Tire Pressures
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,796
Likes: 1,197
From: Canberra Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
When I was running 215/70/15 tyres I ran 34-35 psi.
Running the pressure levels from the original era that were very low and probably suited to older pre radial tyres and as always more about comfort than performance the Vette felt soft and less controlled.
However It really is about personal choice and what feels good to you.
I find it funny to look at cars in Australia, Europe and the US and compare same models and recommended pressures.
Normally the US has lower than any other region, again probably driven around driver comfort, Europe are often highest and Australia's are between the two.
You will judge it on how the car feels and what your experiences are in general with how it should react etc.
Running the pressure levels from the original era that were very low and probably suited to older pre radial tyres and as always more about comfort than performance the Vette felt soft and less controlled.
However It really is about personal choice and what feels good to you.
I find it funny to look at cars in Australia, Europe and the US and compare same models and recommended pressures.
Normally the US has lower than any other region, again probably driven around driver comfort, Europe are often highest and Australia's are between the two.
You will judge it on how the car feels and what your experiences are in general with how it should react etc.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
This particular subject has been "studied" at length here on the forum. The general consensus is to run what pressure makes sense to you.
These are relatively light cars riding on relatively wide tires...that would support the idea of having the pressures lower than in "regular" cars being as it is largely unneeded and tends to stiffen an already stiff ride.
That said, there needs to be enough pressure to support the center of the contact patch. And tire heat is HUGE. Too low of pressure and the heat can build quickly. Case in point: I recently drove home a ~7,000# load of bricks in my 10k# capacity trailer with my F250 diesel. All within the rated capacities. I kept my speed below 65 MPH as much as I could (picked slow trucks to drive behind on I-95) for absolutely no reason other than controlling the temperature in the tire carcass. Which happened to still get quite hot. A tire 'deforming' at the contact patch builds heat in the tire VERY quickly by the internal friction in the rubber. It is a huge factor in tire failures, in my opinion.
I'd feel comfortable playing with pressures into the 26 psi range. Have fun with it. You'll immediately notice the difference in ride, in handling, and in off-the-line grip. Find the right compromise for you and enjoy yourself. You're not going to hurt anything.
All the best!
These are relatively light cars riding on relatively wide tires...that would support the idea of having the pressures lower than in "regular" cars being as it is largely unneeded and tends to stiffen an already stiff ride.
That said, there needs to be enough pressure to support the center of the contact patch. And tire heat is HUGE. Too low of pressure and the heat can build quickly. Case in point: I recently drove home a ~7,000# load of bricks in my 10k# capacity trailer with my F250 diesel. All within the rated capacities. I kept my speed below 65 MPH as much as I could (picked slow trucks to drive behind on I-95) for absolutely no reason other than controlling the temperature in the tire carcass. Which happened to still get quite hot. A tire 'deforming' at the contact patch builds heat in the tire VERY quickly by the internal friction in the rubber. It is a huge factor in tire failures, in my opinion.
I'd feel comfortable playing with pressures into the 26 psi range. Have fun with it. You'll immediately notice the difference in ride, in handling, and in off-the-line grip. Find the right compromise for you and enjoy yourself. You're not going to hurt anything.
All the best!
