Correct Tire Pressure

[GusHassen]

Hi All Just wondering what the correct Tire pressure should be? The sticker on the door says 32psi but the car came from the dealer with 36psi... Should I leave it at that...

[someguy]

32 is recommended but the correct psi is whatever feels best to you. Try a few different psi (checked when cold) and see what feels best. I like 34 in my sedan but I tried up to 42. Keep in mind that every drop in temp by 10 degree can drop 1 psi. This time of year is hard to keep constant.

[stanjo]

Originally Posted by GusHassen

Hi All Just wondering what the correct Tire pressure should be? The sticker on the door says 32psi but the car came from the dealer with 36psi... Should I leave it at that...

Got mine with 38psi from the dealer. The ride was very harsh, with the standard 16" wheels. Lowered to 32psi for a more pleasant ride. Gas mileage suffered - was getting 31mpg@38psi, now 28-29mpg@32psi.

The semi-independent rear suspension is a bit of a let down - small road imperfections jerk and reverberate through the chassis. My old Ford Focus rode much smoother. My body has already broken in to accept the new car's stiffer ride @ 32psi, not sure I can tolerate it with more air. Maybe better tires ...

[markjenn]

Dealers seem to routinely deliver cars with over-inflated tires. Some don't bother to check for what the recommended pressure is when they do the adjustment and just air them up to whatever they think is a good overall number for all their cars; others simply don't check them at all so they end up with whatever the factory put in when the car was built minus any leakdown during shipping and inventory. (At the factory, they usually air the tires up to the max on the sidewall - or even higher - to avoid the tires flat-spotting while sitting around in transit.) Airing the tires cold to the door jamb recommendation is the most basic PDI that the dealer is supposed to do and they often fail miserably.

The recommended tire pressure on the door jamb is what the mfg feels is the best compromise between ride, handling, tire life, etc. You can go a few psi high or low to adjust the compromise to suit your desires for a better ride or better handling, but I'd avoid going lower if you anticipate high speeds, high temps, etc.

I generally run my tires 3 psi over the recommended settings.

- Mark

[Flying Turtle]

I'm running mine (17 in wheels) at 38 psi. Seems to be a smooth ride.

Geoff

[MEC-777]

Personally prefer around 35 psi.

[OkieRich]

[QUOTE=someguy;1153871]I like 34 in my sedan... [\QUOTE]+1 I also prefer 34 psi. Having tried most pressures from 30-38, I settled in on 34, as well. Someguy is entirely "spot-on" with his recommendation to check those pressures, religiously. For every 10 degrees in temperature drop, you'll lose 1 psi in those tires.

Don't rely on your TPMS to do the job YOU should be doing. That's YOUR back-up! By the time the sensor activates (at approx 26 psi), you're being warned to find some air, and quickly. A daunting task if you're traveling a dark interstate on a road trip. Buy a quality tire guage and keep it handy. Trust me, it will pay for itself.

BTW, don't assume the tires are set evenly just because it's a new car and passed inspection at the dealer's. When I first picked up my 2011, the pressures were "all over the charts," ranging from 36-46 psi. I soon discovered on my 2013 that the factory was still overfilling the tires. Probably to compensate for the cars sitting at the factory shipping lots, boat transit from Korea, etc. Pre-delivery inspection should have caught both instances. But a lot of these guys are marginally competent at inspecting the open/close status of their zippers.

[Flying Turtle]

Originally Posted by OkieRich

Buy a quality tire guage and keep it handy. Trust me, it will pay for itself.

Good advice, indeed. And, I might add, a foot pump or small compressor is something I travel with, too.

Geoff

[1Bigball]

When i got my winter tires on the dealer put them at 25psi. The car felt like l was running on flats. I put it up to 36psi were i like it.

[Winkle]

Not idea what mine was from the dealer, but I remember the first time I checked my tire pressure a few weeks after delivery they were at 26 or 28 psi, really low. I keep them at 34 right now so they can be a bit softer during the winter.