Whatis the proper pressure for 17" tires

[skyhawk]

I set mine to the recommended 34 psi.

The toyo is also weird. The inside was wearing fast when it was new.. then as the rubber got worn down to the 'alignment marks' (not yet the 'replace me' mark), the wear started to appear even. So maybe it is a rubber quality issue.
like the outer layer is softer.. Or maybe the rubber hardened with time.

 

[SGT_OKINAWA]

Whoa ! I keep off this thread until I read this.....

(attn)

40 PSI on all 4 tires in the last few months. Before this I had 42 PSI on all 4 since I got the car in March 2007. 40000 Kms on the original Toyo 205-50-17's and no uneven tire wear. Have been getting the tires regularly rotated with every few oil changes. I find that at 35 PSI, I was getting tire squeeling accelerating off the line and when making tight turns. At 40 PSI, I don't get any noise or sidewall rubbbing.

I could go on some long rant about this... but I'll just say, good luck, 42 PSI IMO is to high.

I go just under max pressure on any low profile tires.

That is a miss conception in most circles, NORMAL psi is still used, those LOW PROFILE tires are MADE to be used just like the normal 'stock' tires, (that is why they cost so darn much) I'd dile it down to 36 PSI if I was you, or go the recommended 34.

Peace!(rei)

 

[TheMAN]

European/General Market service manual states:
220kPa for normal use with stock 17" tire size
but for full load, 240kPa in the front and 280kPa in the rear

this is done because there is less sidewall in the tires and more air is required to maintain sidewall rigidity (if the sidewall collapses, sidewall damage will occur as well as poor traction from the tires... it's like driving an empty vehicle with 150kPa of air! ford exploder anyone?)


otherwise for normal use, I agree that there's no reason to go higher than 220kPa as the correct tire size and load rating is designed to be run on this vehicle at that pressure... HOWEVER, when you upgrade to different rims, wider/lower profile tires, it is advisable to bump up the pressure 10-20kPa more in order to keep the sidewalls stiff... like I said, sidewall deformation essentially means driving around with flat tires... when you hit a nasty pothole, your tire gets bubbled (radial belts broke) or worst yet, break/bend the rim

on my protege, stock pressure is 32psi (220kPa), but now that I have mazdaspeed rims on there with wider and lower profile tires, I have to run 35psi (240kPa) or risk breaking the tire/rim