What tire pressure are you supposed to run in the front and back???
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What tire pressure are you supposed to run in the front and back???
I run 24 psi front on 205/55 x 16
28 psi rear on 225/50 x 16
vehicle has mild flares, as you probably surmised.
28 psi rear on 225/50 x 16
vehicle has mild flares, as you probably surmised.
I run 22 front/26 rear. Tires are 185/60R15 Goodyear RSAs.
32/32
I like a little quicker response from these high sidewall tires.
I like a little quicker response from these high sidewall tires.
You'll notice the slighter lower tire pressures. This is usually used to dampen the ride so as not to be too rough/harsh!
Thanks, Danny.
It was also recommended that the VW Bug have 8 - 10 psi higher pressure in the rear.
I seem to remember running 18 front & 28 rear on my beetles.
It was also recommended that the VW Bug have 8 - 10 psi higher pressure in the rear.
I seem to remember running 18 front & 28 rear on my beetles.
I used to sell tires many years ago, so I have a little something to add to this discussion.
A VW Bug from the sixties was supposed to run 18 psi in the front. It is all based on load. Remember, these cars are LIGHT! You can get charts that list suggested psi for a specific load on your tire.If you run higher pressures, your tire will not have the tread lying flat on the road. We all want the most tread on the road, don't we? Treadwear we don't worry too much, as not enough miles are put on these cars as our daily drivers.
32 psi is WAY too high for these cars(for street driving). Most Speedsters weigh about 1700 pounds or so. Add 200 pounds or more for driver/fuel etc. and you are still under 2000.So about 1000 pounds per side, so even at a 50/50 weight distribution, you are talking 500 pounds a corner. Most of you run a 185/65r15 tire, or close to that. The load range on that tire is in the 80s, it is 86 on page 15 of this: http://toyotires.com/tire-care-safety/load-inflation-tables
Bridgestone lists both sizes I need as load range 88H, 185-65 and 195-60 15. This is 1058 pounds at 26 psi, clearly too high for the small amount of load I am running.
At 26 psi, which is as low as the chart goes, load range 86 will support 1014 pounds PER TIRE which is twice what is theoretically needed. If I remember, you want a little more load capacity than you need, but not twice as much.
My Spyder weighs 1650 with me and fuel, set up for regular driving. It works out to about 350 pounds on each front tire, verified with race scales. I run 18 in the front, 23 rear. Less than 18 isn't enough to keep the sidewalls stiff enough for cornering. But much more than 18 makes the car ride rough, as there really isn't enough weight on the front to allow more pressure.
Get a cheap IR thermometer, take your car for a LONG, spirited drive, then stop in the middle, turn your wheels to the side, and take three readings along the tread, L, center, and R. If the temps are similar, you got it right. That is, assuming shocks and alignment is set right, but that's another story.
Don't overinflate your tires, it may be hazardous to your health, especially high pressure in the rear which can cause snap oversteer, then you slide off the road sideways or backwards.
A VW Bug from the sixties was supposed to run 18 psi in the front. It is all based on load. Remember, these cars are LIGHT! You can get charts that list suggested psi for a specific load on your tire.If you run higher pressures, your tire will not have the tread lying flat on the road. We all want the most tread on the road, don't we? Treadwear we don't worry too much, as not enough miles are put on these cars as our daily drivers.
32 psi is WAY too high for these cars(for street driving). Most Speedsters weigh about 1700 pounds or so. Add 200 pounds or more for driver/fuel etc. and you are still under 2000.So about 1000 pounds per side, so even at a 50/50 weight distribution, you are talking 500 pounds a corner. Most of you run a 185/65r15 tire, or close to that. The load range on that tire is in the 80s, it is 86 on page 15 of this: http://toyotires.com/tire-care-safety/load-inflation-tables
Bridgestone lists both sizes I need as load range 88H, 185-65 and 195-60 15. This is 1058 pounds at 26 psi, clearly too high for the small amount of load I am running.
At 26 psi, which is as low as the chart goes, load range 86 will support 1014 pounds PER TIRE which is twice what is theoretically needed. If I remember, you want a little more load capacity than you need, but not twice as much.
My Spyder weighs 1650 with me and fuel, set up for regular driving. It works out to about 350 pounds on each front tire, verified with race scales. I run 18 in the front, 23 rear. Less than 18 isn't enough to keep the sidewalls stiff enough for cornering. But much more than 18 makes the car ride rough, as there really isn't enough weight on the front to allow more pressure.
