Tire Pressure Limits Question

I don't know much about tires so here is my question. I know I need to increase my tire pressure, but to what extent can I actually do it. I'm pretty confident the tires aren't the original ones as I picked up the car at 83k miles.

Before I started driving today, my tire pressure was 32 on the right and 34 on the left. Yeah, kind of dumb, I didn't do it. Why right/left not front/back? I don't really know, apparently this is how I got it. So after reading several posts prior to this I'd decided I wanted to do 42f/40r. However on the tire sidewall it states very clearly not to exceed 40psi. 42/40 is not something I'd want to do if that limitation is a true limit. Should I just do 38/36 and keep it within that limit, or is that limit really just a suggestion/legal cover-yer-nice person for the tire manufacturer?

On a side note, While I was looking at the tire pressure, I noticed that the plastic in front of my left front tire is basically chopped off and all these electronics are exposed. Is this something of some pretty serious concern? I'm going to be calling my dealer today anyway and need to know if I should bring this up with them.

 

Cool, I bet the sun exposure to the right side is what did it. It was just so consistent on the right and consistent on the left that I thought it was done that way in a potentially accidentally purposeful way.

My real question though is what does the tire pressure limit actually mean on the tire itself? How hard of a limit is it? I didn't buy these tires, so I don't have a warranty on them or anything, but would it void a warranty on tires if I did have one (because if/when I need to replace them I will be getting a warranty). Does the exceeding the limit mean greatly increased likelihood of a blowout or other tire damage under certain conditions that I'm unaware of? Where does the number come from?

I'm fine with exceeding the number posted on the tire as long as it doesn't mean something I'm unaware of.

 

Thanks guys, I'll take a look at that post link later today xs650.
Hal W, I have no idea if I have LRR type tires. My inclination is to say no I don't. I'm assuming I could find that on the sidewall as well? It will be a long while before I purchase new tires though, these have quite a bit on them yet. I'll do my best to remember that though.

 

Yokohama AVID TOURING-S (Standard Touring All-Season) or Yokohama AVID TRZ (Standard Touring All-Season)

One of these I could further confirm, but no need to. Neither are LRR. I aired up to 40f/38r.

 

BAllanJ, I'm on it. The dealer is ordering the part and is going to patch it up for free since I just got my car Tuesday. Will be fixed next week. Maybe there is a temp fix I can do to protect it in the meantime, but I'm not sure what I could do that would really help. What I guess concerns me the most is that I'm not sure how it happened. I can't tell if it was cut or somehow the tire got jammed up to it and ripped it off with friction (although I would think the damage would be greater if that were the case) But, if the later, then there is something I wasn't told when I was sold this vehicle.

 

Airing up from 32/32 to 40/38 or getting LRR tires? I guess the answer is really both. Is there a discussion on how much the LRR tires will help anywhere?