Anyone at the Detroit show note the OE tire manufacturer and if the recommended pressures are still 35F/33R psi? Also did anyone engage the Chief Engineer on the merits advocated by many on PC of the higher values many use?
Sticker inside the door still listed 35/33 on the 15" and I believe even less on the 17" package. Doug Coleman did acknowledge our need to "over inflate". The tires shown on the Prius we saw are not necessarily the final tire, and we were specifically told that at the event.
Ron, You probably missed it, but ken1784 answered your questions posed on another thread regarding the recommended psi and the tires we saw in Detroit:
He certainly did acknowledge our discussions and interest in tire pressure, though I remember that his words were more along the lines of "properly inflate."
I'm sure he would be aware of the liability issues if he had given any indication of condoning my running 50-48 in my tires.
The wear pattern seen on cars that have used Toyota's stated inflation pressures - worn on the shoulders of the tyre, tread left in the centre - is consistent with under-inflation. To me, that says that the stated pressures are flat-out wrong. My car's sticker states 35/33 for 'regular' driving, 38/36 for 'highway' driving. I generally run 42/40. If the car, for ride comfort, needs pressures that are too low, the suspension is too stiff. F1 cars may rely on sidewall flex for much of their suspension travel, but this is a road car.
40/38 for the non-OEM's, the handling was to scary around corners otherwise. Integrity tires felt fine at 42/40 and that's where the new car will start.
By running the 42/40 posted on PC I obtained 42k mi on my OEM tires. I am now on Michelin Hydroedge (90k) tires with no drop in mpg.
Thanks for all the comments everyone. Given what appears to be the plusher seating provided in the G3 Prius it would seem that higher tire pressures would be more tolerable from a ride-comfort standpoint. I run my 2008 Prius at 42F/40R, as do many others I believe. The ride is firm, but that is the way I like it. Not nearly as firm as the MG-TC I drove in my youth, but that was in a class of its own!
Proffered Edit: I'm sure he would have been advised by Toyota legal counsel be aware of the potential that he could increase liability issues on the part of Toyota if he had given any indication of condoning my the practice of running 50-48 in my ones tires. :washing:
