I've recently read that the average petrol-station-tyre-inflators pressure sensor seldom is accurate, and that they more often than not measures too low.

I never trust the guage on garage inflators, I have a small Oxford digital pressure guage in the boot storage bag, it reads bar and psi and I check with that and inflate with the garage jobbie, then re-check as nec'.

same here, found to many to be out and by an alarming amount.

Some interesting thoughts on tyre pressures (and effect on mpg) near the bottom of this page....

Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible Page 2 of 2

Has anyone on here noticed mpg variations at different pressures?

Perhaps it would seem we've made a discovery here then :P

I think the discovery has to be prefaced with "On cars with the Eibach/FSD set-up...". I can only imagine how harsh the ride quality must be at 34psi all round on OEM springs and dampers...

I think the discovery has to be prefaced with "On cars with the Eibach/FSD set-up...". I can only imagine how harsh the ride quality must be at 34psi all round on OEM springs and dampers...

It's not harsh ATALL on the OE Setup IMO - i run the higher pressures, and have OE Suspension - no problems, actually an improvement in how it feels over when it was running 30-32psi...

I am going to try a few different presures over the next few days and see if it helps .....my car just doesn't want to turn in at the moment and I am on 2.1 bar (about 31 psi) front and rear......

I am going to try a few different presures over the next few days and see if it helps .....my car just doesn't want to turn in at the moment and I am on 2.1 bar (about 31 psi) front and rear......

Me, too. The steering feels sluggish too.

Chris

I am going to try a few different presures over the next few days and see if it helps .....my car just doesn't want to turn in at the moment and I am on 2.1 bar (about 31 psi) front and rear......

Me, too. The steering feels sluggish too.

Chris

Both running standard suspension?

Thats how mine felt, slow to turn in, putting the pressures to 34-35psi all round has sorted it out IMO

Some interesting thoughts on tyre pressures (and effect on mpg) near the bottom of this page....

Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible Page 2 of 2

Has anyone on here noticed mpg variations at different pressures?

Useful.

Given then that site suggests a ball park of max tyre rated pressure - 10%, having checked my conti sport 2's, they rate at 40psi max. Hence Stu's assertation of 36psi is pretty much spot on .

Chris

I Know I'm a mk1 driver but I upped mine too 33.5 psi the other day a felt like I was driving a different car. MPG went up as well. One thought though how will these increased pressure effect tyre wear. By this I mean in the centre of the tyre ???

I am going to try a few different presures over the next few days and see if it helps .....my car just doesn't want to turn in at the moment and I am on 2.1 bar (about 31 psi) front and rear......

Yep, you need MORE pressure for certain.

Saying that, the "Event" tyres won't be helping the cause

I found running the fronts at 33/34PSI helped hugely however it does cause central tyre wear.

Not massively but enough that the centres are 1mm lower after 20k miles. so about 4mm/3mm central

Been meaning to do this for some time so I'm off to up'em right now :P

Just done the same have Conti Sport Contact 2's on mine. Had a new one fitted last Saturday after getting a screw in the side wall tyre fitter was surprised how low the PSI's were for the vRS.

Anyway now have 32PSI all round, checked them before inflating to 32PSI the fronts were on 27 the new rear 32 and the other rear 30.

Certainly is a much firmer ride, but yet to go for a proper run.

An oblique suggestion on this topic.

Won't the higher pressure (making the tyre firmer/stiffer) help reduce sidewall flex over bumps & potholes etc and thus reduce the risk of damage.

Firmer ride? I think you get used to it and in some ways it makes the suspension work harder, 'cos the tyre is not flexing as much, and overall is therefore better.

Well since putting them up to 34Fr and 32 R I can say that handling has improved.

It is much more responsive and direct and seems to hang on better in the twisties.

will do this later to the 34/32 combo or chicken to the 33/32. which in bars will be 2.34/2.2

36 front 34 rear on a fab vrs seems better except for road noise still have to check every 4 days as they do tend to lose a bit maybe half a pound I have tried the fuel flap settings and they appear to look a bit flat still noisy even at 32 front and 30 rears just put that down to the road surface, I noticed on the new mondeo they have gone away from the low profile tyre that was on the previous model that alwaays looked like it needed air in it,

This is a good site if any one is interested gives loads of info on tyres etc, Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible Page 1 of 2

This is a good site if any one is interested gives loads of info on tyres etc, Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible Page 1 of 2

Nice link that - I've added it to our links section for future reference

I had Michelin Pilot Exaltos in 225/40 18 when I took delivery of my car last year and ran them at the book pressure of 2.0 bar front and 2.1 bar rear. seemed all Ok and I then tried 2.1 bar in the front during the summer; small and subtle tightening in the handling.

At Christmas I acquired a set of 17" wheels and fitted them with 225/45 17 Vredestein Ultrac Sassantas which, after some research and recommendations I set at 2.5bar front & rear. Even though they had a taller sidewall the handling was just as sharp but a degree forgiving, but the ride was jittery.

I have since eased the pressures down to 2.4 and then 2.3 bar all round. the handling is just as sharp and the ride better.

I'm aiming to refit my 18s on 1st May, assuming the weather has warmed up, will reset the pressures at 2.3 bar all round and see how things are. Certainly I'm now convinced the 2.0/2.1 bar OE recommendation is too low!

Just realised, having checked my pressures yesterday, that I am running 2.4 bar (that's 35 psi) all round. Certainly not uncomfortable at this level and handling is good.

So far my 225 45 17s are on 34f 33r and that seems to be working well so far

got 34.1 front and 31.9 rear, i was actually suprised, steering doesnt feel light, feels heavier and certainly doesnt feel like skating at 2.2 does all round at high speed. problem is at low speed the steering feels heavier. threw it around some corners (not what i normally do) and after a hard throw it did loose traction back end but the esp sorted that out (now i know what that feels like too). might put the back tyres up to 33.

Can I ask why people are using a high pressure at the front than the back? The standard pressures are lower at the front so surely if people were going to play they would still keep the fronts lower? No? Yes?

Let me see the light please!!

Steve