30 psi Urged For Firestones

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Firestone is urging Ford Motor Co. to adopt a 30 pounds per square inch (psi) tire pressure standard for its Explorer sport utility vehicles.

Firestone acknowledged that more than 10 years ago it agreed to a 26 psi standard with the Ford SUVs, but now the company believes that the lower level of inflation leaves little margin to account for overloading and gradual deflation.

Most of the Firestone tires under recall were fitted to Ford Explorers as original equipment. Since August, Ford has said it is comfortable with a 26-30 psi inflation range.

Too-low of an inflation rate can cause a tire to flex and create damaging heat.

“At 30 psi, the Explorer can handle higher speeds and over 400 pounds greater load than at 26 psi,” said Firestone Executive Vice President John Lampe at a Congressional hearing.

Ford has countered that 26 psi was well above the 20 psi minimum set for the tire’s dimensions by the Tire and Rim Association.

Also, Ford reports that it has faced none of the same problems when Goodyear tires were afixed to the Explorers.

The U. S. House of Representative Commerce Committee said Thursday that tire dealers had reported customers coming in with as little as 15 psi in their tires.