08 GTI: best tyre pressures for our bumpy Aussie roads?

[satz]

hi all

was wondering what the general consensus is on the best tyre pressure for Golf V GTIs? The tyre placard on mine only has the figures for 1 person, or for a full car with luggage. I'm running mine on the higher settings, and wonder whether it's too 'hard', contributing to bumpiness and vibration through the car.

I was wondering what pressure has been found best for say 2 people in the car, in terms of ride comfort, tyre wear, handling?

I've got the original Michelin Premacy Pilots on the 17inch stock alloys.

cheers


Satz

[Tensixty6]

I find 38 front and 36 rear (cold) to be a good compromise, whether it be for 1 or 2 people on board. 17inch stock alloys running Bridgestone Adrenalin's.

[peter]

Can't say they (ie. mine) are definitively the best pressures but I like the feel of 40psi all round.
Not sure if I'm game to go much above that. I've got original 15" NCT5s.
Definitely feels more responsive than at 32-34, and has worn far, far more evenly as well. But yes, more vibrations.
I do get a bit wary when driving on dirt roads though, but that's pretty infrequent.

The tyres on my other car (15" Michelin EcoContact, I think) indicate a max pressure at full load, of 50psi!
Not sure I'm game to go anywhere near that for those either. I've got those at 40-42.

> best for say 2 people

Wouldn't be much difference between that and 1 person.
I think it only matters for much fuller loads... eg. 5 and especially with luggage. And mainly on the rear tyres.

cheers
Peter

[isaw]

+1 for the 38/36 cold. this is what I run and seems to be good for spirited. if you want comfort try 34/32

[number 2]

I prefer closer to 40psi with mine any time. Issues i have are if you hit something real hard like a pot hole, which if your from sydney is about every 20 or 30 seconds lol, its less of a cushion. But here in WA roads are ok, and i find its pretty good. I dont think you would explode the tire running the higher pressure, as my original tyres were rated to 240km/h, which centrifugal force would suggest they are pretty strong. So give and take on that one. But i wouldnt run at top pressure at 240kph, that would be pushing it i think.

[Johnbu]

I like about 34 all round for general driving.

Sure, higher may be good for sharper turn in, but at the expense of day to day comfort..

[ian]

I run mine at 35 psi other wise you run the risk of either over inflation which will result in the center of you tires wearing or under inflation which will see the edges rolling under and you will end up with very worn shoulders on your tires.

[Big Al]

36 psi all round works well for me

Running Continental Sport Contact 3 on stock 17's

[Diesel_vert]

The factory pressures are the what the manufacturer views as the best compromise in regards to load capacity, tyre wear, handling, ride quality, rolling resistance, etc, etc.

Deviating from the factory pressures can improve certain areas, but only at the expense of others (e.g. handling vs. ride). But this can be subjective as it is objective, as people have different opinions on what constitutes an improvement or not.


Anyway, based on your priorities, it would be best to stick to factory pressures i.e. 2.4 bar (35 psi) cold, front and rear.

Add 2~4 psi if the car has been driven for more than 2 km, as air expands when heated.

NEVER go below the cold factory pressures, because a tyre's load capacity is dependent & determined by air pressure (hence the different pressures specified for a fully laden car).

[satz]

thanks guys

am now experimenting with 35psi (244kPa) cold on all 4 tyres. See if that softens the ride a little, without compromising handling/wear too much.

[noone]

Different car, but 38 front, 35 rear.

Lower profil tyres tend to run higher pressures from what I've experienced, I running a 40 profile on a 205 tyre.

[BarneyBoy]

I'm in the 38/36 club too - both with my old 17s and the new 18s.
Got dead even 45K wear on the Contis with probably another 3-4 months left on them.
Rotated them twice over the 3 years.