TYRE PRESSURE!!

peregrine

peregrine

Active Member
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Recommended tyre pressure can generally be found on a tag on B pillar drivers door entry in most cars, and as my lancer with radial tyres 205 60 16 (actually 215 now) is at 32psi. If I remember correctly years ago non radial tyres of a similar profile ran at 26 to 28 psi and if you decided on radials 30psi was recommended, reasons included were among other things was to protect the side wall which flexed a lot more!!??

I was considering running my 215 60 16 tyres at 30psi or even 28psi for a more comfortable ride.
Wondering if this is advisable! Will chase this up with tyre makers and RACV to see what they think.
Might try it anyway, check out the consequences!:confused2:
 
peregrine said:
Recommended tyre pressure can generally be found on a tag on B pillar drivers door entry in most cars, and as my lancer with radial tyres 205 60 16 (actually 215 now) is at 32psi. If I remember correctly years ago non radial tyres of a similar profile ran at 26 to 28 psi and if you decided on radials 30psi was recommended, reasons included were among other things was to protect the side wall which flexed a lot more!!??

I was considering running my 215 60 16 tyres at 30psi or even 28psi for a more comfortable ride.
Wondering if this is advisable! Will chase this up with tyre makers and RACV to see what they think.
Might try it anyway, check out the consequences!:confused2:
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Doesn't really matter what you run them at, as most tyres have a recommended maximum PSI listed anyway. If the sticker placard suggests 26-34psi or whatever it is, as long as its between there somewhat, it'll be will absolutely fine.

For what its worth, i ride a motorcycle as my daily vehicle, and the tyre pressure recommendations are a LOT more stringent for safety and grip. For example, i can feel straight away if it drops more than about 2-3psi (recommended range is 28-32psi), so its more necessary to check frequently.
 
Personally I would not go lower than what is on the placard.

Sure your ride might improve but you lose agility plus will likely give you incorrect tyre wear. Going to low will also overheat the tyre and may cause it to blow out, but I would imagine the smaller amount you are talking about wouldn't be this bad.....
 
26psi will be fine in the rear but the front should be about 30psi minimum.
You will wear out the outer edges of the tyre if you run too low a pressure
 
Thanks donki, Ryan and Spetz.
donki, yes I know about motorbikes used to have one or two, RACV more or less confirmed what you suggest and added 2psi less wouldn't be a worry
and as you and RACV said minimum and.maximum pressure for a given tyre is on the sidewall of the tyre

Ryan, Your right going too low would cause overheating and particularly in that instance, over heating and agility would be a serious matter.
Manufacturers Bridgestone, the tyres that I use, said 2psi under will be fine. Tyre dealer. No way, we use 40psi. Lower pressure would cause undue tyre wear.

Spetz, I would feel concerned going to 26psi, and will be sticking to 30psi front and rear for starters. I believe everyone is on board about wearing out,
outer edges if pressure is too low, especially on the front.

Once again thanks to the above three and RACV and Bridgestone, I now feel confident running at 30psi for now maybe try 28psi later!!??
However will take it up to 32Psi if I do an extended long trip.
 
peregrine said:
Manufacturers Bridgestone, the tyres that I use, said 2psi under will be fine. Tyre dealer. No way, we use 40psi. Lower pressure would cause undue tyre wear.
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Personally, I put 40psi in a low profile tyres and about 36psi in a standard tyre, for cars that is. On my motorbikes I just follow the placard.

It's also worth noting that tyre pressure plays a part in the fuel economy you and generally a higher pressure is better in terms of fuel economy...
 
I thought most tyres had like a overfill safety thing. When I fill my tyres, I fill to 40 psi, then maybe a day or two later there all down to about 38-7
 
Alexemous said:
I thought most tyres had like a overfill safety thing. When I fill my tyres, I fill to 40 psi, then maybe a day or two later there all down to about 38-7
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tyres don't have a safety overfill thing and if taken over their limit which is usually much higher than maximum recommended limit it could go off with a bang.
If you top up your tyres after running any distance when warm ,pressure will drop when they cool down. Tyre pressures should be checked at least once a weak
and before a long trip. They do tend to go down over time, maybe as a result of a severe bump or leak back through the valve or maybe a slight rim defect.
Think of it as a balloon blown up and tied securely and next morning its limp:relaxed:.

