Tyre pressure indicator

[Corey_R]

I disagree NZTiguan.
The tyre manufactures "max pressure" should ALWAYS override what the vehicle manufacturer says. What does Volkswagen know about Tyre Company A's Model B tyre's composition? Probably nothing.

The "max pressure" is just that. The max, and you should NEVER exceed that.
Thankfully, most tyre's max pressure is always more than what the tyre placard from the vehicle manufacturer recommens anyway. So in that regard, yes, follow the placard in the fuel flap.

Just always take the tyre manufacturers "mins and maxes" as overriding factors to what the vehicle manufacturer says

[NZTiguan]

I disagree NZTiguan.
The tyre manufactures "max pressure" should ALWAYS override what the vehicle manufacturer says. What does Volkswagen know about Tyre Company A's Model B tyre's composition? Probably nothing.

The "max pressure" is just that. The max, and you should NEVER exceed that.
Thankfully, most tyre's max pressure is always more than what the tyre placard from the vehicle manufacturer recommens anyway. So in that regard, yes, follow the placard in the fuel flap.

Just always take the tyre manufacturers "mins and maxes" as overriding factors to what the vehicle manufacturer says

I certainly agree that you shouldn't exceed the tyre manufacturers max limits and I never suggested you should BUT I also don't think using those limits and subtracting a percentage to give you your tyre pressures is what you should do !! That's what I was saying, not that you should ignore what the tyre manufacturer states. Mind you, personally I've NEVER even looked at the max allowable pressure on my tyres except for my wheelbarrow !!!

[Corey_R]

Yeah, agreed

[brad]

My way of fine tuning tyre pressures is to start with the tyre placard recomendations & recheck after 30-45mins of driving in your "regular style" with your "regular load". If pressure increase is more than 10% of what you started at then the starting pressure is too low. Add 2-4psi & repeat the next day (because you have to start with cold tyres).

Generally the manufacturers recomended plus another 2-4psi works for me.

32psi in 18s? Seems a fraction low. Sure the ride might be comfortable but the tyres aren't there to be a suspension component. If you want to avoid impact damage to the sidewalls & flat spots on the rims, I'd run 34-36psi as a minimum.

[Tiggy1]

Hi mate. I know what you're saying - I used to run 34-36PSI in my Forester, but it had much higher profile (215/70 R17). I feel the extra sidewal height DOES make a difference (especially on our S*&t roads). Have read & seen many car reviews that agree. Bump absorption is very good, but ride noticeably harsher than Foz. Will try bumping them up to 34PSI and see how it goes (when I can find decent tyre guage - had cheapass SCA one, but it died)
Cheers