On Wed, 05 Nov 2003 18:54:29 GMT, "Caliban"
<caliban03nospam@earthlink.net> wrote:


>Someone emailed me in private and said I should consider collecting data with a
>tire tread depth gage. (This is for the truly scientific. :-)). Rule of thumb:
>If the outside edges wear more quickly than the center, the tires are
>underinflated. And vice versa.

This is correct, as is the original statement that higher pressure
improves handling, lower pressure improves ride. Higher pressure also
reduces heat build-up at high speeds and heavy loads.

You can also use a differential between front and rear pressures to
adjust the handling of the car. Higher front pressure will reduce
understeer.

>Barring further input, I'm going to leave the tires at 28-29 psi for awhile,
>which is overinflated from Honda's recommended 26 psi. Maybe I will start
>collecting data, or take careful note of the wear at my rotation at 7500 miles.

I would consider the manufacturer's recommendation to be the lower
limit and the tire's maximum to be the upper limit. Anything in that
range is a matter of personal preference. You seem to be aiming for
maximum tread life which is fine. I would point out though that most
Hondas come with tires that favor long tread life over good handling.
I would suggest that you optimize the pressure for ride vs. handling
and not worry if you only get 60,000 miles out of them. It is also a
lot faster and easier than trying to optimize for maximum tread life.

>I have never been wild about the bulge at the bottom of my tires in the past
>when inflated to 26 psi. Some bulge should be present, but it always appeared
>excessive to me. (Gut impression.) Also, I am considering what you and others
>have said about the ride quality.

As long as you have at least 26 psi in them, the bulge is not a
problem.