What Tire Pressure do you Run in the Winter?

[Lazy2.5]

Mazda states to run a pressure that's 4PSI higher than what's stated in the door jamb in the winter.

Do you do this? What pressure do you find works well for cold/freezing temperatures, especially when dealing with slick conditions?

 

[sm1ke]

Hmm, I've always filled to about 36 psi for my CX-9s, which is 2 PSI higher than what is recommended on the placard. Never had any issues. I only chose 36 because 34 felt a little low to me. I'm interested in seeing what others do.

 

[Lazy2.5]

Will be putting my new (To me) Mich. X ICE XI3's to good use this winter. Will play around with PSI and report.

 

[N7turbo]

That doesn't make sense to me.

Testing has shown lower pressure helps traction, so I run around 32 psi in the winter.

 

[Lazy2.5]

That doesn't make sense to me.

Testing has shown lower pressure helps traction, so I run around 32 psi in the winter.

This actually prompted me to do a bit of research on this. Here is what i've gathered:

Vehicle and tire manufacturers often suggest setting cold tire pressure 3 to 5 PSI higher than the door-jamb specification during winter. This is a proactive measure designed to prevent the tire pressure from falling below the optimal baseline, especially during cold snaps.

This practice addresses the core physics: tire pressures drop significantly in cold weather, following the Ideal Gas Law (approximating a 1-2 PSI drop per 10°F ambient temperature decrease).

Setting cold pressures too low, particularly in winter, is detrimental. In low-speed, stop-and-go driving, the tire doesn't generate sufficient thermal buildup to raise the pressure. This compromises the tire's designed contact patch pressure distribution, placing undue stress on the sidewalls, and reducing grip. While running 1-2 PSI low might be fine or even slightly beneficial for steady highway speeds or extremely rough roads, it is generally detrimental to winter control.

I think the key is ensuring cold pressure never falls more than 1 PSI below the recommended door-jamb baseline. To maintain this margin, I plan to experiment with setting the pressure 3-4 PSI above my baseline. This approach provides an effective cold-weather buffer for rapid fluctuations and prevents under-inflation even after an overnight cold soak in a garage.

 

[sm1ke]

That makes sense. I'll add that lowering pressure slightly can give some tires more "bite" in snow, specifically those with aggressive "sidewall-tread" designs like Falken Wildpeaks or Pirelli Scorpion A/T Plus tires.

 

[N7turbo]

Vehicle and tire manufacturers often suggest setting cold tire pressure 3 to 5 PSI higher than the door-jamb specification during winter. This is a proactive measure designed to prevent the tire pressure from falling below the optimal baseline, especially during cold snaps.

I mean, I set them at those temperatures, so they won't drop further.