What tire pressure should I have?

[Filip75]

Moderators: I posted this in Tires & Wheels, but I guess not so many people look there. Let me please get my answer, and I'll delete the thread, or you can do it, if you want to. This is a repost.

Hey guys,

I have Continental (I believe they're stock tires) 205/50R17

I've got 2 questions:

1. What is the optimal Tire pressure for them?
2. Are these tires any good? Any feedback on longevity of them would be appreciated.

On the tire it just says, that max PSI is 50 (or smth like that). I keep them at 35PSI. Is that too low?

[1995red318i]

Originally posted by filip75
Moderators: I posted this in Tires & Wheels, but I guess not so many people look there. Let me please get my answer, and I'll delete the thread, or you can do it, if you want to. This is a repost.

Hey guys,

I have Continental (I believe they're stock tires) 205/50R17

I've got 2 questions:

1. What is the optimal Tire pressure for them?
2. Are these tires any good? Any feedback on longevity of them would be appreciated.

On the tire it just says, that max PSI is 50 (or smth like that). I keep them at 35PSI. Is that too low?
205/50...
man that's a skinny tire for 17" rims. didn't you want some more beef on them? my stock tires were 195s...i could feel the ground sliding out under me when i took sharp turns. you might want to look into a fatter tire..its a lot more fun:)

anyways, i would say 35 is too low for those. i would go closer to 45. you get better life out of a better inflated tire, and they are more comfortable too.
mine i believe say about 42 psi...i think i keep mine around 38 or so.

[BMW325i]

I've got 225/45/17 and I was told to keep mine at 40 all around.

Haven't heard much about continental tires. Go to tirerack and look at some of the reviews on the tires.

Jeffrey

[Filip75]

Originally posted by 1995red318i

205/50...
man that's a skinny tire for 17" rims. didn't you want some more beef on them? my stock tires were 195s...i could feel the ground sliding out under me when i took sharp turns. you might want to look into a fatter tire..its a lot more fun:)

anyways, i would say 35 is too low for those. i would go closer to 45. you get better life out of a better inflated tire, and they are more comfortable too.
mine i believe say about 42 psi...i think i keep mine around 38 or so.
These are the stock tires, that came with the wheels off of a 330 (I believe). There's a lot of tread left, so I'l wait to upgrade. I just looked them up (come to find out, it's the stock tire even for new M3s). Some people like them, some don't.

And on TireRack it says, that the max PSI is 44.

[1995red318i]

Originally posted by filip75

These are the stock tires, that came with the wheels off of a 330 (I believe). There's a lot of tread left, so I'l wait to upgrade. I just looked them up (come to find out, it's the stock tire even for new M3s). Some people like them, some don't.

And on TireRack it says, that the max PSI is 44.
continental is the stock tire company for most bmws i believe, its not the company i was talking about though.

i was talking about your tire size. its difficult to believe that stock tire size was 205 though on a 330. my moms 330cic is 225 up front, 235 in the rear.
my gf's mom's 99 m3 is 245 in the rear, 225 up front.

i just don't see bmw using a 205 tire width for 17s. that's pretty skinny.
wierd.

[Arbeitstier]

DId you look in the back of the car manual? Mine had several different tires listed and recommended pressure. I have several more pounds in the rear than front.

[Filip75]

Well, I've got a 318ti, so my Owners Manual lists only 15s and 16s. It doesn't even have an option for 17s (since I bought my wheels from another board member a couple of months ago. He gave them to mee almost brand new, since he upgraded to 18s or 19s right after the car purchase)

[332 RustBucket]

go with 34 PSI

[332 RustBucket]

Plus 2-4 for the track;)

[Filip75]

I re-checked on the tire today, and says Max Inflation 51PSI.

So I put 44 all the way around. Is that ok? How close should (shouldn't) I get to the MAX?

[Jim O.]

My guess is that 44 is kind of high for normal street driving. But, there's no way to really tell unless you chalk the sidewall or use a pyrometer. I'd probably set it around 35-38, and just leave it there.

Jim

[Filip75]

I guess I'll drive like that for a couple of days, and then deflate them a bit and see what the diference would be