Get a cheap IR thermometer, take your car for a LONG, spirited drive, then stop in the middle, turn your wheels to the side, and take three readings along the tread, L, center, and R. If the temps are similar, you got it right. That is, assuming shocks and alignment is set right, but that's another story.
Don't overinflate your tires, it may be hazardous to your health, especially high pressure in the rear which can cause snap oversteer, then you slide off the road sideways or backwards.
Mike, from what I remember, that sounds about right. Less difference for Speedsters and Spyders, they are closer to 50-50 front-rear than Bugs were. Bugs were at least 40-60 right? My car is 45-55.
Great tutorial, Daniel.
This seemed like a cool experiment and I have plenty of open track to try so I went out and gave it a go.
I read everything here, then read the VS owners manual, then relied on actual drive time experience.
FWIW The VS manual reads: 22 front / 22 rear.
General consensuses here was higher pressure in the rear verses front.
I first attempted a nice long right hand sweeper onto a left 45 degree at my stated settings of 32/32. The car was pleasant, but still had a touch of oversteer. So... I tried the 22/22 called out in the manual in the same stretch. This was just too soft for my liking. It took away any crispness that the car had (VS stock, no front bar, no camber compensator on 165/15 regular street tires) and felt uncontrolled but equal.
Next I dialed in 18 front 23 rear. It pushed (understeered) like a dump truck, albeit a controllable dump truck.
So I went by feel and dialed 28 front & 31 rear... That actually felt pretty good for my taste.
Now - I have a tire temp gauge - but its 45 degrees here and I doubt I can get reliable readings on my test loop today, so I will save that for another day. But I am basically happy (on my set up) with this number. Your results may vary.
I read everything here, then read the VS owners manual, then relied on actual drive time experience.
FWIW The VS manual reads: 22 front / 22 rear.
General consensuses here was higher pressure in the rear verses front.
I first attempted a nice long right hand sweeper onto a left 45 degree at my stated settings of 32/32. The car was pleasant, but still had a touch of oversteer. So... I tried the 22/22 called out in the manual in the same stretch. This was just too soft for my liking. It took away any crispness that the car had (VS stock, no front bar, no camber compensator on 165/15 regular street tires) and felt uncontrolled but equal.
Next I dialed in 18 front 23 rear. It pushed (understeered) like a dump truck, albeit a controllable dump truck.
So I went by feel and dialed 28 front & 31 rear... That actually felt pretty good for my taste.
Now - I have a tire temp gauge - but its 45 degrees here and I doubt I can get reliable readings on my test loop today, so I will save that for another day. But I am basically happy (on my set up) with this number. Your results may vary.
Boy talk about a lot of good information, thanks a lot!
Danny Boy - thanks for that Tech Tip! I learn something new every time I visit this website.
Dr.Evil - I'm currently runnin 26 psi rear tire 225/50/15 and 23 psi front tire 205/50/15 is it safe to drop fronts t0 20 psi and rear to 23 ish ??
Cabanaboy - forgot I weigh 137 wet wifey 121 ish depends on what week, doesn't matter she won't be with me that on that day : )
Cabanaboy - forgot I weigh 137 wet wifey 121 ish depends on what week, doesn't matter she won't be with me that on that day : )
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Desi, if you weigh less than 150, your a girl.
Marty, Desi's head alone weighs in at 22 pounds... Of course he's the only guy here shorter than ME and Jimbo!
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...here are opposite ends of the scale...
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Is that big Will?
Whew! Sure am glad you didn't call him "Big Willie".
Hey Marty, thanks for confirming that I'm not a girl....LOL
I kiss a girl and I liked it !
mine are 215/45/17 and I use 17 psi front and 27 psi rear
205R16(50) front, 225R16(50) rear
20 front, 24 rear street
24-26 front, 28 rear track
20 front, 24 rear street
24-26 front, 28 rear track
You are welcome boys. Remember I run lower pressures since I have a pretty light Spyder, easily 200 pounds less than the lightest Speedster(Hoopty excepted!)
On a track or autoX I would run higher pressure. Drag race, lower the rear a couple pounds for traction.
On a track or autoX I would run higher pressure. Drag race, lower the rear a couple pounds for traction.
when i get in front of the sun, I cause an Total Eclipse according to my son
: )
: )
I sense at least two separate subjects streaming through this thread. But I can't, for the life of me, figure out what the other subject is ? ? ? ?