General air pressure
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
If you're referring to the printed maximum air pressure on the tire(s) itself, it's just that..the maximum recommended air pressure.
That's not the air pressure you should be running on the street unless you enjoy replacing tires due to over inflation wear in the centers. Look at your door jamb for the recommended normal operating air pressure.
That's not the air pressure you should be running on the street unless you enjoy replacing tires due to over inflation wear in the centers. Look at your door jamb for the recommended normal operating air pressure.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Max pressure is just that - the maximum inflation as recommended by the tire manufacturer. It has absolutely nothing to do with the recommended tire pressures by the vehicle manufacturer.
I'll say this again - the engineers spend a lot of time analyzing data to determine the optimal inflation for the vehicle, in the interest of optimal ride, handling and treadwear.
The tire manufacturer has no idea on the application of the tire, meaning that they don't know what kind of car the tire is going to be mounted on, so they are in no position to recommend optimal inflation on the car.
But the ultimate responsibility rests with the consumer. Applying a blanket correct answer for every single application is impossible. The correct inflation for a C5 used in cold weather is different that one used in hot weather. The sticker on the door jamb states "recommended cold inflation". But 30psi cold in my tires will result in 36 - 38 psi hot, because of the high ambient temperatures in my region of the country and the resulting high temperatures of the pavement.
I adjust my inflation winter vs. summer - in the summer I run about 26psi cold, and the tires get up to about 32psi hot. In the winter I run about 29 psi cold and end up with about 32psi hot. Is that the answer for everyone here on the CF - most emphatically NO!
The summer temperatures in some parts of the country are dramatically cooler than they are in the Desert Southwest. Ever watched a NASCAR race? The crew chiefs are having the tire pressures adjusted by the team's tire guy to fit track temperatures, and desired longevity of the tire, without sacrificing too much on the handling.
So adjust your inflation to suit your needs and check it often. But inflating the tires to the maximum allowable as stated on the sidewall is not ever going to be the right answer for a C5.
I'll say this again - the engineers spend a lot of time analyzing data to determine the optimal inflation for the vehicle, in the interest of optimal ride, handling and treadwear.
The tire manufacturer has no idea on the application of the tire, meaning that they don't know what kind of car the tire is going to be mounted on, so they are in no position to recommend optimal inflation on the car.
But the ultimate responsibility rests with the consumer. Applying a blanket correct answer for every single application is impossible. The correct inflation for a C5 used in cold weather is different that one used in hot weather. The sticker on the door jamb states "recommended cold inflation". But 30psi cold in my tires will result in 36 - 38 psi hot, because of the high ambient temperatures in my region of the country and the resulting high temperatures of the pavement.
I adjust my inflation winter vs. summer - in the summer I run about 26psi cold, and the tires get up to about 32psi hot. In the winter I run about 29 psi cold and end up with about 32psi hot. Is that the answer for everyone here on the CF - most emphatically NO!
The summer temperatures in some parts of the country are dramatically cooler than they are in the Desert Southwest. Ever watched a NASCAR race? The crew chiefs are having the tire pressures adjusted by the team's tire guy to fit track temperatures, and desired longevity of the tire, without sacrificing too much on the handling.
So adjust your inflation to suit your needs and check it often. But inflating the tires to the maximum allowable as stated on the sidewall is not ever going to be the right answer for a C5.
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