The tires on my car and minivan both have a max lbs listed on the sidewall of 44. I'll use my car as an example: The door jam recommends 30psi when cold; however, the tire seems to sag too much with 30psi and I'm constantly having to refill with air every time the temperature gets colder. As a result, I've been running 37 to 38 lbs in each tire which helps me avoid having to constantly check my tires in the winter, and I'm making sure I don't get too close to the max of 44. Is this ok? Or, am I technically running "over inflated" based on what the door jam recommends? If so, should run 35lbs instead? Any help appreciated.
Tire inflation advice needed
- Thread starter strombony
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44 is the tire's max, 30 is the suggested psi for use, run it at 30 and monitor the wear. The drop of pressure is either a leak or seasonal loss from temperature, you'll lose psi either way. If 30 is the reco why would you deviate from that?
The car recommendations are a balance of ride,performace, and longevity. The tire is for safety and loading issues. If you were really loading up vehicle, fill up tires allowing for the effect of heating from use (about 4-5psi). A good compromise that I have seen is to go 1/2 way between the car rec. and the tire max, in your case 37 psi, which it seems you are allready doing. A long drive will add about 4-5 psi to pressure so don't go over 40psi cold to be safe. If you have a lot of weight on front end maybe 2-4psi more here than rear. You can tell over/under inflation issues from tread wear generally.
No, I have no tire leak issues. I'm simply wanted to know if running 37psi on a max tire load of 44 when the car recommends 30psi is ok? My local tire shop told me by doing what I'm doing, I could cause the center to wear more due to over inflation, but I've never seen this happen yet. The tires I recently replaced on my minivan and outer tire wear vs. center and I inflated these tires at 37psi as well.
you don't want to sacrifice traction, and probably want something comfortable.
My general rule for my 12 or so vehicles is start with the door plate, think of what your normal load is, and vary slightly with wear. If tires are wearing in the center, reduce a couple of psi. If they are wearing on the edges, increase a couple.
I run my 99 4Runner at 30 psi instead of 32 because at 32 I wear out the center of the tires.
I just bought a Suzuki cargo van that says empty 29 F/ 35 Rear. Loaded 35 Front and 51 rear. It will normally go out full and return empty twice a day. I'm starting with 34F/45R.
My general rule for my 12 or so vehicles is start with the door plate, think of what your normal load is, and vary slightly with wear. If tires are wearing in the center, reduce a couple of psi. If they are wearing on the edges, increase a couple.
I run my 99 4Runner at 30 psi instead of 32 because at 32 I wear out the center of the tires.
I just bought a Suzuki cargo van that says empty 29 F/ 35 Rear. Loaded 35 Front and 51 rear. It will normally go out full and return empty twice a day. I'm starting with 34F/45R.
37 psi is absolutely fine.
In my opinion, go to 44psi. You will not wear the center of the tire faster, the steel belts going across the tire prevents that. By running at 30psi, the outer parts of the tire will wear fast, guaranteed. Police vehicles run their tires at max psi in order to achieve best handling and tire life. I am a strong believer in higher tire pressures. I personally run my 44 psi max tires (Toyo Spectrums) at 50 psi to achieve the best handling, tire life, and fuel economy, and they look brand new with about 11,000 miles on them on both vehicles I own.
Driving Under Pressure
In my opinion, go to 44psi. You will not wear the center of the tire faster, the steel belts going across the tire prevents that. By running at 30psi, the outer parts of the tire will wear fast, guaranteed. Police vehicles run their tires at max psi in order to achieve best handling and tire life. I am a strong believer in higher tire pressures. I personally run my 44 psi max tires (Toyo Spectrums) at 50 psi to achieve the best handling, tire life, and fuel economy, and they look brand new with about 11,000 miles on them on both vehicles I own.
Driving Under Pressure
If you had 37 psi on minivan and didn't cause center to wear faster the outsides, then I don't see any reason for lower tire pressure.
Just don't inflate any tire above max pressure on tire sidewall.
Just don't inflate any tire above max pressure on tire sidewall.
I've been taking the max pressure stamped on the tire and running it ~ 10% lower, so a 44 psi max pressure tire I've been running at 40 psi. Seems to be working out well, for me. I can adjust slightly up or down if a wear pattern starts to develop. I have also noticed the vehicles seem to coast better which translates to better mpg.
For every 10 degree drop in ambient temperature, tire pressures drop 1 psig.
Kestas
Staff member
I run 40 psi in my passenger cars. I've never experienced center wear, only edge wear or even wear.
Originally Posted By: strombony
The tires on my car and minivan both have a max lbs listed on the sidewall of 44. I'll use my car as an example: The door jam recommends 30psi when cold; however, the tire seems to sag too much with 30psi and I'm constantly having to refill with air every time the temperature gets colder. As a result, I've been running 37 to 38 lbs in each tire which helps me avoid having to constantly check my tires in the winter, and I'm making sure I don't get too close to the max of 44. Is this ok?
