Tire pressure

[mitch2k]

Hey folks,

maybe a dumb question, but what pressure should I set on my tires?

I've placed wheels from an 7 series E32 on my car. On the tires there is "max 44PSI". I've putted 43PSI on it, and it feels like the car kinda drives unconfortable hard.

I guess that 43PSI is arround 4BAR. In the door of the car is stated that I gotta use 2.4BAR.

How many PSI I gotta use?

I know, noob question

[pingu]

It's about 15psi to 1 bar (1 bar = 1 atmosphere of pressure). So 2.4 bar is about 36psi.

[BillionPa]

i use 38psi, considering i corner a bit harder than i should.

[calmloki]

And I use 42f/40r on my touring, figuring it's about 1/2 maxed out on loading.
I am aware that the factory suggests higher pressures to the rear, suspect that is designed to enhance understeer.
Tom

[632 Regal]

32 in front and 36 in the rear as long as im not towing a full trunk thats about the best i found.

[mitch2k]

Does the pressure depents on the size or type of tire?

I have 225/60 R15 96V tires. Can I just follow Regals suggestion?

[Russell]

Look at your door jam sticker. It should several pressure recomendations for light or heavy load. I believe your manual also states tire pressures for all e34 OE tire sizes.

[ThoreauHD]

For regular road travel, I'm doing 35 in the front and 36/37 in the rear. Yea, you don't want to break 40. Makes it into a rock. And since tires are part of the suspension system, it would defeat the purpose. Every person does it slightly differently(mostly around 32-37) but rarely is it a good idea to go above 40.

[Qsilver7]

Hey folks... On the tires there is "max 44PSI". I've putted 43PSI on it, and it feels like the car kinda drives unconfortable hard. I know, noob question

The MAX tire pressure located on the tire's sidewall...is just that...the maxumum amount of air pressure that the tire's manufacture suggest you NOT go over...it is NOT what you should run unless it is the same number suggested by the car's manufacturer.

The suggested tire pressure that you should use is what the CAR's manufacturer suggest or recommends...and that is the figure you see listed on your car's door jamb or in the owner's manual.

You only say that your wheels came off an e32...but you don't indicate what size they are...are they still 15" wheels or are they something larger? On my 95 525iT...the door jamb gives an alternate 17 wheel/tire size...and the tire pressure remains the same for both size wheel/tires.


Also, if you are not in North America...BMW suggests a different tire pressure than what's been given here in the forum...I'm not sure if thats because Europe has better roads or what...so some of the suggested tire pressures are from Yanks, and may be too high of a recommendation compared to what they run elsewhere.

(Bar figures are listed on top and PSI figures are in parenthesis)

[Russell]

That is an informative post! As usual great job.