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I have just returned from caravanning at Thetford Forest (3 hr drive from home in Sheffield). The car was fully loaded, therefore, I re-read the cars handbook and as a result increased the tyre pressure for the car by 10psi in the back and 5 psi in the front.

The car is a Mondeo and the Caravan is a Bailey Ranger. The difference was incredible. The car towed better and struggled less on hills. Previously the car has struggled in 5th gear on any slight inclines. On this trip it was not an issue at all.

Does everyone else already increase the tow car tyre pressure and am I a little behind the door? If not it's definetly worth doing.

John

tyre pressue is so often overlooked, most tyres on most cars are around 28-30 psi, for normal town driving and speeds around 30-50 is OK. If you are motorway driving or towing it is reccomended that you increse the pressure by 5-6 psi at the rear and 2-3 at the front end, depending weather you have a transversly mounted engine.

Quote: Originally posted by 1701john on 17/2/2008

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The car is a Mondeo and the Caravan is a Bailey Ranger. The difference was incredible. The car towed better and struggled less on hills. Previously the car has struggled in 5th gear on any slight inclines. On this trip it was not an issue at all.

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Changing tyre pressures will affect the car's handling, which I suspect is the desired outcome where the owners handbook recommends an increase for towing.  It will reduce the tyre temperature under load at speed a little too.

It won't do anything that will make your Mondeo into a Ferrari - any effect on performance of the reduction in rolling resistance will be very slight.  Are you sure that you didn't just put a little less weight in the caravan or in the car?

Cheers
Andrew

   

I used to increase the tyre pressure if the car handbook recommended it, for our Kia it does'nt.

My Renualt Megane book recommends increased tyre pressures for motorway use and if the car is fully loaded. I don't tow with it however (too small!)

Quote: Originally posted by robroy on 27/2/2008

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I have a Honda CRV Mk1 , and i put 40psi in my tyres all around , all the time , its more stable and the MPG is alot better

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There is a downside too.  If you have your tyre pressures higher than your car handbook says you should then they'll wear a lot in the middle and less at the edges - and you'll end up having to change them early, which could negate all your fuel savings.

Cheers
Andrew