This question has nagged me for quite some time, and yesterday when I did some of the spring maintenance on the family fleet it came to mind again. So I would like others input on the subject. For years the pressure listed on the sidewall of tires was 35psi. I always inflated my tires to 34 psi. front and rear In the last 5+ years I've noticed the tires I've bought list a max pressure of 44psi. If I fill them to this listed pressure the car rides like a lumber wagon, so I've stuck with my 34psi front and rear. But what bugs me is, should I really be inflating them up around 40? Is 34-35 too soft for these newer tires? I haven't had any problems, but would rather do it right. GM recommends 30psi front and rear on my wife's '96 LeSabre, but that is waaayyyy to soft in my mind. Thanks!
The tires should be inflated according to the car, not according to the maximum rating of the tire. If the LeSabre recommends 30 PSI, then inflate your tires to 30 PSI. Just because my stereo goes to 10 doesn't mean that I have to have it that high. Why do you think 30 PSI is too low? Are you getting uneven tire wear? -Bob Cunningham bobc@gnttype.org
Thanks Bob, It's my belief that the pressures listed by the vehicle manufacturer are geared towards the greatest compromise between handling and comfort. I feel they list 30psi on the LeSabre to give the car the softest ride. Just as it seems the shocks and struts that are placed on a car at the factory are much softer than the aftermarket replacements. Thats my own opinion after test driving some new GM full size cars over the years, the cars felt like they needed new shocks / struts right off the lot. Very soft and wallowing. The mfg. just wants to get the car off the showroom, so make it ride as soft as possible. I haven't had any treadwear problems, I'm just curious about the higher pressure stated on these newer tires. Did something change with tires over the past 10 years that they require a higher inflation rate, or are they covering their Butts on underinflation. I would tend to believe that you should go by what the tire company says than what GM says.
Dale- No. Go by what the auto manufacturer says. The tire manufacturer's maximum rating only says the safe upper limit, that is NOT a recomended pressure. If you overinflate the tires, you will see uneven wear because of an uneven contact of the tire to the pavement. The amount of recommended pressure in a tire is mostly dependant on the amount of weight that will be on that wheel (hence the different recommendations for front & rear on many cars). You said you want to do it right- if so, find out what Buick recommends for your car and set the pressure there. If you want to pretend you have a race car and screw around with the whole suspension, then go ahead and play with tire pressures. But the tires will wear out faster, your wet traction will be reduced, and your ride will be less comfortable. -Bob Cunningham bobc@gnttype.org
I am aware of this and agree. Thanks again Bob, I am aware of this and am with you on it. This is where our philosophies differ. While I am sure it would be fine for the tires on the '96 LeSabre since they are of the same size and an equivilent type of tire that came on the car. But, If I were to follow the Mfg. recommended pressure as a hard and fast rule for the tires on my '70 Riviera, then I would have the BFG Radial T/A's on that car set at 24lbs. front and rear. That was fine for the J78-15 Bias-Ply tires that came with the car, but certainly not for modern radials. I think I'll stick with my tried and true 34lbs. front and rear that has served me well all these years. I was just curious as to why the tire companies went from listing a maximum of 35 to a maximum of 44 is all. o No: Thanks Bob.
Dale - most of the tires I've seen with the 44 psi rating have shorter sidewalls (I think that's the term), but I could be wrong - my load range "E" tires are supposed to be inflated to 80 psio No: Mike
Guys.. Tire pressure is given at a max, to state the tire's max load capacity.. That why it says "max load 2350 lbs @ 44 psi" or whatever. As long as the tires are the same size/type as the originals, then inflate via the recommendations of the vehicle manufacturer. I'd run between 30-35 psi in your Riv Tires Dale, depending on ride quality and tire wear/handling, with your newer radials. I may even run less.. for that cushy "luxo" ride... JW PS.. 26 psi in newer radials is not unheard of, on modern cars.. depends on the weight of the vehicle vs the size of the tire. At my old job, folks used to crank the tire pressure up to 44, and then come in and complain that their car rode bad... so we set the tire pressure back to 26, and presto.. a whole new car! That was a light little car, with good size tires on it. And Bias ply tires wanted more air pressure than modern radials of the same size.. not less.. So the door is open for you to experiment with your tire pressures.. JW
I would be very careful running tire pressures low to get an acceptable ride. I think that is dangerous and in my opinion, that was one of the major contributing factors in the Firestone problems of a year ago. Especially if you live in a hot climate, I wouldn't run them more than 8 psi below their max. pressure as stated on the sidewall. Just my 02. Mike D.
pressures I had some BFG's on my honda where the tread was wider than the rim (a liget tire style) now discontinued thru BFG. the factory rating was 28 (maybe 30) on the factory tires. we normally ran 32 again the max pressure on the BFG's were 35. I had much better handling at 35 than the recommended. The same goes for a 96 lesaber we had.. recommended i think was 30 and my family ran 32 and NEVER had any wear problems. sure its only 2 psi but hey.. it matters. I can't rember what the glove box says in my skylark but I coulden't see running the radials that low. the tire would fold over on it self when cornering and i'd run on the side wall so I run 32 with excelent results. I have never had wear issues with any of these pressures other than a thrown weight and a scalloped tire. nate
i have tires on my z24 that are rated a 44 psi. i used to go by the rating but every tim i did heavy braking the abs would kick in. if i hit the breaks over a bump it would feel like my car just blew up or something. on these same tires, i use 35psi as a rule. at the track i use 20 (hot) psi. i just make sure to have a lil' compressor on hand. if you run your tires lower than 25psi, you will have side wall dammage, there for i would not want to be in or near you when you blow. my brother-in-law just found that out the hard way ( no car now)!!! i know for a fact that having the sidewall blow, is not the same a a gaping hole in the tread. that's my take on this
I've always gotten even tire wear at 34-36psi (depending on the time of the year) ... I've got BFG Radial T/A's
