Recommended Tire Pressure
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
Recommended Tire Pressure
What is the recommended tire pressure for C6 A6 F55 with standard run flats? I usually run at 28psi cold.
Also, when I was trying to air up, one of the valve stems wouldn't allow air in or out. I suspect I have a bad valve stem. Is this something that should be done at the dealer under warranty (I've only got 11,000 Miles)?
Thanks
Also, when I was trying to air up, one of the valve stems wouldn't allow air in or out. I suspect I have a bad valve stem. Is this something that should be done at the dealer under warranty (I've only got 11,000 Miles)?
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
Likes: 27
From: Southampton NJ
What is the recommended tire pressure for C6 A6 F55 with standard run flats? I usually run at 28psi cold.
Also, when I was trying to air up, one of the valve stems wouldn't allow air in or out. I suspect I have a bad valve stem. Is this something that should be done at the dealer under warranty (I've only got 11,000 Miles)?
Thanks
Also, when I was trying to air up, one of the valve stems wouldn't allow air in or out. I suspect I have a bad valve stem. Is this something that should be done at the dealer under warranty (I've only got 11,000 Miles)?
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 3
From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
The recommended tire pressure is on a sticker on the driver's side door jam. 28psi to 32 psi is what I personally think is an acceptable range.
I set all my tires at 32.0 psi and during a run from Austin to Dallas this week, the front tires got up to 37 psi and rears 36 psi. I was cruising att 77 mph on a 90 degree day. Was surprised the presure when up 5 psi.
I set all my tires at 32.0 psi and during a run from Austin to Dallas this week, the front tires got up to 37 psi and rears 36 psi. I was cruising att 77 mph on a 90 degree day. Was surprised the presure when up 5 psi.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
My 05 door jamb sticker says 30 lbs front and rear. I watch it very close and measure my tires tread depth often. At 12,000 miles the rears started showing wear in the center. I lowered them to 27 and at 16,000 they are still worn more in the center. I'm hoping that as they wear they will even out. I think I have about 10,000 miles left in all four tires.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 27
From: Long Island NY
I run 30 psi cold in mine. As others have reported here, the pressure will go up about 5 psi once hot. Of course depends on the ambient temperature, how fast you're going, etc.
At 30 psi cold, I also notice a bit of extra wear in the center of the tread. I've noticed this on other cars with wide tires as well. For whatever reason, I think very wide tires will tend to wear faster in the center even at proper and even lower air pressure. Seems like an inherent issue with wide tires in general. When you think about it, it makes sense that it would be hard to keep a very wide tire from bulging a bit in the middle of the tread at any appreciable air pressure. Then add in centrifugal force when you're running at high speeds... I'm not too surprised that wide tires wear quicker in the center of the tread.
At 30 psi cold, I also notice a bit of extra wear in the center of the tread. I've noticed this on other cars with wide tires as well. For whatever reason, I think very wide tires will tend to wear faster in the center even at proper and even lower air pressure. Seems like an inherent issue with wide tires in general. When you think about it, it makes sense that it would be hard to keep a very wide tire from bulging a bit in the middle of the tread at any appreciable air pressure. Then add in centrifugal force when you're running at high speeds... I'm not too surprised that wide tires wear quicker in the center of the tread.
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Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 608
Likes: 1
From: LZ IL
28 all around is great. The only time more is needed is if you are going to go fast. Then they say in order to maintain tire shape 32 is required. But if you are going fast the presure goes up anyways ie hot tires. Go figure.
28 in the rears gives better take off performance.
28 in the rears gives better take off performance.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
If you have added different valve stem caps check to be sure if they have an "O" ring in them. I found that existed in my last car and when I screwed it down the ring got stuck in the neck of the stem and would not allow air to go in the the tire, had to dig it out with a tooth pick
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I run 30 psi cold in mine. As others have reported here, the pressure will go up about 5 psi once hot. Of course depends on the ambient temperature, how fast you're going, etc.
At 30 psi cold, I also notice a bit of extra wear in the center of the tread. I've noticed this on other cars with wide tires as well. For whatever reason, I think very wide tires will tend to wear faster in the center even at proper and even lower air pressure. Seems like an inherent issue with wide tires in general. When you think about it, it makes sense that it would be hard to keep a very wide tire from bulging a bit in the middle of the tread at any appreciable air pressure. Then add in centrifugal force when you're running at high speeds... I'm not too surprised that wide tires wear quicker in the center of the tread.
At 30 psi cold, I also notice a bit of extra wear in the center of the tread. I've noticed this on other cars with wide tires as well. For whatever reason, I think very wide tires will tend to wear faster in the center even at proper and even lower air pressure. Seems like an inherent issue with wide tires in general. When you think about it, it makes sense that it would be hard to keep a very wide tire from bulging a bit in the middle of the tread at any appreciable air pressure. Then add in centrifugal force when you're running at high speeds... I'm not too surprised that wide tires wear quicker in the center of the tread.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
28 all around is great. The only time more is needed is if you are going to go fast. Then they say in order to maintain tire shape 32 is required. But if you are going fast the presure goes up anyways ie hot tires. Go figure.
28 in the rears gives better take off performance.
28 in the rears gives better take off performance.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 35,248
Likes: 3
From: San Diego Ca
Yikes.At 36 psi, you are running 20% over the recommended pressure. It feels more responsive because the tread is bulging in the center, effectively turning your front 245's into 225's or so. This is causing the very center band of the tires to bear the stress of the entire car. The steering will feel quicker, but you are paying for it with higher temperatures concentrated on the center band of the tread which under enough stress can cause delamination at worst, and much faster tire wear at the least. Your lateral grip and breaking performance will also be diminished.
Stick to what the manufacturer recommends. 30psi.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,976
Likes: 1
From: Santee California
The recommended tire pressure is on a sticker on the driver's side door jam. 28psi to 32 psi is what I personally think is an acceptable range.
I set all my tires at 32.0 psi and during a run from Austin to Dallas this week, the front tires got up to 37 psi and rears 36 psi. I was cruising att 77 mph on a 90 degree day. Was surprised the presure when up 5 psi.
I set all my tires at 32.0 psi and during a run from Austin to Dallas this week, the front tires got up to 37 psi and rears 36 psi. I was cruising att 77 mph on a 90 degree day. Was surprised the presure when up 5 psi.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Orange County CA
Been tracking tread wear every month or so with one of those PepBoys tread depth gauges. Was running 30psi after I bought the car but several months later I noticed centers were thinning faster so I went to 28psi. After 30 months of ownership it looks like 28psi cold has yielded the most even tread wear.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Fresno Ca.
this may be a dumb question, but its never been clarified for me. the sticker on the door jam says 30 psi cold but what does it mean when it says "hot" add 4 psi." does that mean the pressure will rise up to 4psi when the tire is hot or add an additional 4 psi.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 7,695
Likes: 51
From: Imperial Beach CA
After 350,000 miles with 2 C5's and 2 C6's, if you want even wear you need 28 front 27 rear any higher and the centers go first. I got 67,000 miles on my 02 C5 convertible, got photos of them. In fact the fronts were worse with that characteristic inside wear that goes un-noticed till too late. Again if you go 30 to 32 psi your in for early retirement of tires.