what is a good tire pressure to run. am using 195-65 tires on 5.5 wheels.1600 lbs total weight.on 356 coupe i used to run 27f and 30 rear. but why so low on speedy. thanks bill.
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what is a good tire pressure to run. am using 195-65 tires on 5.5 wheels.1600 lbs total weight.on 356 coupe i used to run 27f and 30 rear. but why so low on speedy. thanks bill.
...ditto, here...
My memory may be failing here, but I remember 356 coupes weighing around 1950 lbs, and steel Speedsters weighing 1820 lbs, whereas Speedster replicas usually come in around 1650 lbs. or so.
That's why we can run slightly lower tire pressure.
I'm running 205X16's front and 225X16's rear, with tire pressures of 22 front and 26 rear. I increase them both 4 lbs. when I hit the track.
gn
That's why we can run slightly lower tire pressure.
I'm running 205X16's front and 225X16's rear, with tire pressures of 22 front and 26 rear. I increase them both 4 lbs. when I hit the track.
gn
At Jim's suggestion in Morro Bay, I dropped my tire pressure to 22 and 28 and my ride is better. Just wondering if I can drop it any further. Remember, I have a Vintage superwide body with 225/45/17 on the front and 255/40/17 on the rear. I'm planning my long awaited coast highway trip in a couple of weeks and would like my ride to be as comfortable as possible.
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Troy, where are you headed? If you get to San Diego area, give me a call 760 637 5036. Have a great trip!
Most of the Spyder crowd run 19 in the front and 22 in the rear but those cars are lighter than your Speedsters.
I'd start at 20 in the front and 25 in the rear.
Try chalking your tires and find a parking lot to test it in.
(draw verticle lines on the sidewall from the rim to the tread and use them as indicators as to how far over the tire rolls by noticing where the chalk rubs off).
Too soft and you are over on the sidewall. Too firm and you are making the contact patch skinnier.
If you get understeer (front plows straight) raise the rear pressure 1-2 lbs and test again.
do the opposit for oversteer.
I'd start at 20 in the front and 25 in the rear.
Try chalking your tires and find a parking lot to test it in.
(draw verticle lines on the sidewall from the rim to the tread and use them as indicators as to how far over the tire rolls by noticing where the chalk rubs off).
Too soft and you are over on the sidewall. Too firm and you are making the contact patch skinnier.
If you get understeer (front plows straight) raise the rear pressure 1-2 lbs and test again.
do the opposit for oversteer.
Hi Will.
Actually, I'm heading in the opposite direction. I'll be heading over to Morro Bay for a visit to Hearst Castle and then North on Hwy 1. We'll be making a few stops along the way to enjoy the spectacular views of the ocean from the cliffs around Big Sur. If I'm not mistaken, the moon will be almost full and hanging in the western sky around 10 or 11 on the night of 6/21, which is a site everyone should see at least once in their life. Then its on up through Carmel and Monterey and then into San Francisco. Later on this year we will do the rest of the trip from San Francisco to Eureka.
Larry.
Thats a great suggestion about the chalk. I'll give it a try. Thank you.
Troy
Actually, I'm heading in the opposite direction. I'll be heading over to Morro Bay for a visit to Hearst Castle and then North on Hwy 1. We'll be making a few stops along the way to enjoy the spectacular views of the ocean from the cliffs around Big Sur. If I'm not mistaken, the moon will be almost full and hanging in the western sky around 10 or 11 on the night of 6/21, which is a site everyone should see at least once in their life. Then its on up through Carmel and Monterey and then into San Francisco. Later on this year we will do the rest of the trip from San Francisco to Eureka.
Larry.
Thats a great suggestion about the chalk. I'll give it a try. Thank you.
Troy
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Larry's suggestion sounds about right considering that the VS owner's manual suggests 22 psi on all fours.
Ricardo.
I'm a guy! I didn't think we were supposed to read owners manuals!!!
Troy
I'm a guy! I didn't think we were supposed to read owners manuals!!!
Troy
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Troy:
I'm running 205X50's front and 225X50's rear, (Continentals) so I have a little more sidewall height than you do with your 40-series rubber-bands.
I've run mine as low as 18 all around and it rides great but rolls 'em over a bit in the corners (you can feel it - it's greasy). I get tons of grief from my son whenever he drives it like that, so I now have them at 20 front and 22 rear for me, and 22 front/24 rear for him.
When I hit the track I bump them up to 28 front and 30 rear and they really stick.
Good luck on the road trip!
gn
I'm running 205X50's front and 225X50's rear, (Continentals) so I have a little more sidewall height than you do with your 40-series rubber-bands.
I've run mine as low as 18 all around and it rides great but rolls 'em over a bit in the corners (you can feel it - it's greasy). I get tons of grief from my son whenever he drives it like that, so I now have them at 20 front and 22 rear for me, and 22 front/24 rear for him.
When I hit the track I bump them up to 28 front and 30 rear and they really stick.
Good luck on the road trip!
gn
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It is interesting that some of you are running the same, or almost the same pressure front and rear.
From a tire pressure thread on The Samba:
A Beetle owner's manual, don't know year, recommended 16 front and 24 rear with one or two occupants and 17/26 fully loaded.
A sticker on the glove box door of a '74 beetle recommends 18/29.
I seem to remember running 20/30 many years ago when I had beetles.
It seems like we would want to run a similar front/rear differential.
From a tire pressure thread on The Samba:
A Beetle owner's manual, don't know year, recommended 16 front and 24 rear with one or two occupants and 17/26 fully loaded.
A sticker on the glove box door of a '74 beetle recommends 18/29.
I seem to remember running 20/30 many years ago when I had beetles.
It seems like we would want to run a similar front/rear differential.
Troy,
Love those wheels - any info on them?
Thanks, Dale
Love those wheels - any info on them?
Thanks, Dale
Hi Dale.
My wheels are the standard wheels that Vintage supplies with their wide body cars. I'm not sure on the price, but I'm pretty sure Kirk would be willing to sell you a set.
Troy
My wheels are the standard wheels that Vintage supplies with their wide body cars. I'm not sure on the price, but I'm pretty sure Kirk would be willing to sell you a set.
Troy
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Didn't Kirk them from Boyd Coddington's shop? On the tire pressure issue Troy; the pressure you need might differ being that your wheel/tire combo is totally different from the stockish one almost everyone has. My guess is that the owner's manual recommendation is geared towards the common tire/wheel combo. You might like to double check on that.