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Stock tire pressure for 97 wheels

Joined
22 November 2001
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760
I just put the 97 wheels on my 92. Does anyone know what the door of a 97 says for tire pressure? Is it 33/40 like the smaller 91-93 wheels?
 
This brings up a question I've had for years about tire pressure. Is the pressure specific for a car NO MATTER the tire? It seems to me that with all the changing we do with tires, both sizing and style, that the best pressure would change also. Is there a scientific way of deciding which pressure works best for one particular situation?
 
Originally posted by airedale:
This brings up a question I've had for years about tire pressure. Is the pressure specific for a car NO MATTER the tire? It seems to me that with all the changing we do with tires, both sizing and style, that the best pressure would change also. Is there a scientific way of deciding which pressure works best for one particular situation?

No, and no.

The pressure is simply a recommendation from the manufacturer. You might need to vary pressures for the situation as well as for any tire other than the OEM tire. Furthermore, there is no "best for one particular situation"; a pressure that is best for even tire wear may be different from one that is best for long tire life.

Bottom line: The manufacturer's recommendation is a good place to start, but you'll need to take your experiences and your personal preferences into account in determining whether and how you might want to deviate from that recommendation.
 
Originally posted by Slingshot:
Important to note the 33F/40R is "cold" tire inflation pressure. If you inflate right after a ride, your 40 pounds in the summer time will cool off to less than 35 pounds by the morning.

Just to clarify, you are referring to two different factors that increase pressure due to higher temperatures. One is the heat that occurs from using the tire; a tire that's just been driven will have more pressure than the same one when it hasn't. The other is the change in ambient temperature during the course of the day. Tire Rack says that a rule of thumb that you can use to set your pressure is a difference of one psi for each 10 degrees F.
 
Originally posted by nsxtasy:
..........

The other is the change in ambient temperature during the course of the day. Tire Rack says that a rule of thumb that you can use to set your pressure is a difference of one psi for each 10 degrees F.

OK, what is the ambient temp for the benchmark 33/40 ......... and I am assuming at sea leve right?
 
Originally posted by Hrant:
OK, what is the ambient temp for the benchmark 33/40 ......... and I am assuming at sea leve right?

No, it's the ambient temperature and altitude where you do your driving. If you normally drive during the daytime at 600 ft ASL, then measure it at (or adjust to) whatever your daytime temperatures are, at about the same altitude.
 
Originally posted by nsxtasy:
No, it's the ambient temperature and altitude where you do your driving. If you normally drive during the daytime at 600 ft ASL, then measure it at (or adjust to) whatever your daytime temperatures are, at about the same altitude.


What about 600 ft AGL?
 
The automobile manufacturer recomendation is not a good place to start. As ariedale has said,"It seems to me that with all the changing we do with tires, both sizing and style, that the best pressure would change also." READ THE TIRE SIDEWALL!
Each and every tire will have their "max
psi" on the sidewall which is determined by the TIRE manufacturer. Many high performance tires of today are rated at 50psi some exceed 55psi. Starting with 33psi on a 50psi rated tire will result in either a bent wheel, break down of inner tire construction(ie.belt seperation)and most dangerous... Tire Blowout! Underinflated tires is a major cause for "Tire Blowout"...read the tire sidewall! I start at around 5psi below what the actual tire max is. Then you may work down...it's safer and it's easier to let the air out than to get the air to put in.

I don't want to get too technical but...
(Question)If a 20"inch bicycle tire is at 33psi will it increase as much as an ordinary car tire at 33psi? Most likey, no. Aside many other factors, rate of increase would be highly dependent upon "volume" of air(or moisture in the air).
Forget the math and the guessing, just use a damn pressure gauge!
 
Originally posted by Sensei:
The automobile manufacturer recomendation is not a good place to start.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. The maximum pressure on the tire's sidewall is NOT a recommended tire and is only the capacity of the tire. Yes, underinflated tires are dangerous, but a tire that is inflated to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation is not underinflated. Even though a tire may be capable of being operated when inflated to 50 psi, using it at its maximum inflation will cause uneven tire wear and poor handling and ride quality. Telling people to inflate it that high is just plain bad advice.

Incidentally, the Tire Rack website has an article about the dangers of underinflated tires. It "considered a tire underinflated if it was eight pounds per square inch or more below the vehicle manufacturer's recommended inflation pressure."

[This message has been edited by nsxtasy (edited 08 June 2002).]
 
Originally posted by nsxtasy:
Wrong, wrong, wrong. The maximum pressure on the tire's sidewall is NOT a recommended tire and is only the capacity of the tire.

Uhhh...I didn't say to use the the maximum. Go back and read it again.

