Re: Tyre Pressure question?
Tyre pressures are subjective and it all depends on what you find comfortable with. I.e. you need to balance handling, comfort and fuel economy.
The tyre placard recommendations are there so that the dealers can pump them up to that [low] pressure so that when you take a new car for a test drive, you marvel at how well the car soaks up bumps. If the dealer is selling WRXs, they will probably pump up the tyres a bit more as the typical WRX customer is going to punt it along through the corners.
I've been running my MT/Rs at 40psi and it seems to be a bit too harsh and the steering is a bit nervous. So I'm thinking of dropping them down to 36psi.
There is no hard and fast rule as it all depends on how you want the car to feel. Going higher than 29psi will mean that the sidewalls are stiffer and the corner handling would improve. Having more pressure means that the tyre is rounder and therefore less rolling resistance, which equates to better economy. Also, the sidewalls do not bag out of the sides as much and so is less prone to heating up. You will then find that you can feel more of the bumps on the road.
When I bought the Prado, the previous owner must have followed the tyre placard to the dot. After picking up the car, I found that I could not feel the cateye lane markings when I drove over them. The handling was a bit soggy but the ride was plush.
Originally posted by bgreeni
Surly the vehicle and tyre manufacturers should know best.
I've been running my MT/Rs at 40psi and it seems to be a bit too harsh and the steering is a bit nervous. So I'm thinking of dropping them down to 36psi.
There is no hard and fast rule as it all depends on how you want the car to feel. Going higher than 29psi will mean that the sidewalls are stiffer and the corner handling would improve. Having more pressure means that the tyre is rounder and therefore less rolling resistance, which equates to better economy. Also, the sidewalls do not bag out of the sides as much and so is less prone to heating up. You will then find that you can feel more of the bumps on the road.
When I bought the Prado, the previous owner must have followed the tyre placard to the dot. After picking up the car, I found that I could not feel the cateye lane markings when I drove over them. The handling was a bit soggy but the ride was plush.
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