Topic: Tire Pressure - All Season vs Winter tire

[toyotafan01]

Hi,

need help with dilemma, keep my tire pressure as recommended by car manufacturer (sticker on door), however every time I go to the dealership they pump two psi extra. Recommended is 30, they leave 32. What is correct, plus they did same with my winter tires with explanation "this is correct for winter tires, must be little bit higher than all season".

What is correct pressure for both tires, please?

[HeliDriver]

If the tires are the same size and load rating, then the pressure on the door sticker is the correct one for both tires.

I always put 4 or 5 extra psi in my winter tires, though. First, it helps to firm up the squishy handling a bit; second, it keeps the pressure from getting too low as the temperature drops.

If you put in a little extra now (while temperatures are still mild), then you're less likely to be dangerously low during that inevitable -30 cold snap.

[toyotafan01]

Thanks, so it is correct to have winter tires with few psi's extra. 

[Squishy]

Thanks, so it is correct to have winter tires with few psi's extra. 

Not exactly.  It is correct to use the OEM recommendation on the door sticker, but if you only check once a month or so, you can increase the pressures right now so that they will become correct when it gets colder.  Ideally, you would adjust your pressures once a week while temperatures are fluctuating as they are right now, but not everyone has an air compressor at home.  I run my summer tires at 2 PSI above OEM for better fuel economy, but I run my winter tires at the door sticker pressure for better traction.

The dealership may be putting extra air in the tires because it is a warm reading - the OEM door sticker pressures are to be taken at least four hours after the sun goes down, and four hours after any driving is done.

[tortoise]

...but not everyone has an air compressor at home. 

You don't need a air compressor.  I use a bike pump to inflate my tires.  Mind you, I check often so I'm never putting in more than 3-4 psi. 

[tpl]

I agree with Squishy. I have one of those little hand held cordless compressors and check once a week first thing in the morning through Nov,Dec,Jan, Feb and find I can ignore through March April Before swapping back to summers.

If the winters are a different size  from the summers but still a manufacturers recommended size,  then one should ideally find out what the correct pressure should be from the Dealer. My winters are the Rabbit standard size so thats easy.

[mrthompson]

This will be the 4th winter for the snows on the Focus and the 3rd for the ones on the van.  They are the same model of tire, the Uniroyal Tiger Paw Ice & Snow.  I have been inflating them to the same pressure I would use in summer.  Both sets of tires have worn along the inside and outside edges.  I have now increased the inflation by 2 psi and I will experiment with this to reduce uneven wear.

[Altair 4]

I'll have to pull my owner's manual to confirm this, but I have a dim recollection that VW says to increase the tire pressure by some small amount for winter tires, over what the placard on the gas flap calls for.  But then again, my Passat is from 2003 before VW changed the tire pressure r4ecommendation to comply with the changes that resulted from the Ford Exploder/Firestone debacle. 

[DoubleClutch]

Just my personal opinion, but I highly doubt +/- 2 psi is going to make any significant difference in traction, ride quality or tire wear ...

[Altair 4]

I'll have to pull my owner's manual to confirm this, but I have a dim recollection that VW says to increase the tire pressure by some small amount for winter tires, over what the placard on the gas flap calls for.  But then again, my Passat is from 2003 before VW changed the tire pressure r4ecommendation to comply with the changes that resulted from the Ford Exploder/Firestone debacle. 

Finally got a chance to check my owner's manual - VW recommended a 3 PSI increase over the posted tire pressure placard ratings when using winter tires.  Specifically, it mentioned this is due to the difference in the tire construction. 

[articsteve]

I ignore the ratings as posted on the door jamb.  How does the car company know in advance what kind of tire will end up on that vehicle.

What you get from the car company on a new car is a sub par tire.  My wife's 07 Camry SE came with Michelins MX4 and what a lousy tire it has been.  My very recent FJ had absolutely useless tires so I put very little stock into what the car companies say about tire pressure.  Usually they recommend low pressure so ppl won't feel the bumps as much and complain.

As for winters, I have a set of Gislavids rated at 51 psi.  If I followed Toyota's advice I should set them at 32 psi; ridiculous.  I pumped them up to 44 and I know by April they will be down to 40 psi. Running those tires at 32 psi on high speed corners would be foolish, IMO.

[Squishy]

Tires with the same load rating will use the same tire pressures - that is how car companies know what kind of tire will end up on your vehicle.  Pressures will change if you go to an under- or over-sized tire, but load ratings will be the same for stock size tires.  I use 36 PSI instead of the OEM 30 PSI because I went to an under-sized tire with a lower load rating.

OEM sticker pressures are adjusted for comfort, but not by as much as 12 PSI.  They can't tell people to underinflate their tires anymore - remember Ford and Firestone?

[Calbrez]

just installed the Gislaved 5 (215 70 15) on the X-Trail. The guy installing them said I should keep them at 35 PSI. How does that sound? He said normally it's at 32.

