Just dumped my RF's for a set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus
205/45-17. What a difference!

My question is what should I set the Tire Pressure?

Any views/recommendations appreciated.

 

If you had OEM 17's than run the door sticker psi....... That's what I am doing (33psi for OEM 16's)....... Tell ya what - the free N2 from Discount Tire is great - have yet to see any loss of psi to speak of..... and it's been 8 months since we switched tires.

 

I have Michelin Pilot Sport Exalta PE2's and when I called Michelin to ask about the pressure they suggested 33psi and higher up to the 38psi stated on the door. I like the footprint the tires put down at 35psi so that is what i'm sticking with. 33psi would probably be fine but the roads here in Florida get very hot in the summer so the 35psi will be fine. At 38psi it looks like the tire was only hitting in the center and not flat across.

The way I test the flatness was to wet the end of my driveway and then run up I-95 and back home. Drive slow through the wet onto the dry to leave my tire print. It may not be scientific but it works for me.

The reason I go up to speed is to get the tires up to operating temperature to get a true real life tread flatness reading.

I suggest 33 or 34 or 35psi is the proper range to inflate the tires to. At 38psi they will ride hard and not wear very even.

 

you may observe a ~3 lb change between cold in the morning, and after operating at highway speed

I run 34 cold BTW on the street...

cheers,

Charlie

 

I use 35psi cold and with the natural tire pressure increase they are probably at 38psi running temperature. After running the car and driving through the wet on my driveway they put down a nice even tire print. My car handles excellent and I get almost no tire noise. I can hear them if I really listen but I really have to listen with the radio & air Conditioning blower off. I just rotated them at 5,000 miles and found no sign of uneven wear at all.

If I decide to go with Nitrogen in my tires I will probably go to the 38psi because the tires will run cooler then with just plain air in them. They will not heat up as much for the running temperature with Nitrogen.

The lady I talked to at Michelin said anything from 33psi to 38psi would be safe. She also said to check the pressure at least once a month.

I don't know about other brands of tires but I have always used and liked Michelin's. They are always easy to balance and stick like glue rain or shine.
Other then some of their "WINE" I think these are the only other good thing that comes out of France.

 

Anywhere from 33 to 35 psi cold is just fine for most MINI owners no matter what size tire, which MINI and runflat or not.

Higher psi gives firmer ride and less rolling resistance. Also if air does leak out you have more cushion of air to loose and still be fine.

Good to check every two weeks or so.

Keep pressures same for front and rear is best.

Check wear on outer tread of front tires and rotate if you want- not everyone does. I rotate every 4000 miles.

 

X2 on the Michelins - have them on all my cars and trucks........ But they do have North American plants......

http://www.michelin-us.com/north-america/past/