40psi improved ride height & responsiveness

i increased all 4 tires to 40psi (forty). and it's like 2014 c1 is a completely different car now. the steering and suspensionn is extremely responsive. the car sits higher. it even looks better. the ride is more compliant. seriously the ride was harsh and almost jolting when the tires were at 34~32psi. i have the stock EL400 tires. i think the softer tires caused the car to drag and make a delay in its response. now the suspension does its job when it's supposed to, resulting in a much softer ride to me. funny how that works out, huh.

 

hahaha i accept your challenge but measurements will be tomorrow. i was in the rainy Nanawale rainforest next to Lava Tree State Park in Pahoa's Puna district. and i was today prepared to panic in intense torrential rains as my Prius c1 was tire spinning uphill twice in rim deep Hawaiian mud. i kept thinking about all i read here how snow would totally shut down the traction control tire spinning (something like that,, whatevaz). luckily the Lava Goddess Pele sent the car uphill anyway although I nearly slowed to a stop quickly sinking into the mud.

 

ok, with about 2k miles on my stock EL400 Turanza Bridgestone tires, @40psi the tire tread sits visibly more upright like a regular biasply tire would instead of that rolling underneath itself look that radials usually have. perhaps its because the tires are still new.
the tires seem to have more grip when accellerating at 40psi.
AND @40psi the front lip of the rubber spoiler no longer gets crushed underneath the curb like it did before when the tires had a lower pressure. so nice to no longer hear that crunch sound when pulling away after parking. (and yes the spoiler is still there very intact under the front bumper; there's no damage)
I am convinced 40psi is the best pressure and it makes a measurable substantive difference.

 

i will try the 42/40 and let you know. but i am concerned that the max psi on the sidewall was 44. i dont like being so close to the edge.

 

that it doesnt scrape the curb in the front anymore; and that it sits more upright on its tread like a biasply instead on that rollee fat radial look is the way i measured it. and I believe it's pedalling although in a sense it could be peddling,, sorry dont smoke,,, a cold beer sounds good

 

hmm 40/38 ? maybe,,,

 

seriously though, and perhaps i should take it to another thread,,, whatz the story on the spinning tire tractioncontrol shutdown in the mud (and for you mainlanders - in the snow). i refuse to have a car that will put me in a panic by shutting down when i need it to goooooooooo.

 

ok i did it and it said "Maintenance Mode". ohhh i went around the block real slow (Traction Control warning light was on). and the car made a horrible grinding kind of vibration/noise inside so i stoppped although i was only going like 3mph. maybe some oiler or something pump doesnt run in maintenance mode??? if i broke it well thats too bad i guess. dealer here in Hawaii is a sweetheart and supportive if i did break something. i hope probably everthings ok but i think i wont do that again.

 

idk. after 60,000 miles it might i suppose

 

it has been an awesome stable car in torrential rains. i couldnt understand the criticism of the tires i had been reading before this. it is the most stable car in the flooding rain i have ever had. but we also have secondary roads that are muddy. and i remember driving on new cooling lava in Kalapana about a decade ago where my tires on my HD Sportster started smoking it was still so hot. and we do get snow on the Mauna Kea although that is moot since only 4wd is allowed above 9,000ft elev anyway. personally i prefer the 175s the car comes stock with because the car is so light. i dont see how wider tires would get enough grip without more weight. the lucky thing is theres always enought sharp gravel lava on the secondary road for me to get traction so far when i've gone to Puna. and gone are the days when i took my rwd Coupe DeVille Caddy through cane fields and irrigation rivers 4wheelin it, just for fun. but i digress,,,