correct Tire Pressure
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 412
Likes: 34
From: Blairsville....North Georgia Georgia
correct Tire Pressure
Hello,
I have done a search and did not find what I was looking for so will ask. Hopefully most of you won't frown on me.
I have Michelin A/S ZP tires. They are great. But....I am noticing that the 'center' rib is wearing down BUT.....the out side treads look great? Tires have about 25/30K on them. I was told to run 32psi in them. But now I am doubting this is correct? My Vette is a 99 6sp. No, I don't 'push it'....not often anyway. Has anyone else had a concern with their Michelin's wearing at the center rib?
Should I run maybe only 28 or 30 lbs?
Thanks
I have done a search and did not find what I was looking for so will ask. Hopefully most of you won't frown on me.
I have Michelin A/S ZP tires. They are great. But....I am noticing that the 'center' rib is wearing down BUT.....the out side treads look great? Tires have about 25/30K on them. I was told to run 32psi in them. But now I am doubting this is correct? My Vette is a 99 6sp. No, I don't 'push it'....not often anyway. Has anyone else had a concern with their Michelin's wearing at the center rib?
Should I run maybe only 28 or 30 lbs?
Thanks
Last edited by vettebob2; Jan 16, 2012 at 11:53 AM. Reason: more info
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 412
Likes: 34
From: Blairsville....North Georgia Georgia
oh boy.........
oh boy......I guess this will teach me to be so trusting. I thought the 'installer' and he was a Corvette shop would give me the correct advice. I knew the tire pressure on my OEM Goodyear was 30 but I assumed the Michelin's might be different ...... since he said the different psi. Wrong.Well I have gone and lowered the psi to 30 and will hope I can get maybe another 10K out of them?
thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I just changed my AS ZPs after about 23k miles. Great tires. I ran 28 cold to make about 32 hot. Even so the center of the rears wore quicker than the edges. The fronts seemed to do better and still had more tread when I swapped them out. Hard to say if they wore even. I'd say 30 cold is too hard for the older compound.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,868
Likes: 770
From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
Seems to me this profile of tire is very sensitive to heat/cold and elevation air pressures.
It's not unusual that mine are 26-28 dead cold in the winter, but when warm, they get above 30 psi.
But in the summer, can keep them about 29 and they might get up to 32.
I've had them go to about 40 before climbing up to high elevations. Even had the warning message come up on the DIC about too much pressure.
I've overinflated the rears though for awhile as I've worn the edges down more than the center.
It's not unusual that mine are 26-28 dead cold in the winter, but when warm, they get above 30 psi.
But in the summer, can keep them about 29 and they might get up to 32.
I've had them go to about 40 before climbing up to high elevations. Even had the warning message come up on the DIC about too much pressure.
I've overinflated the rears though for awhile as I've worn the edges down more than the center.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,123
Likes: 672
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Tire pressures ?
It's not really too big a deal with 32, other than giving you a hard ride. I do 30-31 all year long. The TPMS don't go for anything below or above that and the ride is excellent. The door says 30, I trust they knew a hell of a lot more than I do. 
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,390
Likes: 24,791
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I run mine at 30 psi cold - have not had any unusual wear on them using that pressure.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Think you guys are missing something here
That is just about if not past the life expectancy of performance tires.
Time to look for new tires.
25/30K miles on passenger car tires is one thing, but a performance car, it it is driven like a passenger car are too many miles.
and yes 30 front and 28 rear cold are good starting places for normal tires.
Don't forget to get the alinement down with new tires.
Good Luck
Tires have about 25/30K on them
Time to look for new tires.
25/30K miles on passenger car tires is one thing, but a performance car, it it is driven like a passenger car are too many miles.
and yes 30 front and 28 rear cold are good starting places for normal tires.
Don't forget to get the alinement down with new tires.
Good Luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
they are also guessing that you have run flats on it. the door pressures are made for the oem tire. it seems like a valid question that a non oem tire might need a different pressure to be at its best.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,572
Likes: 9
From: Jackson Tn
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
I run MPS2's and usually run 32-33 in the rear and 33-34 in the front during the winter and lower it a couple of pounds in the summer. I'm getting even tire wear but I'm not running stock RF tires. I tried running lower pressures but saw more wear on the sides.
Run Flates I'm sure are different.
Run Flates I'm sure are different.
Last edited by printmanjackson; Jan 17, 2012 at 09:24 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,123
Likes: 672
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Tire Pressures
You make a very good point. But I'm not so sure that a non-run flat wouldn't take the same tire pressures. But never the less your point is very valid.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Last edited by DeeGee; Jan 17, 2012 at 02:42 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20,030
Likes: 289
From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
Every time I get new tires from what ever manufacturer... I always email them directly and give them my car details (weight, front and rear sizes, rim size etc...etc..). I ask them what is a good cold PSI pressure for my set up for best tire wear. I always get a reply back in less than 24 hours.
Toque
Toque
