tyre pressures

[stuartgallafant]

im running 205/45 R16 tyres on my iS. my wheels are 162 x 7.5J

im currently using 2.2 bar in the front tyres and 2.5 in the rears, although this morning i just put 2.4 in the front and 2.6 in the rear, and i've yet to try this setup!

can anyone shed any light as to what tyre pressures would be best used? or what you are using in your wheels?

thanks...

[iDreamBeemer]

um dont know bar, I'm sure you can convert but I run 225/45/16 @ 34 psi rear and 205/50/16 @ 31/2 psi

just experimented between 30-35psi and settled on what felt good.

[Jhonno]

im using 36psi all round - 205/50/16

[MikeeMiracle]

Wow......I was expecting far lower pressure's. Don't you find mid 30's PSI make the car slid a lot? I've just got 15's BBS and 30R but 32 on the front makes it feel like it wants to slide around. Was gonna put the fronts down to 27psi and going for another run.

I used to run 30's in my civic and when I tried putting them upto 35 the car was sliding all over the place on the run and it was harder to catch it when it did let go.

[12345kevin]

Theres a bit more weight in an E30, I'm running 32 all round which I believe is close to the BMW reccomendations.

[stuartgallafant]

im still unsure! the drive in my car feels great, it goes round corners like its on rails, but the tyre's look like they have low pressure, and also, your fuel economy really suffers with the wrong pressures!!

[Jhonno]

i love em 36psi.. the handling is pin sharp

[billgatese30]

i run 34 in the fronts and 35 in the rears mostly, as jhonno says, handles lovley, lots of feedback, although it can feel a touch loose at the rear in greasy conditions, so i may drop it a few psi and see if it makes it a touch more stable

[dobbie82]

erm I am on 195/50/15 with about 30psi.. though most of my driving is on winding roads so i need lower pressure yes?

[Jhonno]

lower pressure is for ride comfort

[MikeeMiracle]

Lower pressure = Less responsive, less sharpness, take longer for grip to arrive but more grip once it does
Higher pressure = Sharper/quicker responce to inputs but less overall grip

I for one don't buy the "One set of pressure's for everyone" argumment. It's a personal choice dependant on your driving style.

[Kos]

in the summer, when the roads are generaly dry i run 30 un the front and 32 out the back, as i don a lot of motorway driveng the pressure creeps up a bit as th tyres get warmer, winter time i drop to 28 and 30 front/rear

i spoke to demlot about this aswell, and he runs the same as me.

originalay had the back ar 36 an this was too high, and wore the tyres down in the middle more thean the outside, but then again i'm running 225/40 out back so this may be different to runing 205/50's or 225/45's

end of the day its up to you and how happy you are with the cars handlng and balance

[Hyperion]

i was running 2.2 bar on 205/40 R17, but i was feeling it a bit harse, i experimented on a few settings but have settled on 2.0 bar (front and back) , now the cars ride feels much better.

[stuartgallafant]

im now running 2.4 bar up front and 2.6 bar at the rear. the handling feels slightly more responsive, and the car seems 'chirpier'

i'll stcik with these for a while, and see what i think after a while

[DaveD]

ran with the recommended pressure but found it very bouncey and harsh even before I put on poly bushes now run on 30f 32 r and find it works for me on 15" wheels on a 325icab