Tire Pressure from Dealer @ 50 Lbs ????

They screwed up: cars come from the factory with tires at max sidewall pressure, to avoid flat spotting in protracted transit/storage. Dealer is supposed to drop the pressure during Pre-Delivery-Inspection, and you pay big bucks for this. I'd check the temp spare pressure too, if you've got a spare, or maybe your level doesn't?

There's likely a couple of oblong underbody holes that should have gotten rubber plugs at the dealership, if it's like third gen. They put strong point pins in the holes during shipping, to keep the car stable. The dealership is supposed to pop rubber gaskets into those. They're likely near the rear wheel wells, just a bit forward, and inboard of the rocker panels.

Let 'em know on any feedback card you get.

 

Ideal gas law says (520/485) x (33+15) - 15 = 36.6 psig at 60F if filled to 33 psia @25F

(or rule-of-thumb 1 psig per 10 deg F works fine)

 

Well..... You'll get better mpg...

 

I think the TPMS comes on ~25% under design (~25 psig) so presumably you will not set those off.

 

So, after you adjust the tire pressure, you might just want to see if the Tire Pressure Warning Symbol comes on the dash, just to convince yourself that the system is working. But it all depends on where the system was set initially. The proper procedure for any adjustment to tire pressure is to reset the TPMS by pressing and holding the button under the steering wheel until the TPMS light on the dash blinks THREE times. It should be the only button under the steering wheel, but may be difficult to locate. Obviously, the car has to be in READY mode and PARK when you press the TPMS button.

PS: I just realized this is the Gen 4 section, so hopefully my description of the TPMS button is not too far off--what I said is for the Gen 3 cars. Sorry.

 

Wait, had you driven your car before the 50pounds reading, is your gauge accurate, were the tires in the sun, is it an echo, which comes with more the the standard 36pounds, ignore the pressure on the door, toyota airs them to 36 now, but any mechanic "technician" can make a mistake, any time, any where.

 

50 is a good start ... Try going up by 4 psi until the ride gets too harsh or your tire dash lights come on.

In Minnesota

Civic Hybrid: 58 to 60 summer ... 54 winter.
(Tires are lasting over 80k miles - 163k on the odometer I've purchased 6 tires, 7 and 8 will come in October).

Prius v (wife's car) 50 summer 45 winter.

 

Very droll!

 

This is third gen location for the locking pin hole. It's in heavy gauge metal, inboard of the plastic rocker panels with their fasteners. That rear drivers-side wheel in the pic:



If you lower tire pressures yourself, you should reset the tpms threshold, it should be in the Owner's Manual how to do that. There's a button under the dash typically.

 

Ah, the tires were at least four pound high because of road heat, and get an accurate gauge, not a friction device.

 

I've learned to anticipate disappointment from the dealership.

 

Hyper milers run the Psi at max.....

 

But 50 psi with the 17" is for masochists.

 

Yes, and there should be a Pre-Delivery-Inspection checklist or report, every dealer should have each item on the list done one by one.
I would check the list again myself.

 

For the most part air pressure in tires is a personal preference
I have plenty of customers who would love to have their dealership put their tires at 50psi.

Why do you feel the need to lower the pressure?
Other than the number on the gauge, we're you in some way unhappy with the ride or the fuel economy at 50psi?

It is much more dangerous to have then under inflated than over inflated.

The tire manufacturers build in a very large safety margin when putting max sidewall numbers in the tire. Not just a few psi. Think 2x, 3x, 4x, more than your current pressure.

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