Absolutely.
I typically run my front tires on a FWD car at 40 psi.
The recommendations typically favor a soft ride.
Using them I tend to round the corners off the front thanks to my aggressive driving style.
The rears on a FWD car can typically handle somewhat lower pressures.
The sophisticated way to arrive at an inflation pressure is with a tread thermometer. You inflate the tire to a psi cold, then run the tire around driving your usual style. If you get more or less even tread temperature across the tread, you're on target.
Less expensive is a tread gauge. You can measure the wear across the tread at say 1,000 mile intervals and see if you're getting an even wear.
The limit, of course, is the sidewall maximum.
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The tires on my car and minivan both have a max lbs listed on the sidewall of 44. I'll use my car as an example: The door jam recommends 30psi when cold; however, the tire seems to sag too much with 30psi and I'm constantly having to refill with air every time the temperature gets colder. As a result, I've been running 37 to 38 lbs in each tire which helps me avoid having to constantly check my tires in the winter, and I'm making sure I don't get too close to the max of 44. Is this ok?
Absolutely.
I typically run my front tires on a FWD car at 40 psi.
The recommendations typically favor a soft ride.
Using them I tend to round the corners off the front thanks to my aggressive driving style.
The rears on a FWD car can typically handle somewhat lower pressures.
The sophisticated way to arrive at an inflation pressure is with a tread thermometer. You inflate the tire to a psi cold, then run the tire around driving your usual style. If you get more or less even tread temperature across the tread, you're on target.
Less expensive is a tread gauge. You can measure the wear across the tread at say 1,000 mile intervals and see if you're getting an even wear.
The limit, of course, is the sidewall maximum.
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I have also read of a inflation trick to use, you need chalk or some water based paint and a flat surface. Place chalk/paint in a band across tread and move the vehicle straight, no turn steering wheel, and see how it rubs off. If loss at center to much psi,if on edges to low. Ideally evenly rubbed off.
I don't know how you guys can handle such high air pressures. I stick to the door placard, or in my Corollas case, I go 1 psi under the placard. Anymore, and ride and handling decreases. 40 psi would knock my teeth out.
In addition, you put much more stress on suspension and steering components by overfilling tires.
I used to go up to 40 psi on my Grand Am and the center of the Goodyear RSAs were bald after 10,000 miles.
In addition, you put much more stress on suspension and steering components by overfilling tires.
I used to go up to 40 psi on my Grand Am and the center of the Goodyear RSAs were bald after 10,000 miles.
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
I don't know how you guys can handle such high air pressures. I stick to the door placard, or in my Corollas case, I go 1 psi under the placard. Anymore, and ride and handling decreases. 40 psi would knock my teeth out.
Generally handling improves with increased pressure.
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
In addition, you put much more stress on suspension and steering components by overfilling tires.
Not necessarily.
I have seen more than one tire damaged and wheel bent with today's very low profile tires by hitting a pothole with factory recommended inflation pressure.
There's a balance to be had, and it may differ with the roads in your area versus the roads in someone else's.
Back when they used to run the Mobilgas Economy Run, the factory teams ran pressures up to 80 psi to cut rolling friction.
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I don't know how you guys can handle such high air pressures. I stick to the door placard, or in my Corollas case, I go 1 psi under the placard. Anymore, and ride and handling decreases. 40 psi would knock my teeth out.
Generally handling improves with increased pressure.
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
In addition, you put much more stress on suspension and steering components by overfilling tires.
Not necessarily.
I have seen more than one tire damaged and wheel bent with today's very low profile tires by hitting a pothole with factory recommended inflation pressure.
There's a balance to be had, and it may differ with the roads in your area versus the roads in someone else's.
Back when they used to run the Mobilgas Economy Run, the factory teams ran pressures up to 80 psi to cut rolling friction.
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Yea, and I've seen 70 series truck tires have blowouts from large potholes.
But running 10 psi over the door placard will put more stress on suspension components. It's unarguable, as total spring rates of a suspension take into consideration tire pressure
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But running 10 psi over the door placard will put more stress on suspension components. It's unarguable, as total spring rates of a suspension take into consideration tire pressure
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Drew99GTBut running 10 psi over the door placard will put more stress on suspension components. It's unarguable ......[/quote said:
Mercedes and some high performance cars recommend different pressures depending on driving styles. On the fuel filler door of '00 MB E430: Normal driving 32F/33R, sustain high speed over 10 MPH 36F/43R. Max pressure on most 235/45-17 tires (OEM of E430) with W or Y speed rate is 51 PSI.
If increase pressure decreases handling/performance then they would not recommend these pressures.
If increase pressure decreases handling/performance then they would not recommend these pressures.
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