Technical Tyre Pressure

[afroking]

never really checked my tyre pressures, just assume the garage does it at mot time. having said that, the car scares me to death going round corners, it feels like its about to come away from the road at any time, and on motorways, at 90/100mph it feels i really have to work to keep the thing away from the amco barriers when there is a bend in the motorway. it all adds to the fun tho, and i am not complaining..............i luv my car!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but in serious accidents involving fatalities; crash investigators have been know to report information regarding tyre pressures, brake condition etc. Although I agree it must be fun theres always a darker side to things...maybe its not worth the risk?

Check up on the net if you are unsure how to inflate your tyres, there are usually very helpful guides floating around.

 

[HP]

never really checked my tyre pressures, just assume the garage does it at mot time. having said that, the car scares me to death going round corners, it feels like its about to come away from the road at any time, and on motorways, at 90/100mph it feels i really have to work to keep the thing away from the amco barriers when there is a bend in the motorway. it all adds to the fun tho, and i am not complaining..............i luv my car!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oil, waters and tyres need to be a weekly routine

A girlfriend complained bitterly when I was doing third lane motorway speeds saying it was dangerous. When I asked, she said she never lifted the bonnet or checked tyres at all between annual services. Turned out she was happy to do 70mph with the two front tyres of her car at 14 psi.

 

[afroking]

Oil, waters and tyres need to be a weekly routine

A girlfriend complained bitterly when I was doing third lane motorway speeds saying it was dangerous. When I asked, she said she never lifted the bonnet or checked tyres at all between annual services. Turned out she was happy to do 70mph with the two front tyres of her car at 14 psi.

I don't mean to be sexist but I have had that experience with a handful of women before.

 

[vicegr]

i tried the inflation that vredestein suggests for my size (2,5 front and 2,3 rear) and the car seems to be lighter. with the 2,4-2,0 i was feeling like the car is glued to the ground.

i tried to find more info and found an article saying that when the load index decreases then the inflation pressure must be increased. if fact it suggests for every 1 point of decreased index to inflate 0,1 bar higher.

Assuming that the OE tyre has a load index of 85 then the new tyre which has 83 must me inflated 0.2 bars on both axles.

then it should be 2,6-2.2 and not 2,5-2,3 that vradestein suggests.

it blows my mind!!!! :bang::bang:

 

[MattB2k]

Split the difference and go for 2,6 - 2,3. I think you are spot on with your description of higher pressures by the way, it does make the car feel lighter. Afroking, last week cycling to work, I was contemplating flyering cars in my neighbourhood whose owners keep the tyres really flat as I'm certain most don't know what it is costing them in fuel and in safety. I'm all for a bit of messing about but there is no excuse for stupidly low tyre pressures. Tescos near me always have free air and 99 octane gas, it's often the only run my car gets on a weekend.

 

[bumble]

Afroking and Matt are right about the need to maintain your tyre pressures. In a former life, I was a Police Officer and Authorised Vehicle Examiner. We would always check tyre pressures post RTA and always stop vehicles with noticeably under-inflated tyres. Despite many drivers claiming to have checked their tyre pressures 'just last week', many could not tell you the correct tyre pressures for their vehicles. 1 bar is approx 14.5 PSI and my B has 34 PSI in the front and 32 PSI in the rear. If you are really particular about tyre pressures, avoid relying on the gauges at your local garage as these can be inaccurate.

Steve

 

[Abarth barchetta]

Afroking and Matt are right about the need to maintain your tyre pressures. If you are really particular about tyre pressures, avoid relying on the gauges at your local garage as these can be inaccurate.

Steve

In defence to local garages, I manage an Esso and can reliably inform you that the digital style air machines work to a tolerance of +/-1 PSI, and are serviced on a fairly regular basis, good enough for the majority of users.

 

[bumble]

Thats a fair point Andy and, in defence of my local Morrisons, where I check my tyres, their airline is accurate too. However, as far as I am aware, there is still no regulation to enforce calibration of airlines and recently a survey by the AA (I think) found 40% to be inaccurate. I was just making the point that, if members are discussing altering their tyre pressures by just a couple of PSI or so, they shouldn't rely on their local garage. An other factor, often overlooked, is that manufacturers tyre pressures are supposed to be checked when the tyre is cold.

Steve

 

[G17VLR]

Either I drive like an old lady, possible, or UK roads are pants because in 3 and a half years of ownership I never got my Barcehtta to slide. Before I put the Eibachs/Bilsteins on I often spun up the front wheels making a hasty get away pulling out into traffic or after a bank job etc.

I would have thought you'd need some lift off over-steer to get the back out on a round-a-bout but I never got into that situation. I have entered corners much faster than planned, by accident, but the car always exceeded my expectations in terms of grip, I just settled her and there was perhaps a hint of under-steer.

So, my end of term report is "must try harder"

PS. I checked my tyre pressures weekly so this might have helped.

Morning Matt. I am looking to install Eibach 30mm lowering and Bilstein B8s on my B. I assume it improves ride and more dialled in on open roads? I run Nankang NS2-R semi slick with 205 50 15 and I have never had any issues and car is planted. Never use in the wet though lol. Car sits better with the slightly wider tyres and generally feels how the B should.