simple tire pressure question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,839
Likes: 19
From: Folsom CA
simple tire pressure question
Changed from the noisy run-flat to Kumo's. Love the tires, good grip and not near as much noise. When I had them put on the shop told me to run about 36psi (cold) and after talking to a couple of other shops that seemed about right.
A Corvette magazine that I was reading last night was comparing run-flats to the non-run flats and the article said to run 30psi. Seems a little on the low side, but is that what most of you guys are running?
A Corvette magazine that I was reading last night was comparing run-flats to the non-run flats and the article said to run 30psi. Seems a little on the low side, but is that what most of you guys are running?
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 538
Likes: 0
From: Edmond Ok
I run 30. For a short time I did put 35 psi but the center of the tire was wearing faster than the edges, so I dropped to 30, which was recommended by the placard on the door. I don't do any competitive driving and have no issues running at 30 psi.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,839
Likes: 19
From: Folsom CA
Thanks for the input. I know that when we ran a SSGT car back in the late 80's we ran about 38 to 40 lbs, but the tires totally different today. I thought it was a little high. Probably should have asked a lot sooner instead of listening to the installers.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Tire pressure is based on weight of the car and the belt and sidwall engineering of the particular tire. The big issue with tire pressure is the driving conditions. Road temperature plays a big part. The door sticker is there to remove product liability,( many people used the max pressure reading on the side wall) and is just a ball park safe number. While 30 psi cold is ok, You can do better with respect to traction, tire life and gas mileage using proper tire pressure tuning just like they do in Nascar, Formula 1, Sema, NHRA, etc. I never allow my tires to get higher than 30/31 psi "HOT". I consistently get 43/45,000 miles from a set of tires, and 33mpg in 6th gear cruising at 70mph. Most of my driving is in the summer where road surface temps can reach 140/160F. Under these conditions 30 psi would reach 35/36 psi, which would cause poor traction, a center high condidition cause center tread wear, decrease footprint and traction and reduce mpg.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 1
From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
Originally Posted by folsomlarry
Changed from the noisy run-flat to Kumo's. Love the tires, good grip and not near as much noise. When I had them put on the shop told me to run about 36psi (cold) and after talking to a couple of other shops that seemed about right.
A Corvette magazine that I was reading last night was comparing run-flats to the non-run flats and the article said to run 30psi. Seems a little on the low side, but is that what most of you guys are running?
A Corvette magazine that I was reading last night was comparing run-flats to the non-run flats and the article said to run 30psi. Seems a little on the low side, but is that what most of you guys are running?
Oddly, I have one Michielin out of four (right rear) showing more center wear than the others. Might run that rr at 29 psi, try to spread the wear out a bit more.
RonJ ...
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Originally Posted by djengr
I run 30. For a short time I did put 35 psi but the center of the tire was wearing faster than the edges, so I dropped to 30, which was recommended by the placard on the door. I don't do any competitive driving and have no issues running at 30 psi.
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Brett Foote
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 743
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From: Bartlett IL
Originally Posted by RonJ
I think anything above 30 psi will cause center wear.
Oddly, I have one Michielin out of four (right rear) showing more center wear than the others. Might run that rr at 29 psi, try to spread the wear out a bit more.
RonJ ...
Oddly, I have one Michielin out of four (right rear) showing more center wear than the others. Might run that rr at 29 psi, try to spread the wear out a bit more.
RonJ ...
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,975
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From: "Philly" Pennsylvania
Be aware that the tire pressures you get with a guage on the valve stem may vary from the TPS pressure reading you see in the display. I have found that in summer and warmer weather my air guage and TPS readings are within one pound (PSI). Now, during temps that are below freezing at night and a little above during the day, my TPS reads two/three pounds less than my air guage readings in the front and one/two PSI difference in the rear. I go with the air guage readings which means my TPS displays 27 or 28 PSI when I first start out and rises to 30 (TPS-front) after highway speeds. The value of the TPS for mee is to see any unusual pressure drops (possible flat). Sometimes, if I know I will be doing mostly local (non-highway) driving I will run as much as 31/32 PSI because they will not be heating up much.
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Tech Contributor
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Always chech your tires COLD! I run 30 PSI in the fronts and 28 psi in the rears and get EXCELLENT tire wear! It is even all the way across the tire!
Believe us, 30 PSI is NOT low!! Not for a C5! There are a few C5 owners who look on their tires and see the MAX tire pressure 45 psi. They try to run their tires at 45 psi and wonder why their Tire Pressure Sensors are warning them of tire pressure too high!!
It must feel like they are riding on stone tires!!! 
28 -30 PSI cold and you will be fine!!
Bill C
Believe us, 30 PSI is NOT low!! Not for a C5! There are a few C5 owners who look on their tires and see the MAX tire pressure 45 psi. They try to run their tires at 45 psi and wonder why their Tire Pressure Sensors are warning them of tire pressure too high!!
It must feel like they are riding on stone tires!!! 28 -30 PSI cold and you will be fine!!
Bill C