Tire Pressure does make a difference!

harper42 · 09-04-2006, 09:57 AM

I'd been driving my new Prius, with whatever pressure was in the tires when we took possession of it. In my every day running around, I'd been averaging about 45 mpg. Went on a 600 mile trip and got 50.6 mpg and was quite happy with that. THEN..... I checked the tire pressure. It was only around 34. I upped it to 40/38. With the next 200 miles....... with my every day running here and there, we are getting better than 53 mpg!! I'M A BELIEVER! Tire pressure really does make a difference!

Rangerdavid · 09-04-2006, 10:27 AM

All 4 of my tires were somewhere around 32, I upped them all to 38, and we're averaging 50.1 on this tank around town so far. In the past my tanks have averaged 47.8, so i am getting a slight increase as well.

I think I may pump them up to the 40-38 like you did and see how that goes....

harper42 · 09-04-2006, 10:58 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rangerdavid @ Sep 4 2006, 07:27 AM) [snapback]313953[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

All 4 of my tires were somewhere around 32, I upped them all to 38, and we're averaging 50.1 on this tank around town so far. In the past my tanks have averaged 47.8, so i am getting a slight increase as well.

I think I may pump them up to the 40-38 like you did and see how that goes....
[/b]

I've heard of others going even higher; but I was a little nervous about any more pressure than I gave them. What are the rest of you using?

seasalsa · 09-04-2006, 12:02 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dulcimer @ Sep 4 2006, 07:58 AM) [snapback]313965[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

What are the rest of you using?
[/b]

According to the last poll the majority of us were running 42/40.

Here is the link to the poll.

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=2...e+pressure+poll

Lola'05 · 09-04-2006, 12:07 PM

40/38. And I am happy with the ride, handling and mpg.

**Tideland Prius** · 09-04-2006, 12:32 PM

38/36 at the moment.

Toyota's recommended is 35/33

PriusRos · 09-04-2006, 02:19 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Sep 4 2006, 12:02 PM) [snapback]314000[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

According to the last poll the majority of us were running 42/40.

Here is the link to the poll.

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=2...e+pressure+poll
[/b]

I think that poll is a little extreme, to say the least, and you can't say what the majority of people are running at based on the answers. Except for the Toyota recommended pressure of 35/33, I think the LOWEST choice in the poll was 40 or 42. The highest was over 100 -- but thank goodness, nobody said they were doing that. At least one person said their tires were at 60psi all around.

Rancid13 · 09-04-2006, 02:24 PM

I had my DH check my tires for me a couple weeks ago (hey, I'm over 6 mo. pregnant...I gotta make him do some stuff for me!) and they were previously at 35/33 so I had him 'up' the pressure to 40/38. I had been getting some 'low' mileage tanks at 46-47mpg (which I really had to try for) and since the pressure was increased I've easily been getting 48-50mpg tanks. So I think tire pressure really does make a difference. I may eventually go the PC-recommended pressure route and get them up to 42/40 but I'm happy with the current pressure as is.

jamarimutt · 09-04-2006, 03:33 PM

Yes, higher pressures do make a difference. You will have more rattles and the suspension will wear down sooner.

Other forum members have found no significant difference between the factory recommended pressure and overinflated tires.

mcbrunnhilde · 09-04-2006, 03:42 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jamarimutt @ Sep 4 2006, 12:33 PM) [snapback]314103[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Other forum members have found no significant difference between the factory recommended pressure and overinflated tires.
[/b]

Have you seen the max pressure on the sidewall? It's 44 cold psi. How do you see 42/40 as overinflation?? Let's see...am I going to take a car maker's word for what tire inflation should be, or should I maybe possibly perhaps be guided by what the actual manufacturer of the tire says? Wow, that's a real poser, that one....

Bear in mind that Toyota recommended 35/33 on the Classic Prius, and that was with Bridgestone Potenzas that had a 50 psi rating. I believe that after MANY complaints of premature wear due to underinflation (and replacements of prematurely worn tires) they quietly issued a TSB to their dealers that jacked the "recommended" pressure to something like 42/40.

Still think Toyota has better judgement?

09-04-2006, 02:24 PM	#8
Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Alamitos, Orange County, CA Posts: 2,455 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	I had my DH check my tires for me a couple weeks ago (hey, I'm over 6 mo. pregnant...I gotta make him do some stuff for me!) and they were previously at 35/33 so I had him 'up' the pressure to 40/38. I had been getting some 'low' mileage tanks at 46-47mpg (which I really had to try for) and since the pressure was increased I've easily been getting 48-50mpg tanks. So I think tire pressure really does make a difference. I may eventually go the PC-recommended pressure route and get them up to 42/40 but I'm happy with the current pressure as is. __________________ Jennifer 2006 Black Pkg #8 w/bisque leather "Max" (Prius Maximus)

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09-04-2006, 09:57 AM	#1
harper42 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 165 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I'd been driving my new Prius, with whatever pressure was in the tires when we took possession of it. In my every day running around, I'd been averaging about 45 mpg. Went on a 600 mile trip and got 50.6 mpg and was quite happy with that. THEN..... I checked the tire pressure. It was only around 34. I upped it to 40/38. With the next 200 miles....... with my every day running here and there, we are getting better than 53 mpg!! I'M A BELIEVER! Tire pressure really does make a difference!

09-04-2006, 10:27 AM	#2
Rangerdavid Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Boone, North Carolina Posts: 1,024 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 7	All 4 of my tires were somewhere around 32, I upped them all to 38, and we're averaging 50.1 on this tank around town so far. In the past my tanks have averaged 47.8, so i am getting a slight increase as well. I think I may pump them up to the 40-38 like you did and see how that goes....

09-04-2006, 12:07 PM	#5
Lola'05 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 147 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	40/38. And I am happy with the ride, handling and mpg.

09-04-2006, 12:32 PM	#6
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,397 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	38/36 at the moment. Toyota's recommended is 35/33

09-04-2006, 03:33 PM	#9
jamarimutt Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 972 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yes, higher pressures do make a difference. You will have more rattles and the suspension will wear down sooner. Other forum members have found no significant difference between the factory recommended pressure and overinflated tires.