allaxton1959
New member
What would be the best pressure to have my tyres while motorway driving please?....Fiat 500X 16 plate...
General Tyre pressures motorway
- Thread starter allaxton1959
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General Tyre pressures motorway
According to my manual, the regular (speed and load) pressure is 2.4 bar (35 PSI).
For extended motorway use you should use the pressure for a "loaded" car, which is 2.6 bar (38 PSI).
The tyres can run at up to 3.0 bar (45 PSI) so it you're fully loaded, with 5 people on board and a roof-box etc. and you like cruising at 90mph, then use 3.0 PSI.
Ralf S.
For extended motorway use you should use the pressure for a "loaded" car, which is 2.6 bar (38 PSI).
The tyres can run at up to 3.0 bar (45 PSI) so it you're fully loaded, with 5 people on board and a roof-box etc. and you like cruising at 90mph, then use 3.0 PSI.
Ralf S.
allaxton1959
New member
Thank you...
From a more general perspective
There are several general aspects on this. The crucial point is that tyre pressure changes the overall contact surface area and the sidewall stiffness. From this follows:
1. General Motoring - Normal Loads
Recommended Pressure = All round - good fuel efficiency (rolling resistance) - stability (straight line/track deviation) - handling/cornering in wet and dry conditions - good braking distance - even tyre wear
Higher Pressure = Better fuel efficiency (lower rolling resistance) - lower stability (straight line/track deviation) - better handling/cornering in dry conditions - lower handling/cornering in wet conditions - reduced braking distance - increased central tyre wear
Lower Pressure = Lower fuel efficiency (higher rolling resistance) - better stability (straight line/track deviation) - lower handling/cornering in dry conditions - better handling/cornering in wet conditions - increased outer tyre wear
Going too high or too low on pressure has adverse and potentially unsafe effects
2. Motor Sport - Track and Off Road
Here competitors adjust and take their tyres pressures to further extremes. Basically if dry pressures go up. If wet pressures go low. Both moderated by temperature. The trick they have to master for any given tyre, temperature, weather and track/surface conditions is to get optimum for their cars suspension, tyre size, etc. etc.
There are several general aspects on this. The crucial point is that tyre pressure changes the overall contact surface area and the sidewall stiffness. From this follows:
1. General Motoring - Normal Loads
Recommended Pressure = All round - good fuel efficiency (rolling resistance) - stability (straight line/track deviation) - handling/cornering in wet and dry conditions - good braking distance - even tyre wear
Higher Pressure = Better fuel efficiency (lower rolling resistance) - lower stability (straight line/track deviation) - better handling/cornering in dry conditions - lower handling/cornering in wet conditions - reduced braking distance - increased central tyre wear
Lower Pressure = Lower fuel efficiency (higher rolling resistance) - better stability (straight line/track deviation) - lower handling/cornering in dry conditions - better handling/cornering in wet conditions - increased outer tyre wear
Going too high or too low on pressure has adverse and potentially unsafe effects
2. Motor Sport - Track and Off Road
Here competitors adjust and take their tyres pressures to further extremes. Basically if dry pressures go up. If wet pressures go low. Both moderated by temperature. The trick they have to master for any given tyre, temperature, weather and track/surface conditions is to get optimum for their cars suspension, tyre size, etc. etc.
