sammydragon3

my mechanic told me to get continental dws tires. great tires.
but after reading up on them on this forum u have to play with the tire pressure to find the best results. im running on 46 psi all around cause thats what my alignment guy told me since their low profile?

my research on here is that if u leave the air pressure on factory settings they flat spot or the edges wear more

has anyone found the optimum air pressure for tire wear and performance?

i still have the chance to get rid of these tires completely because the tire place gave me a full refund so im going to get new tires elsewear then i gotta bring the old tires to get my refund

thank you

phister

I run around 38 psi and do the same in my gf IS250 both with dws and have not had flat spots or worn edges. Our factory pressure is pretty if you look at the info on the ledge of your driver door. Think it's like 28psi rear and 33 psi in front. This is to optimize better handling. I usually do the normal 35-40psi normally and go up to 45psi on long trips.

sammydragon3

thanks ill try 38 psi...does more air pressure make the car faster or is that just me?

ncmudbug

No, it won't make the car faster! It's just you!

It should handle a little better and run a little cooler because there should be less tread squirm and sidewall compliance, though I suspect that it was more important with older tires with higher series tires. Of course, there maybe something else going on that I'm not aware of. I recently started using more air in my tires and it is a little firmer, but not bad. I can't say I drive hard enough to notice if the handling is noticeably better.

phister

Higher psi gives less rolling resistant so you get better mpg. Actually too high psi lessens handling. That's why you see guys always checking pressure on the track.

ncmudbug

You're right about rolling resistance - I forgot about that. It used to be that there was little or no extension of the center of the tire under high pressure. I knew people who ran 50 psi when road racing but that was when sidewalls were much taller in comparison to the width of the tire. I don't have any trouble believing that is no longer the situation with the very short sidewalls and wide tires and too much pressure would cause reduced contact patch with the car running on the center of the tire. Tires have sure changed since the sporty tires had 70 aspect ratio! I guess I'm showing my age again!

phister

Or if you really want good mpg use nitrogen to fill the tires.

RLE

Since the air we breathe is 97% nitrogen remind me why I should do this.

phister

Actually to correct you its 78% nitrogen.

Nitrogen is less likely to migrate through the rubber in the tires so tire pressure remains more stable over long periods. Also nitrogen exhibit less pressure change when temperature changes.

Since the rest of air is oxygen, CO2, and water vapor and other gases. Since there might be some water in the tire it will cause more pressure change during temperature swings and water will also cause corrosion to the wheel.

johnand

I run my DWS's at 34 front and 32 rear. This gives nearly perfect even wear. The fronts still have over 7/32's left, but the rears are at 3/32's, so they are almost worn out. But, they are worn ever so slightly more in the center than the shoulders. Which frankly, is how you want it.

Our recommended pressures are 28psi front 32 psi rear. If running in at high speeds it recommends add 4 psi. I think the factory specs run the front tires a little low. I have found I get more shoulder wear at lower pressures in front. Be aware I run the next size up front tire at 235/45-17. This was based on Glyn's recommendation that a wider tire would help with shoulder wear, and so far, that is true. Plus, it helped cut down on the severe oversteer these cars have.

Matt is on his second set of DWS's, so hopefully he'll chime in on what pressures he settled on.

VVF

Can you please explain why one would want the rears to wear more in the center?

I am running Conti DW, fronts 225/45-17 @ 31-32psi, and was running rears 245/40-17 @ 32 psi, but now dropped the pressure in rears to about 29-30, because the center is already worn to wear bars, while the outside tread is at 3-4/32...
It says 32psi at full load, and I mostly drive with 'no load' so I figured it might be too high a pressure on rears...

LILBENZ230

I am running 35PSI in the front and 32PSI in the rear. I'm somewhere in the 8300 mile neighborhood on this set and they're wearing evenly.

johnand

The reason I say you want them to wear ever so slightly more in the center, is that means your air pressure was a touch high. Running a touch high, gives the best fuel economy and handling at the minor expense of a little extra center wear. I like to wear my tires (only if it is summertime) to slightly below the wear bars on shoulder, and the center down to no tread.

Surprised you are getting that much center wear at 32psi. Probably all the burnouts you are doing

VVF

Funny thing is, I haven't done a single burnout (yet?)
At ~12k miles, the right rear tire is worn to bars in the center...
My mistake was not rotating the rears, because I only checked the tread depth on the outside, and it seemed okay to me.
I too plan to drive with these tires till the center is completely done.
What I am afraid of is that I will not pass inspection in October though.
I pray that they will check tread on the outside of the tire

LILBENZ230

At 12k you've worn a DWS out? Something is not kosher. My last DWS rears made it 41k.

VVF

It's DW, but still I think something's wrong, according to reviews on tirerack.

phister

Think dw only have like a 340 treadwear rating. But that's based on the companies, there's 3 treadwear scales companies use so a 340 for one might only be a 280 for another.