Tire Pressure?
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Boca Raton Florida
Tire Pressure?
I have a 1998 C5 with RunCrap tires. What is the typical air pressure most commonly used? Should I stick to what is posted on the door sticker? I think the car feels better when I run 35 PSI. What are your thoughts??
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I follow the recommendation on the sticker - 30PSI cold. Understand that this is the RECOMMENDED pressures, but the Corvette engineers determined that this pressure was the best compromise of ride, tire wear and traction.
The problem with inflating the tires to 35 psi cold is that as the tire and the air in the tire heats up - the pressure increases even more - probably in the 38 - 40 psi range. That high a pressure will cause an already stiff tire to feel so stiff that you'll seriously and unneccessarily compromise the ride and handling.
Forum Member Evil-Twin adjusts his tire pressure to keep the pressure at 30 psi all the time - hot or cold, and has reported acheiving some incredible mileage out of his tires. He would know - he is a retired GM engineer that worked on the Corvette project, and in my mind, one smart guy!
The problem with inflating the tires to 35 psi cold is that as the tire and the air in the tire heats up - the pressure increases even more - probably in the 38 - 40 psi range. That high a pressure will cause an already stiff tire to feel so stiff that you'll seriously and unneccessarily compromise the ride and handling.
Forum Member Evil-Twin adjusts his tire pressure to keep the pressure at 30 psi all the time - hot or cold, and has reported acheiving some incredible mileage out of his tires. He would know - he is a retired GM engineer that worked on the Corvette project, and in my mind, one smart guy!
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From: The warm part of Anger Island
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by blacksedan87
Forum Member Evil-Twin adjusts his tire pressure to keep the pressure at 30 psi all the time - hot or cold, and has reported acheiving some incredible mileage out of his tires. He would know - he is a retired GM engineer that worked on the Corvette project, and in my mind, one smart guy!
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
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Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus
Here's a possibly stupid question. Would you happen to know how he does this? Does he get out of the car after the tires are warmed up and adjust the pressure or does he have some remote way of doing this?
for me! His Screen name is Evil-Twin and here's a link to his profile......http://forums.corvetteforum.com/memb...ster&t=1291829
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From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
I'm curious as to how and why Evil Twin would do this. Seems mighty inconvenient, to start with 30lbs cold, then drive around for a half hour and get out to let some air out of the tires, only to have to re-inflate them to 30lbs again before your next trip out.
I'm wondering if it would make more sense to "split the difference" and leave them at 28 PSI cold, knowing full well that they will hit 30lbs fairly soon after launch and maybe rise to no more than 32 fully hot.
Interesting discussion...
I'm wondering if it would make more sense to "split the difference" and leave them at 28 PSI cold, knowing full well that they will hit 30lbs fairly soon after launch and maybe rise to no more than 32 fully hot.
Interesting discussion...
Burning Brakes
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From: Ocala, Fl. State of Confusion
I started leaving the pressure at 28 cold and they come up to 30 in a few miles. Driving at 30 psi when warm makes the most sense to me. If you inflate to 30 cold, in the summer, they get to 35 hot in a hurry, and then would be overinflated. Thereby causing excessive center of tire wear. That's my story and I'm stcking by it.
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From: Dardenne Prairie Mo.
Originally Posted by TomT
I started leaving the pressure at 28 cold and they come up to 30 in a few miles. Driving at 30 psi when warm makes the most sense to me. If you inflate to 30 cold, in the summer, they get to 35 hot in a hurry, and then would be overinflated. Thereby causing excessive center of tire wear. That's my story and I'm stcking by it.
I found that around 28 cold in the winter and 26.5 to 27 summer are just enough to keep the tpms from going off so after a few miles the tires are at around 31 summer seems to be about as low as i can go cold in the summer.
Instructor
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From: Rocky Mount NC
I can never get all 4 of mine to say the same thing. Even if they all say the same when they are cold... 10 seconds down the road I've got 2psi more FR than FL. It kills me... I think it is giving me an obsessive compulsive disorder. 
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08
I have played with this for two years, 30 cold seems to give the best mileage during the cold months. Spring & summer I drop it to 27-28 cold any lower & it sets off the low tire warnings.
Good luck
Good luck
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I don't want to make a career out of checking the pressure in my tires. So ...
30 PSI cold all the way around...
Originally Posted by JMc
30 PSI cold all the way around...