The recommendation on the driver's door label for tire pressure is 38 PSI on my MCS.

I use 205/45/17 tires on a 2008 MCS.

The ride on 38 PSI feels a bit lively and skittish when I drive - like the tires are overinflated. Does everyone here use 38 PSI or do you use some other pressure? On my previous cars, I always used 32 PSI.

Thanks for the advice.

 

I always follow what is on the door sticker. My MCS has two stickers. One with 41 psi and the other showing 38 psi. The 41 sticker says it's for when I have full cargo (ie, 3-4 people w/luggage).

On my other car, I use 29 rear, 32 front, which is what it's sticker shows (it's not a Mini). I've never had any trouble with the tires not wearing evenly when following the door stickers.

 

So what about the numbers in the owner's manual. I think my R56 manual says 36, rather what the door sticker says.

 

Owners manuals aren't printed that often. I would think the door sticker would be more accurate. But really who knows. No way to say for sure unless you worked at the factory and printed it. My car rides fine with 38 to me. So far tire wire is even across the tread.

 

Ooops, my bad. Went down to check and the door agrees with the manual, once I figured out which page. Been trying to run 36 psi and at 20K miles on the Dunlop runflats, we're not down to the wear bars yet. Next big decision is what to replace them with.

 

It is 38 psi for 17" AND 32 psi for 16".

RFT and 38 psi make it a little hoppy over bumps.

 

Attached is the complete tire pressure chart from my `05 S Owner's manual.

Note that 38 lbs. is recommended only if you have four people and their luggage on-board. I run 34f/34r on my 205x50x16 non-RFT, for VERY active hairpin roads. Note that 38 lbs. is recommended only if you have four people and their luggage on-board.

On a 2700 lb. MINI, 38 lbs. certainly going to feel overinflated with just a driver, as it is 3-4 lbs. too high for decent adhesion. The only reason for running that high a pressure on a 17" tire is to keep the rims off the potholes, and the struts from mushrooming the strut-towers, since you don't have enough sidewall to protect them with a full load.

 

That is what I would have thought - but the door label says 38 for 17" tires even when not fully loaded. 90% of the time, it is just me in the car, and it does feel pretty hoppy at 38 PSI. I'm tempted to cut it down some and see how it rides...

BTW: I use non-runflats

 

You said this is from an '05 manual but the OP is talking about an '08. The '08 manual does state 38 psi for regular use.

I have my set at 38, sure the ride is a little stiff but it is what it is, and I will follow the recommended tire pressure for my own piece of mind.

 

The `08 uses the same wheel and tire sizes as 1st-gen. cars, and the `07-`08 are even lighter than 1st gen. MINIs.

If I were MINI, I'd raise the recommended pressures too, to keep the warranty claims down (at the expense of ride and handling).

 

Just wanted to understand what warranty claims are you thinking about? The tires?

Generally, a car manufacturer sets all elements of the suspension holistically (Spring rates, tires, wheel sizes, psi etc) , with multiple parameters going into the equation before they come out with a recommendation. While it is possible to have multiple settings or ranges, it is generally a compromise toward the softer side. However, they may have gone a little more aggressive in the R56.

I talked with several Mini service technicians and their answer seem to vary from 36 to 38 psi, more at 38 psi. So I think I will stick with what the R56 manual and the Mini technicians say.

 

Higher tire pressure would protect the rims from dents, and the strut-tops from bottoming-out (topping-out?), which can cause strut-top "mushrooming" from an impact. Too low a pressure can also result in snake-bit tire damage, where the rims cut both sidewalls at once on a pot-hole.

I think that the original MINI recommendations were on the soft side for Americans, but 38 lbs is definitely going to be skittery on a car as light as ours. I'd try maybe 36 lbs. with 17" tires if I were interested in 17" wheels. Just keep an eye on it, so it doesn't drop a couple of pounds.

Perhaps you could ask Alex at the Tire Rack for a specialist's recommendation.

 

OldRick, Thanks for the good explanation. Looks like pluses and minuses on both sides. I have asked TireRack (not Alex) when I bought my non RFT from them two months ago and they also told me 38 psi. Actually the non RFT is much better and reduces the suspension hopping substantially. Also the turns feel a lot more connected.

I will be tracking the car so I have a tendency to use a little more tire pressure. Do not want the tire to fold in during a turn. I will also ask around at the track to see what others are running.

 

I'm at 39psi cold front and rear...and thats JUST enough. Any less and the tires roll over to far in hard cornering/track. Yes the ride is more harsh, and if I was not doing hard corning I'd drop it down a bit...but that is not the case.

 

i just switched to 15" rims w/ 195/60 r15 and i remember reading here somewhere that at least one person runs in at 39 so that's what i've been running. the max for the tires is 51 so i'm assuming it's ok, and it feels pretty decent

 

Finally, some one else runs it at the recommended psi for a 17". Thanks MZero.

I spoke to someone yestersday who runs autocross. He has 16" non RFTs and runs 35 psi. His tires really looked scrubbed at the fronts (currently rotated to the back). I may do 39-40 psi on the track but I will ask the guys there.

 

Haha...your welcome the way I picked 39psi is I set the tires all to the door specs (38), then after doing some cornering I let the tires tell me what psi they needed. They were scrubbing a little bit beyond "the arrow", I bumped them up a pound and its perfect. Really this is how tires should be set since different tires with different sidewall stiffness and other variables will make this change. There really isn't a one size fits all pressure...just ballparks.

 

Right you are MZero, but consider that pressures suitable for the track are going to be pretty harsh and lose grip on real roads with potholes, tar strips, etc.

Generally, one adds add several pounds for best track performance, because race tracks are far better maintained than usual roads, and you will be driving much harder.

So I guess it would be useful if one identified the intended use when debating appropriate tire pressures...

 

I agree entirely :

 

Since we all have the same auto frame (with various OE and aftermarket suspension configurations) and run anywhere from 175/65R15s to 225R17s (winter to ultra high performance summer) it seems silly to rely on the same sticker to advise us regarding air pressure in this multitude of situations.

i think the sticker pressure is a good starting point - and after that we need to do research or get good advice - or use trial and error (find an empty parking lot near an air pump - with a book for between runs to let the tires cool to "standardize" your "test".

maybe there is a moderator handy to advise us on ranges depending on tire types and sizes, and purpose - handling, comfort, fuel economy, etc. (although probably has been done if we search for it)...

just my two cents...

 

Actually I can use some help. When I picked my car up they ordered the wrong wheels 15" and then upgraded them to 16" with run flats. The low pressure light came on the other day and when I went to fill them the door sticker said 15" 33psi. Does anyone else have 16's with run flats if so what does your door sticker say.
Thanks

 

I have a 2007 MCS that came with 195/55R16 Runflats and Sport Suspension and it says "33" front and back.

Hope that helps.

 

Thanks

 

I don't like driving the car on the street at 32-33 psi. Just feels like there is a sloppiness to the initial turn-ins. So I am staying with 38 psi for street use. MZero I agree with your assessment.

 

started with 39 psi in 17 inch 215 x 45 s.
felt like i was riding on lead doughnuts,
reduced to 35 psi for a rallye and really felt the diff,
much more connected to the road, but not sloppy.
95% i'm in the car alone.
not unflats tho...
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