Dealer's tire inflation rate

m2dougherty · 07-21-2008, 05:52 PM

I just had my first oil change and tire rotation at Atlantic Toyots in Lynn, MA. The service major said that in spite of the inflation rate listed on the door of my car, 35/33 they always do 32 on all tires.

I have a compressor at home and intend to check the rate and restore the original rate of 35/33.

I'd like to e-mail Toyota about it but could not find an e-mail addy for them.

What do you think?

richard schumacher · 07-21-2008, 07:46 PM

Call Toyota USA's 800 number.

m2dougherty · 07-21-2008, 08:51 PM

I will call tomorrow. I went out when the rain stopped to check my tires.

They rotated then without touching the air in them so the back tires were still 35 from having been on the front and the front were at 33 from having been on the back.

I corrected them as we have a compressor in our garage.

Patrick Wong · 07-21-2008, 09:15 PM

Although 35/33 psi is the Toyota spec, many Prius owners (including me) have found that 42/40 psi works well to promote even tire tread wear, and as a secondary benefit slightly improve mpg.

At 35/33 psi you are likely to find that the shoulders of your tires will wear rapidly.

Bob64 · 07-21-2008, 09:33 PM

Looks like you found a dealer that incidently also gets tons of business in the form of tire changes... specifically with bald edges but nearly perfect centers...

apcpa2000 · 07-21-2008, 09:44 PM

I just had my 5k service, and the dealer reset all my tire from 39/37 to 32 all around. Seemed weird. Plus they give you free tires for life. I promptly re-inflated them the next day.

dwreed3rd · 07-21-2008, 09:53 PM

Dealer should set tire psi to whatever you stipulate as long as it's within the Min-Max psi rating on the tires. You are the customer. If that's their concept of customer satisfaction, perhaps it's time to find another dealer or service shop. If they have this attitude regarding tire psi, do you trust them to not overfill your oil?

a priori · 07-21-2008, 11:54 PM

I've now had three oil change/tire rotation events at my dealer, and each one has resulted in something new in terms of the tire inflation. After the first, they adjusted to 35/33. After the second, they dropped my pressure from 44/42 to 42/40. After the third (this past week), they dropped the pressure a bit, but left me at 38/39 -- very weird.

It doesn't bother me much, because I check the pressure as soon as I get home and have let the car sit. I plan to inflate to near max at the first possible moment anyway.

m2dougherty · 07-22-2008, 07:51 AM

I received an e-mail from the service manager asking about my satisfaction with my repairs.
I asked about the policy of setting the tires to 32 which they did not do in any case.

I don't think they give out free tires.

I will call Toyota today.

I have been thinking about increasing my tire pressure but my husband is not comfortable with the idea.

Patrick Wong · 07-22-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m2dougherty

...I have been thinking about increasing my tire pressure but my husband is not comfortable with the idea.

No worries. However I predict that after you log 15K miles on your tires, you will see that the shoulders are quite worn compared to the inside of the tread, even if you rotate tires at 5K mile intervals.

07-21-2008, 05:52 PM	#1
m2dougherty Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: nahant,ma Posts: 6 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Dealer's tire inflation rate I just had my first oil change and tire rotation at Atlantic Toyots in Lynn, MA. The service major said that in spite of the inflation rate listed on the door of my car, 35/33 they always do 32 on all tires. I have a compressor at home and intend to check the rate and restore the original rate of 35/33. I'd like to e-mail Toyota about it but could not find an e-mail addy for them. What do you think?

07-21-2008, 07:46 PM	#2
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,476 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 93 Thanked 87 Times in 64 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Dealer's tire inflation rate Call Toyota USA's 800 number.

07-21-2008, 08:51 PM	#3
m2dougherty Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: nahant,ma Posts: 6 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Dealer's tire inflation rate I will call tomorrow. I went out when the rain stopped to check my tires. They rotated then without touching the air in them so the back tires were still 35 from having been on the front and the front were at 33 from having been on the back. I corrected them as we have a compressor in our garage.

07-21-2008, 09:15 PM	#4
Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Green Valley, AZ Posts: 3,989 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #9 Thanks: 21 Thanked 199 Times in 174 Posts Friends: 44	Re: Dealer's tire inflation rate Although 35/33 psi is the Toyota spec, many Prius owners (including me) have found that 42/40 psi works well to promote even tire tread wear, and as a secondary benefit slightly improve mpg. At 35/33 psi you are likely to find that the shoulders of your tires will wear rapidly.

07-21-2008, 09:33 PM	#5
Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,115 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: N/A Package: #2 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Dealer's tire inflation rate Looks like you found a dealer that incidently also gets tons of business in the form of tire changes... specifically with bald edges but nearly perfect centers...

07-21-2008, 09:44 PM	#6
apcpa2000 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 32 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Dealer's tire inflation rate I just had my 5k service, and the dealer reset all my tire from 39/37 to 32 all around. Seemed weird. Plus they give you free tires for life. I promptly re-inflated them the next day.

07-21-2008, 09:53 PM	#7
dwreed3rd Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Marietta, Ga Posts: 742 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #3 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Friends: 1	Re: Dealer's tire inflation rate Dealer should set tire psi to whatever you stipulate as long as it's within the Min-Max psi rating on the tires. You are the customer. If that's their concept of customer satisfaction, perhaps it's time to find another dealer or service shop. If they have this attitude regarding tire psi, do you trust them to not overfill your oil?

07-21-2008, 11:54 PM	#8
a priori Canonus Curiosus Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicagoland (West) Posts: 2,663 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 150 Thanked 294 Times in 180 Posts Friends: 18	Re: Dealer's tire inflation rate I've now had three oil change/tire rotation events at my dealer, and each one has resulted in something new in terms of the tire inflation. After the first, they adjusted to 35/33. After the second, they dropped my pressure from 44/42 to 42/40. After the third (this past week), they dropped the pressure a bit, but left me at 38/39 -- very weird. It doesn't bother me much, because I check the pressure as soon as I get home and have let the car sit. I plan to inflate to near max at the first possible moment anyway. __________________ Previous Prius: 2007 Silver Pine Mica Pkg #6. 29,492 miles. Lifetime: 52.2 MPG; Last Rolling 12 Months: 53.4 MPG Current Car: 2010 Blue Ribbon Metallic Prius V w/ AT Pkg. (from 5/25/09) Lifetime City Mileage: . . . . . . . 57.7 MPG Lifetime Highway Mileage: . . .56.8 MPG Lifetime Combined Mileage:. .57.1 MPG @ 8,242 miles Best Trip Odo: (778.7 mi at 20 mph): 60.6 MPG & (390.0mi at 47 mph): 64.5 MPG

07-22-2008, 07:51 AM	#9
m2dougherty Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: nahant,ma Posts: 6 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Dealer's tire inflation rate I received an e-mail from the service manager asking about my satisfaction with my repairs. I asked about the policy of setting the tires to 32 which they did not do in any case. I don't think they give out free tires. I will call Toyota today. I have been thinking about increasing my tire pressure but my husband is not comfortable with the idea. Last edited by m2dougherty; 07-22-2008 at 07:51 AM. Reason: spelling

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