Do you inflate front tires more than rear?

[E.T.]

Just wondering if that helps a bit with traction? I'm running my fronts at 36 psi and the rears at 35 psi. Not sure if that really helps anything or not?

That 1 PSI is not going to make a difference IMO.

[k818mn1]

Lowering tire pressure only increases traction by increasing the contact patch area. The pressure would need to be lowered a lot more than 1psi to achieve that., and even if you did that it would have undesirable effects on handling due to the increased flexing of the sidewall in corners.
The best way to increase traction is to fit tires with a softer compound.

[Gotthat02fire]

Originally Posted by k818mn1

Lowering tire pressure only increases traction by increasing the contact patch area. The pressure would need to be lowered a lot more than 1psi to achieve that., and even if you did that it would have undesirable effects on handling due to the increased flexing of the sidewall in corners.
The best way to increase traction is to fit tires with a softer compound.

Or put a much larger tire on or should I say wider!

[E.T.]

So basically just leave them all at the same pressure? I'm already about as wide as I can go, without doing some crazy track setup. Supposedly, 305 in the Michelin PSS is about as wide as some 315s. I just want the most traction I can get on the streets.

[Superfly1]

Run them all the same pressure on the street. I drop my rears to 29-30psi when I am at the track.

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by E.T.

Just wondering if that helps a bit with traction? I'm running my fronts at 36 psi and the rears at 35 psi. Not sure if that really helps anything or not?

In general, a slightly higher front tire pressure than the sticker number will help your car's cornering and make it feel more responsive to the steering wheel. A slightly lower rear tire pressure can also make the car feel a little happier about turning corners. The higher front tire pressure will improve steering response and reduce tire distortion slightly (reducing front tire slip angle - as long as you don't overdo this), while the lower rear tire pressure will make the rear tires run at a slightly higher slip angle. Less front tire slip angle and more rear tire slip angle is the very definition of less understeer.

The lower rear tire pressure tends to improve rear tire mechanical grip, which gives you a little extra cushion against oversteer from a slightly too heavy right foot as you exit a corner.

I don't think I have ever run front and rear tires on any car at the same pressure no matter what kind of car it was, nor do I think I ever would. That's part of the factory's recipe for the OE amount of understeer. I typically run the front tires 2 or 3 psi higher than sticker, with the rear tires being 1 to maybe as much as 3 under (you can justify running the rears slightly under if you rarely have adult rear seat passengers, and only for short distances when you do). This *may* be enough to notice in purely straight lines.


Norm

[E.T.]

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

In general, a slightly higher front tire pressure than the sticker number will help your car's cornering and make it feel more responsive to the steering wheel. A slightly lower rear tire pressure can also make the car feel a little happier about turning corners. The higher front tire pressure will improve steering response and reduce tire distortion slightly (reducing front tire slip angle - as long as you don't overdo this), while the lower rear tire pressure will make the rear tires run at a slightly higher slip angle. Less front tire slip angle and more rear tire slip angle is the very definition of less understeer.

The lower rear tire pressure tends to improve rear tire mechanical grip, which gives you a little extra cushion against oversteer from a slightly too heavy right foot as you exit a corner.

I don't think I have ever run front and rear tires on any car at the same pressure no matter what kind of car it was, nor do I think I ever would. That's part of the factory's recipe for the OE amount of understeer. I typically run the front tires 2 or 3 psi higher than sticker, with the rear tires being 1 to maybe as much as 3 under (you can justify running the rears slightly under if you rarely have adult rear seat passengers, and only for short distances when you do). This *may* be enough to notice in purely straight lines.


Norm

Thanks. I pretty much never have passengers in the rear seat. Would running the rears 2-3 psi lower have any detrimental effects? Maybe lower gas mileage? Not that it would matter that much, I'm lucky if I get 12 mpg now, lol.

[Norm Peterson]

For that loading condition, the only thing I can think of is that a sudden drop in temperature would be more apt to throw a TPMS warning and if you're not in the habit of periodically checking tire pressure with a gauge the TPMS lamp will light up sooner. Load capacity-wise it looks OK. On 9" wide rims, you might want to keep an eye on outside shoulder wear if you do much had cornering and air them back up a little if you notice this.

Norm

[E.T.]

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

For that loading condition, the only thing I can think of is that a sudden drop in temperature would be more apt to throw a TPMS warning and if you're not in the habit of periodically checking tire pressure with a gauge the TPMS lamp will light up sooner. Load capacity-wise it looks OK. On 9" wide rims, you might want to keep an eye on outside shoulder wear if you do much had cornering and air them back up a little if you notice this.

Norm

Cool. I'm running 10" rims up front and 11" in back.