I have 195/50/15's on EMPI 8's, my type3 kit car weighs in at 1300kg (yes, I've had this checked).
My question is: What tyre pressure should I be running?
The tyres recommended maximum is 51 PSI. I have been running them at 34. When I had new valves fitted, the tyre shop re-inflated them to 39.
Anyone have any idea about this, or is there a formula to calculate what is required?
Thanks,
Mick.
vw54 ·
Ring the Tyre maker for the correct setting n tell them the weight of yr car
68AutoBug ·
Hi,
At a guess I would say 24 PSI front and 32 PSI at the rear
You can lower the front pressure , as on a standard Beetle, radial tyre pressure is between 20-24 PSI front and Rear 28-30 PSI...
I used to run My type 3 Variant squareback at 20 front and 30 rear... for 10 years...
Car makers tyre pressures are rated at Comfortable driving.
so 2-4 PSI extra is usually better for Your tyres.
anyway something to think about.
and tyre shops always put a lot of pressure in them to bead them correctly on the rims..
so they won't leak... they should deflate them to a reasonable pressure...
Tubeless tyres on safety rims.. [olden day terms]
A good tyre shop should read the tyre information sticker on the car [if there is one]
and should tighten the wheel nuts/bolts by hand...
so if You have a flat...
You can undo them by hand.... lol
Lee
sinecure ·
OK, took the great advise (thanks vw54, can't believe I didn't think of this!) and called Bridgestone Australia. The tyre expert there was very helpful, took note of the type of tyre, the cars weight, the rear engine, the driving style and numerous other questions.
ive always gone with the 10psi difference too
when 165/15s are on i go (cold) 18 front 28 back
always fun driving after a front to rear tyre rotation if ive forgotton to change the pressures
certainly a sticky rear end and power steering feel :P
-Joel
oval TOFU ·
I know that the higher pressure in the rear tyres is because of the engine, but (in theory) does higher rear pressures promote oversteer, or is that lower pressure?
68AutoBug ·
I just thought it was a Volkswagen trait....
I have heard of people running high pressure at the front
so maybe that stops some of the oversteer..??
Lee
vw54 ·
OK, took the great advise (thanks vw54, can't believe I didn't think of this!) and called Bridgestone Australia.
Good to see most tyre makers or importers have a Teck dept and its the best place to ring
I was going to suggest 36 for the rear n softer for the front but its better to get the info from the horses mouth so as to say
I usuall run the tyre pressures Lee was suggesting around town but when on a trip pump them up for better economy and less friction
sinecure ·
Thanks again for all the help, the pressures Bridgestone suggested have certainly made the car less twitchy at speed.
toplessbug - My kit is pretty far from a standard type3, it has a full spaceframe chassis welded to the type3 floorpan, and is a two-seater.
Even at the pressures I've been running, all I get is plently of oversteer, the tail happily kicks out. The only time it understeers at all is when pushing hard with an almost empty fuel tank.
So what does a Type3 weigh? Does anyone know where in Brisneyland I can get a centre of gravity check for front/rear weight distribution?
BiX ·
For highway with the super bug i run 35 rear/32 front. for spirited driving i win 37 rear/33 front. for the semi slicks i run 28 rear/24 front but the semi's have 2 steel belts in the side walls.
I normally run the fronts a little higher than i should as i find the traction will hold a little longer than when i rolls at lower pressure, but when it starts to slip it just goes.
68AutoBug ·
I thought all radials were two ply....
two steel belts....
or was that only textile radials which have long disappeared
I remember many people wouldn't use textile radials in the country as with only two ply side walls, sharp stones could rip thru them...
Never heard any more since steel belted radials came on the scene....
Bix
32-33 PSI on the front....
Your car wouldn't even feel like a VW.... lol..
It must be terribly bumpy & rough with those pressures
unless You have very smooth roads....
I think I'd need two seat belts if i had those pressures...
lol:P:P:P
Lee
BiX ·
It is bumpy but the car is a club car really set up for motorsport, not crusing.
I always thought most street tires only have a steel belt in the tread area, not the sidewall, i could be wrong. I know the semi slicks have super supers tiff sidewalls though and the specs mention steel sidewalls, so assumed it was something out of the ordinary to a street tire..,..
sinecure ·
I've gone to 28 on the front and it seems better again, but with 195/50's I don't want to go much lower and risk a concave tread.
bond ·
mate, i thought you would be chasing a little kick from the rear end hehe
as for some of the tyre pressures mentioned, am almost positive in most og manuals youll find very low pressures for stock bugs ie 24 in the front and 26 in the rear. given most of them had a 65 or 70 height i think. lower profiles though, 50s, 55s i thought would require 30+ on all four....