Now I'm confused! you guys are put in 41 PSI - holy smokes.. sounds like a lot

The tires are running really nice... very quiet. Don't seem like winters... no snow yet here in the GTA but should get a dusting tomorrow.. It's chilly at around -5

[articsteve]

The guy installing them said I should keep them at 35 PSI. How does that sound? He said normally it's at 32.

Just fine.  Guy knows what he is doing. 32  psi would be ridiculous.
Printed on the tire in really fine print is the maximum psi.; what is it?

just installed the Gislaved 5 (215 70 15) on the X-Trail.

What did you pay if you don't mind me asking; just for reference because I love that brand.

Gislaved 5s are a higher speed tire than the 3s.  Not as aggressive though.  Should be good for GTA conditions and smoother.

Now I'm confused! you guys are put in 41 PSI - holy smokes.. sounds like a lot

I've got a 1990 Porsche 944S2.  36 psi front, 44 psi rear as per the owner's manual and that is 18 years ago and tires were substantially inferior then.

[articsteve]

Tires with the same load rating will use the same tire pressures - that is how car companies know what kind of tire will end up on your vehicle.  Pressures will change if you go to an under- or over-sized tire, but load ratings will be the same for stock size tires.  I use 36 PSI instead of the OEM 30 PSI because I went to an under-sized tire with a lower load rating.

OEM sticker pressures are adjusted for comfort, but not by as much as 12 PSI.  They can't tell people to underinflate their tires anymore - remember Ford and Firestone?

Pressures will change if you go to an under- or over-sized tire, but load ratings will be the same for stock size tires.

Can't say I agree.  Better the tire, the higher the load rating, the higher the maximum psi.  Size has little to do with it.  My 17 inch wider MX4s are rated 36 psi and my 16 inch thinner Gislaved 3s are 51 psi.

[Calbrez]

The guy installing them said I should keep them at 35 PSI. How does that sound? He said normally it's at 32.

Just fine.  Guy knows what he is doing. 32  psi would be ridiculous.
Printed on the tire in really fine print is the maximum psi.; what is it?

just installed the Gislaved 5 (215 70 15) on the X-Trail.

What did you pay if you don't mind me asking; just for reference because I love that brand.

Gislaved 5s are a higher speed tire than the 3s.  Not as aggressive though.  Should be good for GTA conditions and smoother.


Now I'm confused! you guys are put in 41 PSI - holy smokes.. sounds like a lot

I've got a 1990 Porsche 944S2.  36 psi front, 44 psi rear as per the owner's manual and that is 18 years ago and tires were substantially inferior then.

I paid exactly $846 tax in. This included silver steel rims, and install/balance

I think this is an excellent price...

BTW, I tried them tonight on snow! couldn't wait so I got in the car and drove up to Muskoka (about 1.5 hours for me)... what a blast. Found some 'back roads' and snow... incredible.. I barely changed my driving. Gripped very well...ice, snow, etc..

you are right - the 5's are not as aggressive as some of the others and the 3's were more so as I've seen those up close

great tire..VERY quiet. Doesn't feel like a snow

I bought them at Steelcase

[capriracer]

Before we discuss this further, read about Tire Standardizing Organizations and Load tables here:

http://www.geocities.com/barrystiretech/index.html


After that, then let's talk about what is written on the sidewall.

[Squishy]

Tires with the same load rating will use the same tire pressures - that is how car companies know what kind of tire will end up on your vehicle.  Pressures will change if you go to an under- or over-sized tire, but load ratings will be the same for stock size tires.  I use 36 PSI instead of the OEM 30 PSI because I went to an under-sized tire with a lower load rating.

OEM sticker pressures are adjusted for comfort, but not by as much as 12 PSI.  They can't tell people to underinflate their tires anymore - remember Ford and Firestone?

Pressures will change if you go to an under- or over-sized tire, but load ratings will be the same for stock size tires.

Can't say I agree.  Better the tire, the higher the load rating, the higher the maximum psi.  Size has little to do with it.  My 17 inch wider MX4s are rated 36 psi and my 16 inch thinner Gislaved 3s are 51 psi.

You're right, I got my info mixed up.  Size does factor into the equation, but load indexes do change within the same tire size.  The OEM sticker would only be valid for the stock load index.

To add to capriracer's link, this is a good read as well.  It is an NHTSA study on the effects of tire pressure on different road surfaces and road conditions.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/Cars/rules/rulings/TirePresFinal/FEA/TPMS3.html

[articsteve]

I bought them at Steelcase

So do I.  Good price as usual there.

I think that the Glisaved 3 are being phased out. 

[Calbrez]

I bought them at Steelcase

So do I.  Good price as usual there.

I think that the Glisaved 3 are being phased out. 

Ya the 3's are done... too bad... well, the Pirelli Winter Carving are pretty much same design.. and you can't go wrong with Pirelli

Steelcase service is also great...

How do u store you all seasons/summer tires?