Discount tire is usually spot on, although on a few occasions they've asked me what I want them filled to.
Tire dealers over inflating tires
- Thread starter loneryder
- Start date
The one post with information from Google referenced new cars vs replacement tires. It wasn't relevant to the OP.
harbor
Site Donor 2025
Yep, misunderstood the post.Sorry
When tires are shipped on new cars, they are inflated.
When the tech mounts tires, he's using a regulated line to seat the beads and perhaps also to leak check. It's a part of the process and doesn't hurt anything. Usually pressure gets left there unless they take the time to air down after putting them back on the car.
I know, the "correct" pressure is printed in the door jamb. But the door sticker isn't very handy over at the mounting/balancing station. They have to remember the extra step. Tire techs are bottom of totem pole of mechanics.
I personally don't run plackard pressures, so I just assume they leave them high and I'll bleed to desired pressure using a high accuracy gauge, rather than having to get out the compressor. Sometimes a tech will ask my preference. On occasion I get a shop that sets to door jamb pressure.
Shops that use nitrogen - I think the fill machine bleeds and purges to a set pressure anyway.
I know, the "correct" pressure is printed in the door jamb. But the door sticker isn't very handy over at the mounting/balancing station. They have to remember the extra step. Tire techs are bottom of totem pole of mechanics.
I personally don't run plackard pressures, so I just assume they leave them high and I'll bleed to desired pressure using a high accuracy gauge, rather than having to get out the compressor. Sometimes a tech will ask my preference. On occasion I get a shop that sets to door jamb pressure.
Shops that use nitrogen - I think the fill machine bleeds and purges to a set pressure anyway.
Last edited:
OK, back to the topic at hand.
In order to get the correct inflation pressure, the tire buster has to either look at the doorframe, which takes time and requires a bit of ambition to do the job right - OR - it's got to be on the paperwork. They don't pay tire busters very much. It's a dirty job, and they don't get anything extra for doing the job completely correct - hence they take shortcuts: Put in enough pressure to fully seat the beads and be done with it.
In order to get the correct inflation pressure, the tire buster has to either look at the doorframe, which takes time and requires a bit of ambition to do the job right - OR - it's got to be on the paperwork. They don't pay tire busters very much. It's a dirty job, and they don't get anything extra for doing the job completely correct - hence they take shortcuts: Put in enough pressure to fully seat the beads and be done with it.
I'd note that, at least in my area, there is a huge turnover rate on tire installers and oil changers.
I'm generally happy when they don't ram the spinning socket on to the lug nuts, rounding the outer edges, and don't have leaks around the valve stems.
I'm generally happy when they don't ram the spinning socket on to the lug nuts, rounding the outer edges, and don't have leaks around the valve stems.
Patman
Staff member
Interesting! I have never heard of a recommendation as low as 20 PSI for a car.
Yeah, that’s wrong.
When all four tires are exactly 50#, somebody had to measure something.
Does your Audi have an inflation decal on the back of the gas cap cover? Mercedes have the door placard with two sets of values, loaded and normal. Then they have a sticker on the back of the gas door with their recommended inflation values. They say to go by the gas flap values. My gas door says 32/32 normal. I think that's too low so I run 35/35. It's comfortable, handles well and my tires all wear evenly on the AWD. Was wondering if it's a German thing. The door sticker is a lot higher but not 50#.
Subaru/dealer destroyed tires on my wife's brand new Outback Sport ages ago by inflating at least 10psig over MAX sidewall rating. The sidewalls were splitting open - easy to see as the tires were garbage OWL Goodrich Radial T/A amd you could see the white peeking through the splits. Tell me a story how a Japanese car comes with TAs? Btw, the dealer would do nothing saying "Tires are warrantied by the tire manufacturer". I stated "Subaru damaged these and it's on you". Crickets. I said O.k., I will go to the tire dealer but if I do not get satisfaction I am coming back and you do not want me coming back!"
p.s.: I am somewhat "handicapped", and I tend to stagger about and bump into things and knock them over like vending machines, accessory displays, desks and water bubblers.
Lucky for them (and me?) the poor Goodrich dealer installed and balanced new tires.
p.p.s.: Most cars delivered to me had the tires inflated way over the door jamb cold inflation usually 10 to 15 over.
Singer Subaru in Plasitow. They are out of business.
When I last used a mounting machine, the inflator was maxed out at 50 psi. Coincidence? I think not!
Discount Tire and other shops always over inflate my tires on the F-250. I assumed it was for liability reasons. I.e., more pressure is safer than less pressure. See the Ford/Firestone cockfight from the 1990s for the root cause.
Zee09
$200 Site Donor 2023
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
- Messages
- 21,173
The VW losers always put 10x over on my Arteon on the free oil changes... why? Assumed I had 20s when they were 18s and I told them about it and they continued to do it... My new Honda came with 44 psi when it was 33 F 32 R....
Typical
Only in the owner's manual. I got rid of the car while it was still under warranty after the second engine recall, first bottom end, second top end.
When I bought the (now gone) Mav, I walked into the shop and asked them to make sure the tires are not over inflated - that they were set to the door jamb cold inflation spec. The service advisor look at me like I was speaking Greek. I saw the truck being cleaned by the recon crew. Wash and vac, label removal and a bit of spray on detailing wax is all you get. No PDI.
Car was delivered with the tires way over inflated (44psig) and a tank of horrid gasoline. I ask for no gas up. The sales guy said, "Why? I already snuck out and gassed it while you were in the finance office." Exhale.
Tank was way over filled (at a non Top Tier junk gas station) in 95 degree weather.
You can't stop a mudslide by standing alone in the flume shouting "Hold Up!"
Zee09
$200 Site Donor 2023
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
- Messages
- 21,173
My Maverick was a rarity and the tires were spot on and required no air the 18 months i had it...
If they ever make better seats I'm a buyer again....of course I'm still waiting on a recall call back for a truck I no longer own
I just deleted my FORD app where I could see the vehicle location, lock and unlock it, and remoted start it - a month after I sold it.My Maverick was a rarity and the tires were spot on and required no air the 18 months i had it...
If they ever make better seats I'm a buyer again....of course I'm still waiting on a recall call back for a truck I no longer own
Seems like a bit of a safety security lapse if you are buying used!
Similar threads