Yes, underinflated tires are dangerous, but a tire that is inflated to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation is not underinflated. Even though a tire may be capable of being operated when inflated to 50 psi, using it at its maximum inflation will cause uneven tire wear and poor handling and ride quality.

Have you ever experienced 215/40/17 Pirelli P-Zero with only 33psi. You can say whatever you want but that would be under inflated to me. Underinflated tires will also cause uneven tire wear and poor handling and poor(er) ride quality.I guess we're at a deadlock...oh well.

Telling people to inflate it that high is just plain bad advice.

And just how high did I say...I think you need to take a step back. I don't want to make this a bigger deal than it already is. I think everyone should just use common sense.

Saiyonara,

Choritsu-shi
 
Originally posted by Sensei:
Uhhh...I didn't say to use the the maximum. Go back and read it again.

Well, you did say, "Starting with 33psi on a 50psi rated tire will result in either a bent wheel, break down of inner tire construction(ie.belt seperation)and most dangerous... Tire Blowout!" Considering that this is the Acura-recommended pressure for the NSX front tires, don'tcha think that your statement is ridiculous? Do you really think that they would recommend a pressure that would bend wheels or blow out tires?
rolleyes.gif


Originally posted by Sensei:
Have you ever experienced 215/40/17 Pirelli P-Zero with only 33psi. You can say whatever you want but that would be under inflated to me.

I haven't used those tires, so I don't know what makes sense for those tires and that size. If 50 psi works for you, great.

I can tell you that for the OEM tires, two thirds of NSX owners have found that the recommended pressures are just right, resulting in good handling and even tire wear, as reported in this thread, while according to that same thread, about a third of NSX owners have found that the recommended 33F/40R is too high. The number reporting that the recommended pressures are too low: zero.

Originally posted by Sensei:
I think everyone should just use common sense.

On that, we can both agree.

[This message has been edited by nsxtasy (edited 08 June 2002).]
 
Well, you did say, "Starting with 33psi on a 50psi rated tire will result in either a bent wheel, break down of inner tire construction(ie.belt seperation)and most dangerous... Tire Blowout!" Considering that this is the Acura-recommended pressure for the NSX front tires, don'tcha think that your statement is ridiculous? Do you really think that they would recommend a pressure that would bend wheels or blow out tires?

Acura also recommends using certified Acura parts and lubricants. Acura also recommends not to modify or change anything other than what the vehicle came with. Acura recommends not to change tire and wheel combinations other than what it came equipped with. Acura recommends using only Acura certified shocks, brake pads, clutches regardless your driving habits or style. No, I don't think my statement is ridiculous.

I can tell you that for the OEM tires, two thirds of NSX owners have found that the recommended pressures are just right, resulting in good handling and even tire wear, as reported in this thread, while according to that same thread, about a third of NSX owners have found that the recommended 33F/40R is too high. The number reporting that the recommended pressures are too low: zero.

Probably because the "two thirds" were still on using the OEM tire and wheel combination. BTW good thread, this one guy in particular seems to sum it up real well...

If the goal was simply trying to show that it is possible to run OEM tires on an OEM setup car and get even wear with certain types of driving, I don't know why there was even a need to do a survey since your own experience has been that you DO get even wear with your use. Unless you don't believe yourself

I believe the responses reinforce my contention that the survey is meaningless for the stated goal since they show people have different results with the same model car, tire and inflation pressure but do not give any indication as to the reason for the differences.

Maybe I'm just grouchy today!

[This message has been edited by Lud (edited 28 February 2002).


Hmmn who was that guy? Oh well,in closing...
It is estimated that most drivers lose from 10% to as much as 50% of tire tread life due to underinflation. That's a significant statistic. Now consider the extra fuel we burn to push cars along on soft, underinflated tires. Tires do require extra energy to roll if they are under inflated. Again, I was refering this to ariedale's comment on the fact that we change tire sizing and style. Starting at 33psi is good for the tires it originally came with but I was refering to an upgraded tire. Again I never recommended or said that I run tires at 50psi.
Your nearby tire dealer should have what is called a "Tire Load/Inflation Table". Not only will this document tell you the correct tire pressure for stock sizes, but it will provide the information on optional plus sizes as well. A good example would be the findings on a Honda Civic with the stock size 185/65R-14; recommended air pressure is 28 psi. Plus one size is 195/55R-15 with a recommended air pressure of 32 psi. Plus two size is 205/45R-16 with a recommended air pressure of 36 psi. Note how the air pressure increases with plus sizing to meet the load carrying capacity for the car.

Saiyonara,

Choritsu-shi
wink.gif
 
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