tire pressure

[lewtot184]

The tire should have a stated maximum cold tire pressure on it. I use this as my guideline.

 

[gtxrt]

The tire should have a stated maximum cold tire pressure on it. I use this as my guideline.

my cooper max pressure is 44 psi

 

[R413]

My father in law listened to the same B.S. that a mechanic told him to over inflate his tires on his SUV, to at least 36 -38 psi for a smoother ride. I was following him in my SUV and at ~ 65 MPH on a dry sunny Interstate highway, the left rear on his SUV, tire EXPLODED (the SUV was new with less than 7000 miles on the odometer) ..... tearing up the fender, fender well, body molding, chrome styled wheel......to the point of almost loosing control of his SUV, b4 coming to a stop on the side of the road. Did approximately $5k BODY damage to the SUV.......MORAL OF THE STORY......DON'T LISTEN TO THE B.S. proclaimed by others, including your best "buddy".....for they know nothing....and inflate your tires to the placard on the door jamb of the owner's manual or FSM.....BUT NOT TO EXCEED THE STATED PRESSURE ON THE TIRE'S SIDEWALL.....or do so at your own risk and suffer the consequences.......
BOB RENTON

Personally......I'd be looking for a new tire vendor. I use what the tire manufacturer recommends not the supplier or installer .....
BOB RENTON

First is follow placard on the door jamb.
Next is use what the tire manufacturer recommends.

 

[bc3j]

I have 44 psi on sidewall and run 80% of that, 35.2, so 35 psi all around.

 

[gtxrt]

going start out 32 from the 26-27 lbs i had. want to see how the ride is and if the steering is a little less harder to turn at very slow speeds not worried about high speed wandering until i have the toe in checked and see where camber and caster specs are at.

 

[R413]

Everyone wants more caster for control at speed, but that makes it harder to turn at slow speeds. So you have to find a middle ground with manual steering.

Try several different pressures and go drive it. See what you like and what you don't like. Don't have the number in your mind when driving just feel what it's telling you. Feel the difference. 32 is still a low pressure for the tire. Your tires won't explode with 44 in them.

 

[lewtot184]

going start out 32 from the 26-27 lbs i had. want to see how the ride is and if the steering is a little less harder to turn at very slow speeds not worried about high speed wandering until i have the toe in checked and see where camber and castor specs are at.

Steering will be much easier with some air in the tires. Tires will run cooler too.

 

[gtxrt]

I think i will live with the camber and caster where they are. i don't want to open a can of worms if they start messing around not sure if they know what their doing. tires are wearing even and going around curves is not bad. i can live where ever camber is at and for caster i don't think i want any more positive because of the manual steering.one shop years ago ruined my adjusters by trying to adjust the camber with the weight on the wheels. the wheels should be off the ground right ??

 

[R413]

Yes wheels off ground is better for the ease of adjusting. But wheels on ground they can read camber while adjusting. Camber needs another sweep of the steering wheel.

You watch people drive today, they just turn it lock to lock with the car sitting still on pavement. Try will that just once with my old man around as you get swatted upside the head!

 

[gtxrt]

drove to the shop 32 lbs in all 4 up from 26-27 a hair harder ride a little easy to steer and a hair better handling at lower speeds. on the way home from the shop with the toe back into specs was toed out before. steering is a little easier, better handling and no wander at 105 mph and got there faster now. I have a long drive way for testing high speeds not on public roads. lol

 

[ynst]

That's kind of a mixed bag of questions and goals. The best tire pressure for handling depends on spring rates, what kind of driving and handling, etc. ... lots of factors. In general, I start at 32 in the summer and up it to 34 in the winter. I check tire wear and adjust up or down over the lifespan of the tire depending on how the tires wears.

For easier steering, up the tire pressure in the fronts to 38+. Check the tire sidewall for max pressure and stay 3-4 psi under that to allow for heat pressure build. A side effect is that your tires will wear more in the center and you won't get as much life out of them.

I can always tell when my tire pressure is getting low because my gas mileage starts going to hell. Always wind up finding one or two tires down around 26 psi instead of the 32 that I usually run.