<VV> Tire Pressures with Modern Tires

[Bruce Schug]

On Jun 1, 2008, at 8:58 AM, Mikeamauro at aol.com wrote:

> I'm running 205 14s on my late model, mounted on Camaro rally wheels  
> (I
> know, that's a lot of tire for the vehicle, but I like how they  
> look, so lets
> move on ;>). The tires are Brigdestone Turanzas, with a  max  
> inflation of 44
> psig. To reduce rolling resistance, I'm running 24 lbs in  the  
> fronts, and 38 in
> the rears (cold). Seems to handle just fine on the  highway, but I'm
> considering upping the rears to 44, and the fronts  to about 12 to  
> 14 less than the
> rears. Has anyone out there tried this  or similar pressures. Results?
>

The only times I've ever run the kind of pressures you are proposing  
is in an economy run. I think you'll find the ride will suffer and the  
steering will become twitchy. As another responder pointed out, you're  
probably near the upper limit already.

I wonder what size your tires are - 205/70's? 205/60's? It doesn't  
really matter. My fronts are 205/45-16's. I like to run a little more  
pressure in them as it lightens up the steering with the aftermarket  
quick steering arms I use. I usually run about 24 pounds in them,  
maybe even 26, as opposed to 20 or 22. My 225/50-16's on the rear  
don't seem to feel much different with different pressures. I usually  
run 8-10 pounds more than the fronts.

If you try extreme pressures, to get another tenth of a mile per  
gallon, I suggest you go to a big parking lot and drive around and saw  
the steering wheel back and forth to simulate quick, emergency-type  
manuevers. Be sure the resultant handling is what you can live with.

Bruce


Bruce W. Schug
Treasurer, CORSA South Carolina
Greenville, SC
Stock Corvair Group Member
bwschug at charter.net

CORSA member since 1980

'67 Monza. "67AC140"