best tire psi for best mpg?
#1
Thread Starter
Pro
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 657
Likes: 9
From: Fresh Meadows, Queens, NY
best tire psi for best mpg?
i know our manuals say 33f and 33r but i'm sure we all know higher psi = better mpg... but how high?
the max psi for our tires are 45psi...
i had my tires at ~32psi cold, about a week ago i increased all my tires to ~37psi and my mpg has already jumped up ~0.5mpg...
anyone know how to figure out the optimal psi for best mpg?
should the front tires be slightly more than the rear? or vice versa?
the max psi for our tires are 45psi...
i had my tires at ~32psi cold, about a week ago i increased all my tires to ~37psi and my mpg has already jumped up ~0.5mpg...
anyone know how to figure out the optimal psi for best mpg?
should the front tires be slightly more than the rear? or vice versa?
#2
When you are autocrossing and you have a car that understeers, you typically add air to the rear to balance the car. This has the effect of 'stiffening' the rear compared to the front and helps with the handling (ie lessens rear grip). Since most street cars are set up to understeer, I usually keep the rears 3-5 psi higher than the fronts.
Trending Topics
#9
I run all my tires at max for many years. No unusual wear including the center. May not be the best for handling, but my MPG has always increased 1-2 mpg.
Tires run closer to max run cooler and are less likely to blow due to heat buildup
Tires run closer to max run cooler and are less likely to blow due to heat buildup
#11
#13
Exactly. The factory is trying to make it nice and "understeery" and I'm more interested in neutral handling so I think I'm around 34f/37r right now.
#16
So now you come clean...... For those that don't understand what's going one here, the higher pressure in the rear tires is trying to emulate the effect of the larger rear bar.
#17
Make a hole, coming thru!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,945
Likes: 15
From: Somewhere between 70 and 125 mph
Ahhhh,... so with with no add-on components, even-steven inflation will compensate a little for understeer? (Yes, I be noob, learning about these subtleties as I go.)
#18
Yeah, me. If I were autocrossing (chalking and reading the sidewall) I would run more in the rear with totally stock suspension, but I'm not and being in my 40's my flabby a$$ likes the stock settings most.
Also, less rattles & squeaks with softer settings.
Also, less rattles & squeaks with softer settings.
#19
I have my tires set to exactly what my door recommends. 32 psi in the front and 30 psi in the rear. The most the tires get to when warm is 34psi front and 32 psi in the rear. Is this ok? It seems kinda low but I wanted to make sure.
#20
No problem there. You can't go wrong with the manufactureres specs.
#21
#22
No, I'd put about 2-3 PSI more in the rear if you want to mitigate understeer a bit. Of course you don't want to go too far. This is me driving at an autocross a few years ago: http://satoauto.com/video/Auto_x.wmv
That was a great video, Colin.
For anyone who hasn't tried it, there is no better way to get in tune with your car and become a faster (read: safer) driver than participating in what Colin showed above.
It was/is so freakin hard for me to remember which way to go when I'm out there. I don't care how many times I walk the track beforehand it's still hard for me. The pointer cones help *a lot* but some clubs don't allow them.
#24
Yeah, I tend to think that if you learn how to handle your car at the limits on a short/long course in a parking lot (or a road course) you'll be *way* better prepared for an emergency situation IRL.
One of my friends in Orlando races at (Lockheed)Martin Sports Car Club & has so for years. Once he was driving around Orlando and a six foot folding table *flew* out of a truck in front of him. What he learned on the track possibly saved his life for he instinctively was able to avoid the table without losing control.
One of my friends in Orlando races at (Lockheed)Martin Sports Car Club & has so for years. Once he was driving around Orlando and a six foot folding table *flew* out of a truck in front of him. What he learned on the track possibly saved his life for he instinctively was able to avoid the table without losing control.
Last edited by HeavyDuty; 09-09-2008 at 03:26 PM.
#25
AND in his spare time as he took evasive action, he was able to measure the length of the table.... That's what you get from high performance driving!
#27
#29
Great so when you go off the road and kill yourself because you don't have any traction they can put 'I got good gas mileage' on your tombstone. Urrgghhh...
#30
I run 38F/35R, been meaning to increase the rear to 38 to see how much understeer is reduced.
My wife's 2003 Honda Pilot, I run 40PSI F/R, +8PSI over the suggested 32 F/R but still under the 44 max for the tire. Besides the mileage I prefer the better handling with the increased pressure.
My wife's 2003 Honda Pilot, I run 40PSI F/R, +8PSI over the suggested 32 F/R but still under the 44 max for the tire. Besides the mileage I prefer the better handling with the increased pressure.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TLDude876
Car Talk
134
12-28-2016 03:18 PM
NBP_BALLER
2G TL Performance Parts & Modifications
5
09-23-2015 08:18 PM
CostcoFanAUS
4G TL Tires, Wheels & Suspension
5
09-18-2015 06:05 AM