If I lower the air pressure in my tyres? will it stop my car from skidding? - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

carraig · 07-12-08, 01:54 PM

Hi all
Seeing there are a lot of knowledeable guys around this forum

I thought I would seek some views about an issue that is exercising me!!
I have a BM coupe (8 years old) It is a coplete bitch if there is any ice or frost on the ground, it skids all over the show! the tyres are newish, someone told me in the pub last night that if I let the pressure down from its recommended level, it would improve the traction!!! any one agree or disagree with this???

Marc · 07-12-08, 01:58 PM

Hmm i wouldnt be inclined to do that on normal road conditions,IF you were in deep snow or sand then lowering pressure would help as it gives a bigger footprint, i would be inclined to make sure that the pressures are in fact manufacturer spec'd.You could get away with the little bit of lower pressure but dont go far!!!

Marc

pontiend · 07-12-08, 02:03 PM

A high gear and a light foot on the accelerator pedal is the best way.To aviod skidding.
ray

Analoguesat · 07-12-08, 02:04 PM

Im no expert but Id have thought that if you let the tyres down enough to make a significant difference you would be risking sidewall failure due to the extra flexing or carcass failure if you hit a pothole.

Id guess you would have been better off putting some proper winter tyres on

Our Fiesta Zetec has a similar problems - the treads run around the tyre rather than across it and its just horrible once there is any ice

hoppy89 · 07-12-08, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carraig

Hi all
Seeing there are a lot of knowledeable guys around this forum

I thought I would seek some views about an issue that is exercising me!!
I have a BM coupe (8 years old) It is a coplete bitch if there is any ice or frost on the ground, it skids all over the show! the tyres are newish, someone told me in the pub last night that if I let the pressure down from its recommended level, it would improve the traction!!! any one agree or disagree with this???

you could always get the bus

wasp11 · 07-12-08, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pontiend

A high gear and a light foot on the accelerator pedal is the best way.To aviod skidding.
ray

This works for me, and ive used it many times. Go in to a slightly higher gear than normal for the speed your doing, and chug up that hill, or round a dodgy corner as pontiend points out

pontiend · 07-12-08, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoppy89

you could always get the bus

It's unbeliveable how many times I have been I have been on the bus since I got my bus pass.In fact no one seems to pay these days.
The buses are full of old fogeys like me.

hoppy89 · 07-12-08, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pontiend

It's unbeliveable how many times I have been I have been on the bus since I got my bus pass.In fact no one seems to pay these days.
The buses are full of old fogeys like me.

yea...tell me about it.... full of old fogies and stinks of pi*s.....

stuckwithsky · 08-12-08, 08:47 PM

BM's are rear wheel drive of course so always can be a handful in the slippy stuff!

Whilst you might thin letting out air might help, it is not going to make much difference as the tyres on then are generally low profile type!

If your car is also an automatic, then I wish you luck mate! Absolute nightmare in the snow and ice - setting off is trial and error! if a turbo diesel as well, then I would advise publis transport! You accelerate away, tyres spin, turbo kicks in and then the gearbox upshifts itself and you will spin all day...good fun, but embarassing on the school run!

So, assuming you are in a manual box - simply do everything in the next gear. Set off in second, then shift to third instead of second etc etc.

But my best advice would be to go to your nearest supermarket car park late at night when it is shut and the roads are icy - find a clear space and learn the limit of the car in the conditions - you'll probably enjoy it!

Macabre · 09-12-08, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carraig

Hi all
Seeing there are a lot of knowledeable guys around this forum

I thought I would seek some views about an issue that is exercising me!!
I have a BM coupe (8 years old) It is a coplete bitch if there is any ice or frost on the ground, it skids all over the show! the tyres are newish, someone told me in the pub last night that if I let the pressure down from its recommended level, it would improve the traction!!! any one agree or disagree with this???

Was on a stag do in blackpool two weekends ago ( don't ask why blacpool )

And my m8 was wasted , he farted and followed through ( bad skidding happened )

I told him last night that if he had lowered his tyre pressure this wouldn't have happened .

To which he told me to " GO FORTH AND MULITPLY "

07-12-08, 01:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
carraig Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Belfast Posts: 121 Thanks: 28 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	If I lower the air pressure in my tyres? will it stop my car from skidding? Hi all Seeing there are a lot of knowledeable guys around this forum I thought I would seek some views about an issue that is exercising me!! I have a BM coupe (8 years old) It is a coplete bitch if there is any ice or frost on the ground, it skids all over the show! the tyres are newish, someone told me in the pub last night that if I let the pressure down from its recommended level, it would improve the traction!!! any one agree or disagree with this???

07-12-08, 01:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Marc Underground Crew Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 647 Thanks: 18 Thanked 182 Times in 143 Posts	Re: If I lower the air pressure in my tyres? will it stop my car from skidding? Hmm i wouldnt be inclined to do that on normal road conditions,IF you were in deep snow or sand then lowering pressure would help as it gives a bigger footprint, i would be inclined to make sure that the pressures are in fact manufacturer spec'd.You could get away with the little bit of lower pressure but dont go far!!! Marc

07-12-08, 02:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
pontiend Senile Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: south yorkshire Posts: 913 Thanks: 216 Thanked 200 Times in 164 Posts	Re: If I lower the air pressure in my tyres? will it stop my car from skidding? A high gear and a light foot on the accelerator pedal is the best way.To aviod skidding. ray __________________ TM9100 super.TM-5402HD. TM-5400 CI+. TM1000 d+. triax 88 cm dish.stab hh90 motor.57e-30w. 100 cm,fixed. Last edited by pontiend; 07-12-08 at 02:06 PM.

07-12-08, 02:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
Analoguesat manic midlander retired mod Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Scottish Borders Posts: 11,668 Thanks: 21 Thanked 1,339 Times in 990 Posts	Re: If I lower the air pressure in my tyres? will it stop my car from skidding? Im no expert but Id have thought that if you let the tyres down enough to make a significant difference you would be risking sidewall failure due to the extra flexing or carcass failure if you hit a pothole. Id guess you would have been better off putting some proper winter tyres on Our Fiesta Zetec has a similar problems - the treads run around the tyre rather than across it and its just horrible once there is any ice __________________ Basic forum rules for both satellite & cable: no keys no patches no offering or asking for card shares Anyone pm'ing me for details of card sharing or anything to do with hacking cable will be banned immediately Analogue forever!!

08-12-08, 08:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
stuckwithsky Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Warrington, Cheshire Posts: 92 Thanks: 16 Thanked 10 Times in 6 Posts	Re: If I lower the air pressure in my tyres? will it stop my car from skidding? BM's are rear wheel drive of course so always can be a handful in the slippy stuff! Whilst you might thin letting out air might help, it is not going to make much difference as the tyres on then are generally low profile type! If your car is also an automatic, then I wish you luck mate! Absolute nightmare in the snow and ice - setting off is trial and error! if a turbo diesel as well, then I would advise publis transport! You accelerate away, tyres spin, turbo kicks in and then the gearbox upshifts itself and you will spin all day...good fun, but embarassing on the school run! So, assuming you are in a manual box - simply do everything in the next gear. Set off in second, then shift to third instead of second etc etc. But my best advice would be to go to your nearest supermarket car park late at night when it is shut and the roads are icy - find a clear space and learn the limit of the car in the conditions - you'll probably enjoy it!