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Jimbonic
Senior Member I
Joined: 24-February-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 109
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Topic: Tyre pressures Posted: 02-September-2004 at 09:01 |
Since it seems quite common for the standard wheels and tyres to be replaced - particularly if like mine, they were metrics - what tyre pressures are people using? I was struggling around, so I thought I'd check mine. They were 27psi front and 33psi rear. I have upped these to 34/36 front/rear and the difference is very noticeable - as you might expect. I run 225/50 x 16 tyres, but I'm afraid I don't know the width of the wheel. These pressures seem to work nicely, although I haven't had rain yet...
It occurred to me this morning as I was driving into work that this will contribute to the vague, wallowy steering/suspension so often complained of on this forum.
So, I thought I'd provoke some opinion on the matter!
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Jimbonic
1989 535iSE Manual, Sport pack, Leather, Climate Control
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520ian
Newbie
Joined: 06-August-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 36
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Posted: 02-September-2004 at 09:11 |
How old is your car? 225/60 R15 fitted to 535's should run 29 front and 34 rear.
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Jimbonic
Senior Member I
Joined: 24-February-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 109
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Posted: 02-September-2004 at 09:16 |
It's an '89, ie quite early. The tyres are 16", rather than 15". Also, I am quite an "enthusiastic" driver!
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Jimbonic
1989 535iSE Manual, Sport pack, Leather, Climate Control
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520ian
Newbie
Joined: 06-August-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 36
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Posted: 02-September-2004 at 09:26 |
pressures should still be set at 29 and 34. Go much more than that with just 1 or 2 people in and your in danger of more than just a few sideways moments in the damp on roundabout or bend!!!
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520ian
Newbie
Joined: 06-August-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 36
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Posted: 02-September-2004 at 09:29 |
If your tyres are 225 then rim width is 7".
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Jimbonic
Senior Member I
Joined: 24-February-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 109
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Posted: 02-September-2004 at 09:51 |
The wheels are non-standard, so I would guess that the they could be 7", but who knows. I used to run 205/50x15s on 7" rims with great effect - OK it was a lighter car (kit car racer & Yoko A008Rs) - and phenominal grip. The rims I have look a little over-tyred to me - I prefer a straight, or slightly curved in, sidewall for rigidity and these bulge slightly.
I'm going to play with pressures over the next few weeks, so I'll report back. The wheel/tyre combination is not covered in my owner's manual, so I am mostly making this up as I go along - with your (and others?) help.
Do you run handbook pressures in your 520? I have always found the handbook pressure to be a little on the low side in whatever I have been driving!
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Jimbonic
1989 535iSE Manual, Sport pack, Leather, Climate Control
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520ian
Newbie
Joined: 06-August-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 36
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Posted: 02-September-2004 at 10:10 |
No i dont run handbook pressures, as you say, always a little on the low side. I have a copy of the autodata 2 cd and they give advice on the best pressures for the car and not what the manufacturer recomends.
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Jimbonic
Senior Member I
Joined: 24-February-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 109
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Posted: 02-September-2004 at 10:24 |
Excellent! Is that where you got the 535 pressures?
If so, sounds quite a handy tool. Where mighht one acquire this?
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Jimbonic
1989 535iSE Manual, Sport pack, Leather, Climate Control
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520ian
Newbie
Joined: 06-August-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 36
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Posted: 02-September-2004 at 10:32 |
As far as i know autodata is sold to garages etc for roughly £599 plus a yearly subscription to allow you to continue using it! Needless to say i didnt pay any of that for mine!! No its not stolen!!!
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