Temperature Washer to remove it. Additionally, they are shipped with 80 psi in the tires, even though the sidewall reads "Do not excede 35 psi." This is done to keep the cars from arriving on their rims after their long voyage. Most Mercedes Benz at that time came equipped with Perelli P Zeros. I never once heard of a blow-out in transport. Many, however, arrived with 20 psi proving they had a slow leak.

[imzjustplayin]

Yeah I've heard about that too, that when companies ship cars overseas, they overinflate their tires.

[ShadowWorks]

Originally Posted by soletek

Additionally, they are shipped with 80 psi in the tires, even though the sidewall reads "Do not excede 35 psi." T

Wow 80Psi! I Wonder what kind of Psi it would take to pop a tire then?

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by ShadowWorks

Wow 80Psi! I Wonder what kind of Psi it would take to pop a tire then?

Hundreds. Modern automotive tubless radials differ from tube-type bicycle tires in that way -- they are really incredibly difficult to "pop" that way.

I think the generally accepted number is something like 250psi, which doesn't pop the tire but pushes its bead out of the rim seat and allows air to escape.