My Tire Pressure dilemma

2400 Views 17 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Mike 325xi, Mar 21, 2002

gek330i

Discussion Starter · Mar 21, 2002

I have searched the forum for posts on tire pressure and I'm more confused now than before.

I have a 2001 330i with Sports Package (Conti Sports tires). 225/45R-17 front and 245/40R-17 rear.

The manual recommends 33psi front and 35psi rear for this setup.
I was looking for real world recommendations from this group.

I commute 44 miles highway daily to work and about 250miles of highway driving on the weekends. I'm looking for the best setup that gives the best performance/tire wear for me.
I do speed a "little" on the twisties whenever possible.

Right now I have 35F/38R. Personally, I haven't noticed too much of a difference from the manual recommendations to what I have now.

Thanks,

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johnlew

· #2 · Mar 21, 2002

I thought the door jamb sticker for an unloaded car recommends 29/33

Jspeed

· #3 · Mar 21, 2002

Try 40/40! It's the enthusiast's setup, heh heh. The ride is less comfortable but it dials out the understeer and quickens steering response. That's my autocross setup, BTW.

geomax

· #4 · Mar 21, 2002

Most seem to favor 34F/35R. I have the Michelin 225/45's all around, and run 32F/35R. Michelin site recommends 30F/35R, but this feels a tad soft up front.

bol

· #5 · Mar 21, 2002

Running 35/35 here... these cars already undeersteer a lot and having increased pressure in the rear tires only makes it worse.

Nick325xiT 5spd

· #6 · Mar 21, 2002

38/33 here. It gives the car a more active rear end.

Nick

Emission

· #7 · Mar 21, 2002

For the best wear, ride, and handling... run 35F/30R.

This will reduce the understeer, prevent the fronts from "rolling" on the edges, and keep the middles from wearing too quickly on the rear.

Nick has the right idea!

Guest84

· #8 · Mar 21, 2002 (Edited)

I'm running 35/38, and have experimented with alittle bit of everything,from the 29-40 range...I too commute and do the twisties on week-ends, 35F and 38R seems good enough for me!

Edit: Oh, and I have the Conti-sports too.

in_d_haus

· #9 · Mar 21, 2002

Jspeed said:
Try 40/40! It's the enthusiast's setup, heh heh. The ride is less comfortable but it dials out the understeer and quickens steering response. That's my autocross setup, BTW.

I run 40/40, (32/32 cold) Sometimes I crank up the fronts a couple psi to reduce understeer.

J. Kidd

· #10 · Mar 21, 2002

I'm with RIP on this one.

35F/38R seems to work great for me. At the limit, slight understeer is detected first and easily corrected. For (high-spirited) street driving, I'd rather have it that way. The balance of these cars combined with the independent rear end...very nice!!!!

CH_325xiT

· #11 · Mar 21, 2002

Nick325xiT said:
38/33 here. It gives the car a more active rear end.

Nick

Nick,
In what way is it more active? In what situations?

I've run at:
36/41 after pickup - summer tires - lots of understeer

33/36 winter tires - less understeer but very comfy, quiet ride

currently 40/40 winter tires - yet to test it in the twisties, but very noisy..

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Guest84

· #12 · Mar 21, 2002

Jspeed said:
Try 40/40! It's the enthusiast's setup, heh heh. The ride is less comfortable but it dials out the understeer and quickens steering response. That's my autocross setup, BTW.

So, cold you inflate to 40/40? That means if you took the tire pressure immediately after the autocross, you could be potentially in the 45-48 tire pressure range?

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Jspeed

· #13 · Mar 21, 2002

Ripsnort said:
So, cold you inflate to 40/40? That means if you took the tire pressure immediately after the autocross, you could be potentially in the 45-48 tire pressure range?

That's right. I arrive at the location, register, do vehicle inspection, walk the course several times, attend the drivers' meeting. After doing all these the tires should be pretty much cold, and that's when I check & adjust my tire pressure. I rarely mess w/ the tire pressure between runs anymore, as I find 40/40 to work quite well for me. At most I'll go to 42/40. BTW the maximum tire pressure that a particular tire has is also "cold".

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alee

· #14 · Mar 21, 2002

Use this guide to tune your car's handling using your tire pressure.

Mike 325xi

· #15 · Mar 21, 2002

alee said:
Use this guide to tune your car's handling using your tire pressure.

To gek330i:

Here is an example of one of your hated "thread hijackers" helping you even after he read your rant about him, myself and a few others...hopefully you appreciate it.

Dr. Phil

· #16 · Mar 21, 2002

Mike 325xi said:
To gek330i:

Here is an example of one of your hated "thread hijackers" helping you even after he read your rant about him, myself and a few others...hopefully you appreciate it.

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vexed

· #17 · Mar 21, 2002

Mike 325xi said:
To gek330i:

Here is an example of one of your hated "thread hijackers" helping you even after he read your rant about him, myself and a few others...hopefully you appreciate it.

You mean those horrid hijackers actually have a life and contribute to this board?:dunno:

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Mike 325xi

· #18 · Mar 21, 2002

vexed said:
You mean those horrid hijackers actually have a life and contribute to this board?:dunno:

Well lets not go overboard here and say we have a life.

Oh wait...that's off the topic...I won't post anymore, I don't want to hijack a thread about someone's life altering tire pressure dilemma...I'm very sorry.

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