What is the proper tire pressure setting for high performance street driving...

[MaraSport]

Hello Folks...
Wow... this forum has changed alot since the last time I had been here color and everything, congradulations...

But I have a question, I am thinking my tire pressure is off some... I had 235/55 tires before I upgrade to 245/50 but now its seems as if the out most edges tread is wearing faster thant the the water type groved part and that is faster than the solid center is wearing why...?

And what do you folks run in your tires that are 245/50R16 pressure wise...?

Thanks...
MaraSport

[Injuneer]

I ran my stock 245/50-16 GS-C's at 34-36psi. Wear was relatively uniform. It sometimes looks uneven, if the tires are like the GS-C's and start with less tread depth on the outer edge. If you are scraping the outer edges off excessively on BOTH edges of the tire, try raising the pressure 2 psi at a time. If you are wearing excessively only on ONE edge of the tire, its most likely an alignment problem.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

If the tire is wearing on the inside or outside, it could be the toe as well as the camber. If it is toed out, it will wear the inside of both front tires. If it is toed in, it will wear the outside of both front tires. This usually shows up on just the inside or outside most block (1 inch or so) of tread.

Usually if the camber is incorrect, it will wear evenly but tapered across the whole tire.

If the tire is the right size for the rim, the tire pressure will only effect whether the center of the tire wears slower or faster than the sides.

If the tire is too wide for the rim and the alignment is correct, the tire will turn up on the sides and not wear.

I would suggest a front end alignment.

[MaraSport]

Thanks for the advice...

The wear is some what evenly but its gradually lengthens like nano-meter size to the center from either side and then gradually decreases to the opposite side...

At first I thought it was my driving style, but I don't see that... Then I thought it was the suspension alignment but everyone I have talked to says its not... And the pressure deal is the only one left...

Although maybe a couple of times I had did some hard cornering... I really don't know... its not bothering me, I just would like to know for sure...

But Thanks though...

And oh... I had been running 38psi on the front where the wear is like this and 36.5 psi on the rear which is uniform across the how tread width.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Thanks for the advice...

The wear is some what evenly but its gradually lengthens like nano-meter size to the center from either side and then gradually decreases to the opposite side...

At first I thought it was my driving style, but I don't see that... Then I thought it was the suspension alignment but everyone I have talked to says its not... And the pressure deal is the only one left...

Although maybe a couple of times I had did some hard cornering... I really don't know... its not bothering me, I just would like to know for sure...

But Thanks though...

And oh... I had been running 38psi on the front where the wear is like this and 36.5 psi on the rear which is uniform across the how tread width.

It sounds like tire pressure. Just to be clear, are you saying the tread depth is deeper in the middle of the tire compared to the outside? (wearing on the outside and the inside faster)

[MaraSport]

The outsides are wearing faster than the center of the tire, yes...

The temp. of the front tires which are the one's that are affected is 41.5 hot and 38.0 cold... I am some what scared to put any more into the tires than that because like most tires, they aren't suppose to have more than 44 psi...

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Wow. That's pretty high. It's hard to believe it is still wearing more on the sides (inside and outside) than the middle at that pressure.

When was the last time your alignment was checked? I wonder if it could be cambered out and toed out or vis-e-vers-e.

What kind of tires do you have on it? I know you have 245/50 on it but who makes it and the model. What is your rim width?

Oh, and how are the back tires wearing? I should have asked that first.

[MaraSport]

I doubled checked both sides and only the front right is off like that... Alignment job about 10K miles ago but since no one said that the alignment was off and they didn't want to work on it because if the alignment was off then both sides would be affected in some way shape or form...

I have the stock 10 spoke 16x8 rims but those rims use to have 235/55-16 96T Goodyear Eagle GA's. Now however they have 245/50-16 98T Winston Winner tires on them. I have friends who have those tires on their cars and they have had no problems from the tire it self.

PS: I drive on roads that are crown most of the time but not all the time would this affect that tire...

[Jeff_in_Atl]

I doubled checked both sides and only the front right is off like that... Alignment job about 10K miles ago but since no one said that the alignment was off and they didn't want to work on it because if the alignment was off then both sides would be affected in some way shape or form...

I have the stock 10 spoke 16x8 rims but those rims use to have 235/55-16 96T Goodyear Eagle GA's. Now however they have 245/50-16 98T Winston Winner tires on them. I have friends who have those tires on their cars and they have had no problems from the tire it self.

PS: I drive on roads that are crown most of the time but not all the time would this affect that tire...

The wheel width is fine for your tire size.

In my opinion that is too much air pressure. I used to run 30 in the front and 28 in the rear.

I would rotated the tires front to back, lower the pressure to 30 in the front and 28 in the rear and keep an eye on it.

Being that you have a 2001, I would say that it isn't a problem with the front end unless it has been wrecked. You didn't mention if it had or hadn't.

[dochidalgo]

I personally prefer, following Wolfman advice, 30 psi rear and 32 psi front.
The front ones need more to support the engine, tranny etc.
The rear ones need less in order to get more traction.
I've confirmed the better mileage/gas ratio.
Take care
Doc

[wolfdogs]

is your left front tire wearing faster on the outside edge than the right front?
bet it is......

tell me..........

then ill tell you......

[rufrider76]

he did not answer but i would still like to know the reason

[Jeff_in_Atl]

is your left front tire wearing faster on the outside edge than the right front?
bet it is......

tell me..........

then ill tell you......

According to a previous post "I doubled checked both sides and only the front right is off like that..." So I assume your answer is no.

[MaraSport]

The wheel width is fine for your tire size.

In my opinion that is too much air pressure. I used to run 30 in the front and 28 in the rear.

I would rotated the tires front to back, lower the pressure to 30 in the front and 28 in the rear and keep an eye on it.

Being that you have a 2001, I would say that it isn't a problem with the front end unless it has been wrecked. You didn't mention if it had or hadn't.

No it hadn't been wrecked...

And I will admit this I am not sure what Wolfman meant by...

is your left front tire wearing faster on the outside edge than the right front?
bet it is......

tell me..........

then ill tell you......

I didn't do anything to it... I may have cornered to hard every now and then maybe...

I am a driving enthusiast, I whether have a car that handles like a dream, then one that could and does only race down a straight line... No offense to anyone but that is what I like...

[MaraSport]

A person on another forum told me that if I knew where I could find a dirt path, drive down it if you see the out sides of the tires better than the inside up the pressure some and then drive down the same road again and if the tread is flat (you not seeing any of the shoulder area, but the inside and outside is equally pronounced) then you got it right, but if it is not pronounced on the outside as much as the inside then lower it until you get it to be equal...

He said that this is actually a way to correct the lower overall height factor of the tire to match my suspension settings...

I use to have 26.17 overall height tires (235/55-16 96T) but when I upgrade it dropped to 25.65 overall height tires (245/50-16 98T)... And now the tire is perfectly straight and level, the wheels aren't bent inward at the top as they use to be, and the car handles better and is more responsive... The air pressure in the tires now are 39.0 psi in the front and 37.0psi in the rear... It seems to be more stable than before...