Tire pressure, door sticker vs sidewall rating

Bob-blehead

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Midland, MI
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While working on the car yesterday, I noticed that the driver's side front tire looked a little low, so this morning, I looked at the sticker in the door frame to see what the recommended pressure was: 32 psi. Ok. Looked at the sidewalls of the tires (Continental Conti-Pro stock tires) and it read that 44 psi was the max for the tire. The pressure gauge read 31 psi on the suspect front tire.

Decided to bump the pressure to 40 psi. Seeing as the max listed on the tire is 44, and remembering that my father, who was a mechanic, told me to run my tire pressure at 3 - 5 psi below the max, that was the basis for my decision.

Now, tires and vehicles have changed GREATLY since that time, so I ask those of you in the know . . . should I actually run these tires at 32 psi as recommended on the door frame sticker???
 

k757

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The only time I am real far above the door placard number is when I am auto-xing. When done racing, back down to just above the placard numbers.

Running the tire pressure too high will cause the center of the tread to wear prematurely. Same as running too low, the edges of the tread will wear before they should.


-Keith
'11 WRX (30k mi) & '99 2.3CL (38k mi)
 

webby

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higher you go, the greater chance for uneven tire wear as ^ said. It will wear in the center of the tire first.



The higher you go, the more harsh the ride will be as well. I'd stay right around 32-36psi and watch for any uneven tire wear and adjust accordingly.
 

Bob-blehead

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Midland, MI
Vehicle Model
Civic
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EX Sedan
Thanks for the info, folks. I know about the consequences of running pressure too high, or too low. That was not my question. My confusion was brought about because the placard was stating one number, but the tires' "max" number was way above this. I was wondering if Honda just placed that placard in all of their cars, without regard to what tire was on the car. I know that sometimes, manufacturers will place more than one brand/model of tire on their vehicles (not one a single car, but throughout their run of production). The T&C I used to own came with paperwork for THREE tire manufacturers.

I did notice that the ride has become much more lively since bumping up the pressure. Lively, meaning feeling the bumps a lot more. I'll be dropping the pressure back down to the placard range.
 

webby

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the "max" on the sidewall is the maximum amount of air you can safely put into the tire (without it potentially rupturing/exploding). I actually know someone who died from putting too much air in a tire - wasn't watching the tire psi as it was inflating... it went over the max/exploded, and killed him.

Anyway, the # on the tire is not the recommended air pressure to drive around on. The sticker on the door jam is what honda is recommending you use. Unless you knew that and I'm confused to the question
 

07TLX

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I run between 32 and 34 psi cold temps, which is between 34-36 hot temp.... I just had a shop put air in my tires without telling me and I could tell my tires where inflated because my car was jumpy and twitchy and when I checked the pressure it was sitting at 43 psi hot temp
 

Bob-blehead

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Midland, MI
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36 in the front 33 in the rear.
Finally got around to taking the tires back down to Honda's recommended psi. What a difference 8 psi makes! At the higher psi, the ride was much more "buzzy." A much more comfortable ride with the lower psi setting. I might try spicy's settings though, just to see how it feels.

spicy, any particular reason for running 36 on the front?
 

Monk

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I usually run what the car sticker wants, there are reasons(talking public road use) to go over some times. carrying a lot of wt. over and above the normal cars load, changing tyre sizes.

There is a sure fire way anyone can get the correct psi in what ever set up they are running(tyres/wt./etc.).

Find an area in a parking lot(big one), bring some soft chalk, and draw a line from side to side on the front and back tyre. start with the air a couple of pounds higher than will be used(easier to let some out, etc.) when the chalk wears off evenly acroos the tyre you're good to go.

If you're OCD like me, I start with cold air sitting over night, then take the car for a warm-up ride check the tyres let some out....... go for another warm-up, and check again... Repeat until you have what you want.
 
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