computer economy chip

Is there such a thing as a computer upgrade chip for a 92 960 that
would increase fuel mileage? Even though it would reduce
acceleration.........

 

I doubt it, but the good news is you can get pretty much the same
result by increasing tire pressure to 10% below the max pressure listed
on the sidewalls, and accelerating gently. Also, don't run the A/C while
getting up to speed or climbing hills. Those changes should be good for
about 3-4mpg more, which is the most you could expect from a chip...

 

Not that I'm aware of, I've never seen a chip for an older Volvo, and
chips tend to be to improve economy.

A 960 is a really sweet ride, if you want economy, I'm sure you can find
someone to trade you a nice 940 for it, or if you can find a 740 with a
manual gearbox that will get you into the high 20s highway. 940 Turbo
has decent performance and still can manage 24 highway which is better
than the 960. All US 900 series are automatic which costs you several mpg.

 

.... but don't brake or corner too hard in the wet!


and accelerating gently. Also, don't run the

 

If you are running good (not even great, just "good") tires it
won't be a problem. If it seems a little too stiff, back off the
pressure one or two psi at a time.

 

I have Goodyear F1 on the back of my 940 and had the pressure up at
+8psi for a long trip 80% loaded. After finishing the trip and going
back to normal loads I didn't reduce the pressure for a few days, the
back end does breakaway in the wet and you do lose grip, it is simple
physics, the economy goes up because the contact patch with the road is
reduced, you will end up wearing your tyres in the middle and have less
chance at avoiding unexpected obstacles. Not worth the risk IMO.

If you want economy this way then much better to fit the skinniest tyres
(correctly inflated) that will go on the rim, and you benefit from
reduced air resistance as well as rolling resistance.

Of course making sure the tyres are not under-inflated is important too.

 

It's not quite that simple. The rolling resistance can be reduced
without reducing the size of the contact patch, by making the tire
stiffer - i.e. by increasing the pressure 10%. What is the Goodyear F1?
If it's a Summer tire that could well make it slippery - I wouldn't use
Summer tires for anything except racing on dry pavement. A good
all-season, with somewhat stickier rubber, should be fine running 38psi.

Postscript: I just looked, and the F1 is indeed a Summer radial.

 

With the greatest disrespect, not being a snow-tyre has nothing to do with
rain performance.
If Summer tyres weren't able to deal with rain, they'd be completely
useless - and have absolutely no market.

Wrong definition, wrong application to the situation in question.
In short, you're wrong.

that could well make it slippery - I

 

All-Season tires have a more open tread design than Summer tires,
and this helps in rain. Summer tires aren't "useless" in rain, I just
prefer the all-around traction of All-Seasons to the mainly-dry-pavement
traction of performance Summer tires.

 

Dry = slick tyres
Summer = rain tyres
All-season = snow tyres

You're reading too much into the names.

 

The names and specs are also geographical, In N.Ireland we have rain
pretty much all year round, varying from slight to downpour at any time.
Snow is rare, and ice normally abated with salt.

We have only one type of tyre, no such thing as a summer tyre here, and
I'd day that a F1 here is pretty soft, and has pretty open tread. In
mid europe they have much harsher climates with hotter summer and colder
winters, I guess the US is similar. They have to change tyres because
of how the temperatures affect the rubber, not really to do with whether
there is snow or ice on the roads. Of course they do try to optimise
tread patterns more for typical weathers, but it doesn't make that much
difference.

Any advice about pressures is therefore at least geographical and
seasonal, and probably car and tyre related to. Unless you are an
Engineer and able to experiment I would just follow the manufacturers
advice.

 

Good point about geographical differences, but I have to disagree on
two points: you don't have to be an engineer to experiment with tire
pressures - just don't exceed the maximum or minimum rated pressures.
And the difference between Summer and Winter tires here *is* about grip,
not about how the seasons affect the rubber, except that soft compound
snow tires don't hold up well in Summer heat.

 

I am sure grip is a major function but I am not sure if cracking or
bursting might be a problems aswell.

I can't say I know directly for sure, but Engineers I speak with in
mainland Europe tell me the rubber in winder tyres is too soft for
summer use, and summer tyres become too hard in winter. The rubber
doesn't flex properly or does not provide enough stiffness, and the
wrong tyres becomes dangerous when used in the wrong temperature even if
the road is dry.

 

Using low resistance rolling tires would help.As well there is less chance
of clipping gutters \curbsas well as picking up road debris.There also is
less strain on your power steering pump and more accurate steering when the
tires are up.The wear in the middle of the tire is only when you seriously
over inflate .When I moved to a much more hilly area with sharp sudden
twisted inclines I had to lower my pressure a little and in winter it seemed
wiser to go down with pressure .Remember the auto companies want you to
have a nice smooth ride so they tend recommend lower pressures .My tire wear
was 10% less with Goodyear tests till they found I was uping the pressure
between their checks .I just couldn't drive and feel safe on their recommend
pressures which were way too low .