Tire Pressure
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,366
Likes: 5,244
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
30 psi is the sweet spot for ride, wear and performance.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,507
Likes: 722
From: Sausalito CA
Firestone RFT Z51 Vert 33 Ft 27 Re.
OP says comfort.
Above pressures work for my driving "feel" and even tire wear with my custom alignment.
Less pressure usually equates to a smoother ride.
Runflats have stiff sides walls somewhat negating that rule.
OP doesn't mention which tires he has.
If OEM Goodyear, yes 30 is proper.
I venture a guess that you could experiment by dropping a few (one to four) PSI to increase comfort.
OP will just have to experiment to find his "sweet" spot.
Have fun and FWIW buy a good tire gauge, ideally one that reads in 1/10 or 1/2 of a PSI.
OP says comfort.
Above pressures work for my driving "feel" and even tire wear with my custom alignment.
Less pressure usually equates to a smoother ride.
Runflats have stiff sides walls somewhat negating that rule.
OP doesn't mention which tires he has.
If OEM Goodyear, yes 30 is proper.
I venture a guess that you could experiment by dropping a few (one to four) PSI to increase comfort.
OP will just have to experiment to find his "sweet" spot.
Have fun and FWIW buy a good tire gauge, ideally one that reads in 1/10 or 1/2 of a PSI.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 21,631
Likes: 1,144
From: Below the bottom of Berby Hollow, NYS
The number on the tire is the maximum pressure the tire should be run UNDER A MAXIMUM LOAD. The weight of C6 is NOT the maximum load unless you're hauling gravel or something in the back. The last time I looked at a tire (20 years ago) it says something to the effect: XX PSI MAXIMUM LOAD. It's been like this for as long as I can remember.
Since the C6 is NOT the maximum weight, the car manufacturer calculates the proper pressure and puts it on the door jamb. I've never seen where the maximum load pressure was the same as the door jamb pressure.
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
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,463
Likes: 1,138
From: Chino CA
It shouldn't have been a debate, and it's not another urban myth that somehow may or may not be true.
The number on the tire is the maximum pressure the tire should be run UNDER A MAXIMUM LOAD. The weight of C6 is NOT the maximum load unless you're hauling gravel or something in the back. The last time I looked at a tire (20 years ago) it says something to the effect: XX PSI MAXIMUM LOAD. It's been like this for as long as I can remember.
Since the C6 is NOT the maximum weight, the car manufacturer calculates the proper pressure and puts it on the door jamb. I've never seen where the maximum load pressure was the same as the door jamb pressure.
The number on the tire is the maximum pressure the tire should be run UNDER A MAXIMUM LOAD. The weight of C6 is NOT the maximum load unless you're hauling gravel or something in the back. The last time I looked at a tire (20 years ago) it says something to the effect: XX PSI MAXIMUM LOAD. It's been like this for as long as I can remember.
Since the C6 is NOT the maximum weight, the car manufacturer calculates the proper pressure and puts it on the door jamb. I've never seen where the maximum load pressure was the same as the door jamb pressure.
It always amazes me how many people think the pressure on the tire is anything other than exactly what it says , max air pressure.
I assume those same people never see the tire pressure sticker in the drivers door jam that is on every car they drive
Last edited by HBsurfer; Oct 29, 2018 at 11:42 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 2,106
From: Left Coast, San Diego
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 21,631
Likes: 1,144
From: Below the bottom of Berby Hollow, NYS
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 21,631
Likes: 1,144
From: Below the bottom of Berby Hollow, NYS
Wil Cooksey #256
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,814
Likes: 24
From: Sacramento Kalifornia
I run 30 psi cold in the summer and 32 psi cold in the winter. I want my tires to get to 35 psi hot. starting at 30 psi cold in the winter will only give me 33 or so psi after they heat up. This is to low for me.
Last edited by 50 4Ever; Oct 29, 2018 at 07:59 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,974
Likes: 148
From: Magnolia Texas
Firestone RF - run 32 front and 30 rear when cold. Front pressure comes from a member (Wolfdogs) who was a tire engineer and his analysis showed those settings to be optimal for the C6. He was also a fanaic user of Zaino and you could read the time of day on your watch in the reflection of
the car.
the car.
