GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Just out of curiosity, what pressure do you have your tires set at? I checked mine after I read about that pre-delivery checklist that someone had posted and sure enough....mine where still set at 41 PSI. I reduced the pressure to 32 as the sticker inside the glove box said, but I may bump it back up a bit. I like the feel of a bit more pressure....maybe 34 or 36. What do you guys think?Jim

Use the search feature on this too. Better grab another cup of coffee before you sit back down. There was a good bit of chat on this a while back.

I was always told to look at the sidewalls and the rims' rating. Go with the one that is lower. The label should give the rims' rating. The factory usually chooses tires and rims that require the same inflation.

Your sidewalls say the MAX pressure you can put in the tire to avoid problem. The owner manual say the exact pressure you car need to run properly.

Salsa!, you beat me by 1 min!!!!!!!

I also have my tire pressure at recommended 32 psi. It rides a lot better than when they were at the 41 psi I initially inflated them to.

One thing I did notice was that my MPG went down a bit. Now.....whether or not this is due me lowering the PSI in my tires or the porblem I have with a vaccum line (see my thread in engines) I am not sure. I went from 31.5/32.5 down to just over 30. I know....not a lot but still. I will see how it goes at a hair over 32.Jim

quote:One thing I did notice was that my MPG went down a bit. Now.....whether or not this is due me lowering the PSI in my tires or the porblem I have with a vaccum line (see my thread in engines) I am not sure. I went from 31.5/32.5 down to just over 30. I know....not a lot but still. I will see how it goes at a hair over 32.JimHigher tire pressure reduces the amount of tire on the ground, increasing gas mileage. Lower pressure increase rubber contact which reduces gas mileage.Those with AWD, check Pontiac's recommendations because as I remember they are different for the front and rear.

When I got my Vibe I checked the pressure when I got home and my tires were at 38 psi each. I lowered them each to 36 psi, is it ok to leave it at that pressure or should I lower them to 32 psi?

quote:Ahhh, so that is what that number is. That is what I thought and the service guy told me it was 41. So I second guess myself. 32 psi for all tires is what I thought also, for all tires, except for heavy duty commercial trucks and such. Thanks Errrr.., do you mean you think 32 is right for all, silverawd26, or that you now realize it is not? In case it's the former: No, all tires should not be at 32! 30 to 32 is a common spec, but you should ALWAYS check the sticker on the door, door frame or glove box of the vehicle. Each brand, model, etc. has it's own specification, sometimes depending on which optional tires are fitted. The only time you should go lower is maybe if you're stuck in soft sand, just long enough to get out and going high (but no more than the sidewall listed max) might help mileage a little bit, and sharpen up turning response some, but usually with a loss of ride quality and some risk of irregular wear. BTW, has anyone seen how the factories install and air tires? It is all automated as you might expect, but inflation is done by a ring of high pressure nozzles that blast the air in between the sidewall and the rim. When the air cuts off, the bead snaps onto its seat and bingo: full of air, without the valve cap every being off! (As mentioned in other threads, they usually target ~ 40 psi or so to minimize sway and bounce on the rail cars and transporter trucks.)

i change mine depending on the circumstances.....i use it higher if im whizzing around tight corners in town....otherwise they tend to squeal more easily.....if i have a full load....two bikes on the roof, crap in the back and four people in the car then i go 36-38. if i want a nice soft ride for a long boring trip then i go back down to 32. i run 25-29 in the snow....helps big time.....someone said that about sand too....i used to go off-roading in my old jeep w/ my local jeep club and we would all run as low as 8psi on the trails for max traction. you have to see a huge jeep tire just fold over and wrap itself around a rock to cling for every last bit of traction....its amazing, really!-PHIL

All WHeel Drives use different pressure in the front and rear tires.