So do i go by the tire pressure label on my door?

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted By: mattwithcats
The door sticker is for stock size tires, and maximum ride comfort.

However, for maximum tread wear, look on the side of the tire. It should say "max pressure XXX psi".
Don't exceed this, but put two and a half to five pounds less than that number...



This advice is a little bit out there, there are some tires that say max is 44-52 psi.

It's the car manufacturer that knows what the correct tire pressure should be and you're always supposed to go by whatever the car manufacturer says. They're the ones that know what the handling characteristics of the car would be at a whatever tire pressure they recommend. The tire manufacturer on the other hand doesn't know anything about the car it goes on so can only recommend a max inflation pressure.

With that said, lower tire pressures do contribute to a softer ride so you can usually go a few psi above what the manufacturer recommends.

 

[SIXSPEED]

I just pressurize the tires to the placard value while tires are cold for stock size tires. I might add a couple of PSI more if there are additional passengers for a long trip, not to exceed the rated maximum tire pressure.

 

[gaijinnv]

Originally Posted By: boostedtsiawd
sorry but my door label says 32psi front and back not 28 and it says 185/75 R14 on the door label.


Good.

The Tire and Rim Association Year Book still recommends 26psi for your 205/70-14 tires.

26psi will yield a Load Limit of 1,235 pounds/tire which is exactly the Load Limit your stock 185/75-14 tires would have at 32psi.

So 26psi would be your safe lower limit for cold tire pressure. If you frequently travel at high speed or with heavy loads (e.g. 5 passengers and luggage), then you would probably benefit from an additional 2-3psi.

NOTE: your 205/70-14 tires are probably a Load Index 93 tire and have a MAXIMUM cold tire pressure of 35psi - do not exceed that pressure under any circumstances. Load Index and Max Pressure can be confirmed by looking at the sidewall of your tires.

 

[artificialist]

I have always been shown that having no less than 32 PSI is best for tire wear and handling. Some cars have a lower specified pressure that cushions the ride, at the expense of tire life.

 

[gaijinnv]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
I have always been shown that having no less than 32 PSI is best for tire wear and handling. Some cars have a lower specified pressure that cushions the ride, at the expense of tire life.


This is pure bunk. Please ignore.