PS Was the same gauge used on both occasions?
 
Ryan said:
Personally, I put 40psi in a low profile tyres and about 36psi in a standard tyre, for cars that is. On my motorbikes I just follow the placard.

It's also worth noting that tyre pressure plays a part in the fuel economy you and generally a higher pressure is better in terms of fuel economy...
Click to expand...


I thought so too at one point, but for the 2 suv's that ive got I got the complete opposite. I have no Idea on how or why. I just followed the placard and the fuel economy went to the manufacturers claim. I closely monitor the fuel consumption especially with the 3.2 I6 that we've got.
 
Mo
peregrine said:
tyres don't have a safety overfill thing and if taken over their limit which is usually much higher than maximum recommended limit it could go off with a bang.
If you top up your tyres after running any distance when warm ,pressure will drop when they cool down. Tyre pressures should be checked at least once a weak
and before a long trip. They do tend to go down over time, maybe as a result of a severe bump or leak back through the valve or maybe a slight rim defect.
Think of it as a balloon blown up and tied securely and next morning its limp:relaxed:.

PS Was the same gauge used on both occasions?
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Most likely the same gauge, but like you said, a day or two later and lots of stuff could let the pressure out... A slow leak makes more sence now because the leaking slows down as the pressure goes down, I just thought it was sorting itself out.. Hmm idk
 
Alexemous said:
Mo

Most likely the same gauge, but like you said, a day or two later and lots of stuff could let the pressure out... A slow leak makes more sence now because the leaking slows down as the pressure goes down, I just thought it was sorting itself out.. Hmm idk
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easiest item to check is valve, put some spit on the end of your finger and pass your finger over valve. If it stays all OK if it bursts need new valve.
You probably know that one anyway. Next check tyre for a nail or something in the tread. Next submerge whole wheel, or section, by section, in a trough of water and watch for bubbles.:blush:
 
I run 36 and top it up every month or 2. Goes down to 30ish in that time. Mechanics usually top it up to 38-40. Don't know why, maybe cus they know people are morons and won't check the tyre pressure so they try to keep it pumped up for as long as possible.
 
All good tips, I may try a couple thanks peregrine...
When I saw the heading for this thread, I thought it would be all about how we don't have enough pressure.. I know it's a totally different thing but when I used to ride BMX bikes, we all used to max out the pressure in our tyres/go a little past the supposed limit..
 
Unfortunately while being one of the most important items on our cars, tyres are also one of the most neglected. Look for instance at how many
decades its taken before most of us, self included, realized that tyres had a build date on them and a safe lifespan of just 5 years and how many of us, I wonder
keep a regular check on our tyres. Or how many lives have been lost from insufficient care of those four black round things on the corners of our cars!!

After filling up with petrol just pull in to the space where you can check your tyres, takes just a few extra moments and could be more important than the petrol.
 
10/10 will not fill my tyres if the machine is one of them old ass guns with a gauge on it.
 
rigby said:
10/10 will not fill my tyres if the machine is one of them old ass guns with a gauge on it.
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What I do irrespective of what type of gauge is there.
Check against mine on first tyre and use amended gauge reading for the others.:smile:
 
Only use a gauge that you know works ( your own) otherwise you can end up with 60 psi in your tyres like a customer in a Jazz had after using one of those automated machines at a servo.
 
rigby said:
10/10 will not fill my tyres if the machine is one of them old ass guns with a gauge on it.
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Oddly enough, i trust the glass gauge slightly more than the abused servo digital ones.

Dont forget, while tyre rubber is watertight, it isnt really airtight. When the tyres warm up, the air expands and increases pressure, not all of which is 100% contained within the tyre. Some will seep out, but very very slowly. 1-5psi every couple weeks would be pretty normal, depending on how much and how hard you drive.

Anyway, as you have confirmed @peregrine a couple of PSI drop isnt an issue, and is still a fair way away from causing any major problems
 
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