There should be a recommendation on the sidewall, it's probably 32-35 psi. This is where the tire is designed to produce the maximum performance, any more or any less will degrade it's capabilities in either wet or dry conditions.
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There should be a recommendation on the sidewall, it's probably 32-35 psi. This is where the tire is designed to produce the maximum performance, any more or any less will degrade it's capabilities in either wet or dry conditions.
Sorry but I must dis-agree. The pressure on the sidewall is for the manufacturers protection in case you run too low a pressure and the tire breaks down. When racing on a road course or oval track we set the tire pressure by loading the car as it is usually driven (full tank of fuel, one occupant, no spare, no jack, etc) and then paint each tire at least three places across the tread width. Then we run the car a lap and check the paint. If the paint is worn off in the center of the tread, the pressure is too high, and if the paint is worn off on the edges the pressure is too low. The paint needs to be worn smoothly completely across the tread and trial and error is the only way I know how to get to that point.
PS: I forgot to mention that we start with all the tires at operating temperature.
I agree with snake. The pressure on the sidewall is just a rule of thumb and there is no real way of telling what is a correct tire pressure, Tires have different compounds and have different loads applied to them, along with that is weather condition and road surface condition. Tire wear is a good way to tell if you are running the correct pressure. Start out by checking and recording the tread depth across each tire. Then put in the air pressure that is on the tire and run it for 1,000 miles or so, and check wear pattern, wearing on outsides of tread to little air, wearing middle tread, to much pressure. When you get the pressure so that the tire is wearing evenly, write that pressure down, it will most likely be different for each wheel. If you get a new set of tires from the same manufacture then you wont have to go threw that process.
Oh yea, when you rotate your tires at 6,000 miles, put the pressure in the tires based on what you wrote down.
The pressure on the sidewall of a tire is the maximum cold inflation pressure.
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As a former technician the last post was right about the sidewall pressure being the maximum cold inflation pressure. You do not want to inflate to this and drive because chances are pretty good that you arent going to have those tires long. if they are over-inflated the will wear wrong, under-inflated will do the samething, then of course you also take the chance of a sidewall busting out of the tires. I recommend calling a tire specialty shop. I run 245-45-zr17 tires at 34 lbs in the summer and 28-30 in the winter depending on conditions.
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the paint trick works great for racing. but normal every day driving doesn't require such a technique.
I run 35 psi in my tires for every day. refill back up to 35 when the psi gets down to 32 or 30. i get better mileage at this psi and the tires wear evenly.
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I run 245-45-zr17 tires at 34 lbs in the summer and 28-30 in the winter depending on conditions.
I run the same psi throughout the year. I don't understand why you would increase the psi in the summer when its warm, heat makes the tires 'grow'. It seems like your winter # and summer # should be switched around.
The pressure on the sidewall of a tire is the maximum cold inflation pressure.
+1 The pressure on the sidewall is a max for that tire. For the 17" Ford recommends 32 psi. I'm not sure what Ford recommends for the 18" but that info would be on a sticker on the driver's side door sill...
The pressure on the sidewall of a tire is the maximum cold inflation pressure.
Exactly. My Nittos have a max 50lbs -- try driving down a bumpy road with that much air -- you'll need new to see your dentist for new fillings
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ideal psi for tires 
