[basspaul]

Just put on my winters on 16's and am wondering what pressure to run them at. The 37psi as per the door sticker is way too high.

I'm thinking around 32psi would be appropriate. Anyone has any experience?

 

[Barry]

Are the tires the same width as the originals? If so, I would think they should have the same pressure in order to have the same load bearing characteristics.

 

[llninja]

What do the tires say on the sidewall for max pressure. I would go 2 pounds under max pressure of the tire or what it says on the door, whichever is lower. I got the 2 pounds under max from an old guy who owns a camper shop who knew everything about trucks and campers.

 

[GSP]

I run my factory all-season tires at 50 psi. That is 2 psi less than the sidewall max pressure of 52 psi. I like the improved electric range and better handeling with the higher pressure, and have not seen any issue with uneven tire wear.

GSP

 

[acarney]

This will be my first year with the Volt and winter tires, but my previous cars have all mentioned in the book that when running winter (S+M branded tires) to increase the pressure by about 3 pounds compared to the standard recommended pressures. I think this is done to help keep the more aggressive treads of winter tires expanding apart and expelling water/slush/snow.

 

[Joe67]

Just put on my winters on 16's and am wondering what pressure to run them at. The 37psi as per the door sticker is way too high.

I'm thinking around 32psi would be appropriate. Anyone has any experience?

Once you deviate fromt he OEM tires, the tag on the vehicle is irrelevant. I'd turn to where you bought your winter tires for PSI guidance.

 

[Dr. Manhattan]

Just put on my winters on 16's and am wondering what pressure to run them at. The 37psi as per the door sticker is way too high.

I'm thinking around 32psi would be appropriate. Anyone has any experience?

On what do you base the 37-is-too-high assertion? Somebody spent real time and money determining those pressures...they don't just pull them out of their butts. Unless you're going to much larger tires than stock, I wouldn't go lower with the pressures. Decades ago, "snow tires" worked on a "paddle" priciple, and worked really great...until their second revolution, when their tread was fully packed with snow. Then they would just spin. So, their performance could be marginally improved by running the pressures a bit low. That allowed the tires to flex a bit more, which helped them to eject snow that would otherwise pack into the tread pattern and stick there.

Modern winter tires don't work on that old "paddle" principle...they have thousands of little biting edges right out on the rolling surface of the tire. Added tire flex will not help them perform better. Whatever pressure value that will result in the flattest-possible contact patch will be the optimum pressure, and that is typically the same value as the recommended value on the door jam sticker if the winter tires are the same size as the summer tires. My winter tires are one size narrower, so I raised the pressure a bit to restore their flat contact patch.

 

[Barry]

I thought the Gen 2 had a 36 PSI recommendation, not 37 PSI. I would put no less than 40 PSI cold in them, personally. And 42 or 44 would not be excessive, IMO. And that is not to improve range, but for handling and safety.

 

[Dutch]

Even in the winter, running your tires a little high on pressure is still safer than running them too low.

 

[Dr. Manhattan]

I thought the Gen 2 had a 36 PSI recommendation, not 37 PSI. I would put no less than 40 PSI cold in them, personally. And 42 or 44 would not be excessive, IMO. And that is not to improve range, but for handling and safety.

You're correct. My '17 says 36psi on the sticker.

 

[Steverino]

I thought the Gen 2 had a 36 PSI recommendation, not 37 PSI. I would put no less than 40 PSI cold in them, personally. And 42 or 44 would not be excessive, IMO. And that is not to improve range, but for handling and safety.

I too keep mine in that 40-42 range and top off when they dip below. I never want to be at 36 psi.