195/50 R15 Question.

[stotto]

Hey guys.

Affter shopping for 205/50 R15 tyres and finding out how hard they were to get (proxes4 and T1R's had a November ETA at my local tyrepower) I opted for the 195/50 R15's.

So im just wondering what psi you guys are running at. The Guys at bridgestone set them to the same psi as whats on the fuel flap (specs for a 205/50). Is this a little high for these tyres. Im assuming there might not be a massive amount of difference.

Cheers guys..

[phaeton]

32 psi at front and 30 at rear on my Mum's Golf TDI

[rayray086]

I run 38 front and rear. I was getting even tyre wear with those figures.

Change them every once in a while to see what suits your needs. I run them a little higher cos they're stretched over a wider wheel.

[brad]

A smaller tyre doesn't need less pressure. Look at a pushbike tyre - 100psi in some of them.

What's on the fuel cap or higher is best.

[Jace]

It's not hard, and best of all it's free to experiment.
Change it up as much as you can be bothered. Different tyres will respond differently on different roads.
If it's a wet week, I usually crank the PSI up in the rears (FR) for a smaller contact patch and therefore more slides. I guess you could do a similar thing in a FF vehicle.
Maybe heighten the rear pressures for more hand-brakies etc.

[stotto]

Cheers guys, very usefull answers as always .

[MattyT]

We aim to please

Ps, I do 45psi front and 40psi in the rears. I'm running on 205/45 R16's.

[Mrk_Mickey]

We aim to please

Ps, I do 45psi front and 40psi in the rears. I'm running on 205/45 R16's.

Holy crap, that sounds heaps high! I thought 36psi was high for my tyres (same size as yours)

[brad]

We aim to please

Ps, I do 45psi front and 40psi in the rears. I'm running on 205/45 R16's.

What's the maximum recomended pressure printed on the tye?

I had 205/45x16 on 7" rims on the Mk3.5. I tried those type of pressures but it was too skaty & the sidewalls too uncompliant. Generally 40F/36R worked for me.

Are you trying to compensate for other suspension issues with those pressures?

[MattyT]

I pumped em up that high for a track day and havent bothered bringing em back down

I used to run 38 front 34 rear, which worked just fine.

[sydVR6]

Usually between 36 and 40psi all round for road tyres. Track tyres are a little different as they're designed to heat up quickly and therefore require less pressure.

I don't like anything below 34psi - makes the steering heavier, gives less feel and probably increases fuel consumption.