best tire pressure

Hi, seeking opinion on the best pressure for comfortable ride, not necessarily mileage, while maintaining good adhesion, control, etc? Thanks

If on stock sized tires, follow the sticker in the door jamb.

I found that on our 96 RMW, the stock pressures on stock tires of 30 front, and 35 rear, were not what was good for handling, particularly understeer was really bad. Added a rear sway bar that helped and nearly reversed the tire pressures. Currently running 30 rear 32 front and that certainly also helps reduce the understeer and wandering. The only reason the rears are that high on the sticker is because they need it for load capacity if full or people and stuff to max allowable.

I should mention that I ran 35 front and rear when on 15s.

jayoldschool wrote:

I should mention that I ran 35 front and rear when on 15s.  

Stock tires on 15" were 225-75-15 and had good load capacity so unless you have reduced load rating on the tires by going lower aspect or such, the factory sticker, at least in 96, was 30 front and 35 rear. The rear weighs less than the front by quite a bit so no need to be high in back unless carrying big cargo of occupants.

Just set them at 30 and 30 if you have the capacity of stock tires and see how you like it. You may find it handles better with a bit more front pressure, or you may not, as everyone has different "likes" in handling. It certainly will ride better.

Not all stock 15s were 225 75 15s on wagons...

Also, on wagons, the weight distribution is a lot closer to 50/50 than you'd think...

35 all around on 15s gives good mileage, good handling, good ride, good wear, and good cargo capacity. From around 500 000km experience driving on them.

My understanding was that the wagons had 225-75-15 tires and sedans had 235-70-15 tires. Impala SS used 17" wheels, at least on the 94-96 Buicks.

The 225s have about 1000# more capacity per tire and higher aspect ratio so make sense on a heavy wagon.

I always follow the sticker on my car door to ensure the air pressure is enough and won't exceed.