1996 taurus ohv has 215/65/r15 tires and the max psi is 35 what psi would you pump

[radioflyer]

Originally Posted by Borbet225

My car says to run 31 psi all around, so that's what I do. Careful with running constant pressures higher than what the manufacturer recommends, as could end up with the tire center treads wearing sooner than the sides. For slow leaks, you can usually go quite a bit higher than max pressure to get you home, but wouldn't make a habbit of it.

Manufacturer recommendations are usually geared more toward soft ride and comfort. I always run the max psi cold rating on the tires I have. I'd rather be getting better mpgs than a "softer" ride.

[behlinla]

Originally Posted by radioflyer

Manufacturer recommendations are usually geared more toward soft ride and comfort.

Actually the pressures are calculated so the tires can handle the max weight rating (GVWR) at the rated speed. After that, the pressures may be modified to create desired safe handling characteristics (e.g. more understeer). Comfort is not a factor other than using the lowest pressure that will satisfy the weight and handling requirements. The rare exception to this would be some sports cars where the recommended pressure is increased slightly to improve road feel and handling.

[Borbet225]

All I can say, had a mid 90's Lincoln Mark 8, where the shop that serviced it, bumped tire pressures to 35 psi, from the recommended 30 psi. The center treads started wearing fairly quick, so went back to 30 psi.

[aaroncgi]

I haven't had my Taurus long enough to really get a handle on best pressure. I know the door says 30 psi, but Discount Tire set my new snow tires at 35 psi, and that seems ok. I have been trying out 38 psi for the past week (max inflation is 44 psi for my tires), and think I'll go back to 35 psi or less, as I have noticed quite a bit harder ride than the all season tires on it before. And good snow tires tend to decrease MPG anyway, along with cold weather and ethanol, so it's a losing battle to begin with. Might as well have a nice ride.

My last car said (if memory serves) 32 psi for under 130 MPH or 36 psi for over, don't think that will be an issue with the Taurus, though. I always ran it at 36 psi and never had wear problems.

I agree that 35psi max inflation is quite low for any tire, but I've never shopped at Pep Boys. Hope they were cheap.

[behlinla]

Originally Posted by aaroncgi

I haven't had my Taurus long enough to really get a handle on best pressure. I know the door says 30 psi, but Discount Tire set my new snow tires at 35 psi, and that seems ok. I have been trying out 38 psi for the past week (max inflation is 44 psi for my tires), and think I'll go back to 35 psi or less, as I have noticed quite a bit harder ride than the all season tires on it before. And good snow tires tend to decrease MPG anyway, along with cold weather and methanol, so it's a losing battle to begin with. Might as well have a nice ride.

If you want better traction, you actually want to lower the tire pressure because it will increase the area of the tire's footprint. Because of this some people deflate their snow tires a few PSI below the recommended pressures. You're correct in that you're not going to get as good of fuel economy with winter tires. At 35-40 psi you will have compromised traction (which is the point of snow tires, right?) and excessive center tread wear. I would stick to 28-32 psi.

P.S. In winter they use more ethanol not methanol.

[aaroncgi]

Originally Posted by behlinla

If you want better traction, you actually want to lower the tire pressure because it will increase the area of the tire's footprint. Because of this some people deflate their snow tires a few PSI below the recommended pressures. You're correct in that you're not going to get as good of fuel economy with winter tires. At 35-40 psi you will have compromised traction (which is the point of snow tires, right?) and excessive center tread wear. I would stick to 28-32 psi.

P.S. In winter they use more ethanol not methanol.

Oops, right you are, ethanol not methanol, sorry! Not sure I know the difference...

Definitely going to set my tires back down to 30 psi or so. You're right, the whole point of snow tires is better traction. Unfortunately we don't see a lot of snow around here, but when we do, there's usually no equipment available to remove it. So they're sort of a necessity unless you want to just stay home for a few days whenever it snows. Would rather use my vacation days other times of the year, so....

[Borbet225]

"behlinla's" got it right on the air pressure traction thing, as also run a set of Blizzaks in the winter. This set up came from the Tire Rack with 35 psi in them, but at 30 psi now. Haven't gotten much snow here in the Detroit area here lately either, but when we do, it's stay home time on my street without the Blizzaks. Also on newer cars with tire pressure systems, you get a dash warning light, if pressure is to low or high.

[behlinla]

Originally Posted by aaroncgi

Oops, right you are, ethanol not methanol, sorry! Not sure I know the difference...

One carbon and two hydrogen atoms!

[aaroncgi]

After setting my snow tires to 30 psi, I've noticed a HUGE improvement in handling. It's like a totally different car. I've played around with tire pressures for years on all my cars and never seen this big a difference. But I've never had this particular car or tire.

[it'sthatcar]

So what's the verdict on tire pressure then? My gas cap says to inflate to 30, but my all season tires have a max psi of 51... My psi was at 32 tonight before I filled up, and after I filled the tires (~45 psi) the ride was a lot nicer and turning was easier. What do I follow?


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