Question about tire pressure
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stick to the sticker. over pressurizing will result accelerated middle tread wear. mpg gains are probably neglegent 1-3%.
Stick with what the door says.
Go 37psi at all 4 tires. Make sure you set them in the dead of night, or in the morning before the sun comes up.
Everyone has there own preferences for tires. Factory pressures are designed for comfort. Increasing pressures will decrease wear; and increase performance, stability, and fuel economy, and add a slight increase harshness.
I practice setting my tires 5psi over what the factory rating is.
Everyone has there own preferences for tires. Factory pressures are designed for comfort. Increasing pressures will decrease wear; and increase performance, stability, and fuel economy, and add a slight increase harshness.
I practice setting my tires 5psi over what the factory rating is.
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A few pounds more will hurt nothing i do it all the time tire wear is no worse ,now doing 20 extra pounds that would be a no no,a few extra works fine.
The key is in careful monitoring. If you drive vigorously a couple of pounds more is always a good thing.
Be careful with changing pressurs. We had a customer insist all their tires had to be at 45psi on their Hybrid Escape. They came back in 7k miles with no tread left on the center of the tire. The tire supplier, I think it was Continental, refused to honor any warranty.
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Be careful with changing pressurs. We had a customer insist all their tires had to be at 45psi on their Hybrid Escape. They came back in 7k miles with no tread left on the center of the tire. The tire supplier, I think it was Continental, refused to honor any warranty.
+1 customer request caused the damage not product failer. GOD i wish it was that easy at my job when people bring back worn out brake pads claiming they are defective and demand a new set or refund. I still denie it. sorry off topic but yes stick to the sticker. -/+2 psi is ok.
Be careful with changing pressurs. We had a customer insist all their tires had to be at 45psi on their Hybrid Escape. They came back in 7k miles with no tread left on the center of the tire. The tire supplier, I think it was Continental, refused to honor any warranty.
+1 customer request caused the damage not product failer. GOD i wish it was that easy at my job when people bring back worn out brake pads claiming they are defective and demand a new set or refund. I still denie it. sorry off topic but yes stick to the sticker. -/+2 psi is ok.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Like bdcardinal said, airing up more than ~10% more than what the door-jamb label says will almost always result in wear issues with factory tires. A high quality replacement tire? Maybe not so much.
Regardless, for safety reasons, I wouldn't go more than 10% of what the door jamb label says.
Joel
Regardless, for safety reasons, I wouldn't go more than 10% of what the door jamb label says.
Joel
3 lbs or so over will get you more crisp response, and better tire life [less heat and distortion].
The door specs are a compromise, NOT what is best.
Also consider how different tires change things.
The door is a reasonable guess.
I would never go lower. I always go higher. Always.
The door specs are a compromise, NOT what is best.
Also consider how different tires change things.
The door is a reasonable guess.
I would never go lower. I always go higher. Always.
As a counterpoint to mechtech2, my Caravan sticker recommends 36 lbs.. At that pressure, there is noticeable more wear at the center of the tread. At 33lbs. +/- I get more even wear across the tread.
Keep an eye on your tires. Experiences can vary.
Keep an eye on your tires. Experiences can vary.
While all tires with crown to some degree given a high enough pressure, not all tires will crown with reasonable pressures.
My truck tires will crown in a heartbeat. My Prius tires stay flat even at 45psi. They raise up and show that the side of the tread is not touching the ground, but they remain flat across the tire. It's easy to see how your tires are doing simply by looking at the tire. What's contacting shows dirt/dust. What touches the road in corners shows wear.
Be advised, however, that on some tires on some cars, wet traction and other low traction events can be problematic with overpressured tires. Try increasing psi's and monitor handling and tire wear patterns closely.
My inflation plate says 32psi, IIRC. I have them at 40 front and 37 rear. I monitor treadwear and the handling is fine.
As with all things, pay attention, get educated, and think things through.
My truck tires will crown in a heartbeat. My Prius tires stay flat even at 45psi. They raise up and show that the side of the tread is not touching the ground, but they remain flat across the tire. It's easy to see how your tires are doing simply by looking at the tire. What's contacting shows dirt/dust. What touches the road in corners shows wear.
Be advised, however, that on some tires on some cars, wet traction and other low traction events can be problematic with overpressured tires. Try increasing psi's and monitor handling and tire wear patterns closely.
My inflation plate says 32psi, IIRC. I have them at 40 front and 37 rear. I monitor treadwear and the handling is fine.
As with all things, pay attention, get educated, and think things through.
tolerance likely varies with tires. I find I'm always upping by 3-5 psi. in the cherokee it was more like 6psi. in an older accord I had, +4 front, +2 rear. Found myself adding more in the larger vehicles that carried more weight. The tundra is an exception--- only 2 above... doesn't really seem to affect much.
I used to corner aggressively enough that I could feel differences between F/R control and would balance it some with tire pressure-- different for front to back.
Tire construction will absolutely affect how the wear is handled by different pressures. I've always run overinflated, and have never worn out the center strip. Most of my miles have been on bridgestone/firestone.
I used to corner aggressively enough that I could feel differences between F/R control and would balance it some with tire pressure-- different for front to back.
Tire construction will absolutely affect how the wear is handled by different pressures. I've always run overinflated, and have never worn out the center strip. Most of my miles have been on bridgestone/firestone.
Center and edge wear patterns are somewhat vestigal from bias ply tires. Modern radials are much less prone to this. Not immune, but have much more latitude.
BTW, did you guys ever note how so many FWD cars, with about 65% weight on the front end [and even more on braking], have LESS recommended pressure than the rears? I think this is truly backwards, but the mfrs want to avoid fishtailing at all costs. They want understeer for the average civilian.
BTW, did you guys ever note how so many FWD cars, with about 65% weight on the front end [and even more on braking], have LESS recommended pressure than the rears? I think this is truly backwards, but the mfrs want to avoid fishtailing at all costs. They want understeer for the average civilian.
On a front wheel drive car, I add a little more to the back tires (around 2PSI more) and 4-6PSI more to the front tires.
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