another set of rear potenza
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 508
Likes: 1
From: california high desert
2003 S500, 03 C240, 03 E320, 03 tahoe
another set of rear potenza
live and learn i guess, just mounted another set of potenza 275/40zr18. they were wearing in the center. the sticker in the door jam sets tire pressure at 28 front and 33 rear. i have allways thought that seemed low so i ran them all at 40
. the 20 year old kid at the tire shop educated me when he said that the lower pressure will give more even wear and give longer service to the tire. higher pressure will give better handling and mileage but dramatically reduce the life of the tire. i love the smooth quiet ride of the lower pressures and dont give a crap about fuel mileage so i hope ill get more than 10k miles out of this set.
heres a question, if tire pressures are so critical to safety, wear and performance, why is it labeled on the tire in the smallest possible most obscure text?
. the 20 year old kid at the tire shop educated me when he said that the lower pressure will give more even wear and give longer service to the tire. higher pressure will give better handling and mileage but dramatically reduce the life of the tire. i love the smooth quiet ride of the lower pressures and dont give a crap about fuel mileage so i hope ill get more than 10k miles out of this set. heres a question, if tire pressures are so critical to safety, wear and performance, why is it labeled on the tire in the smallest possible most obscure text?
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 28
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From: canada
s600
The numbers on the tire are maximum pressures/ loads.
I believe my car says the tire pressures in the door jamb, gas cap area and owners manual.
If you want better gas millage a narrower tire should help, My S600 calls for 245 rears
When it cones to tires and performance, you have 3 major factors:
Ground contact (affected by width and tread pattern)
Air pressure (too low will wear the edges out, too much wears the middle as you've experienced)
Rubber compound (the harder the rubber the longer the tire will last mile wise and will often give better gas millage through sacrificing performance/grip)
I believe my car says the tire pressures in the door jamb, gas cap area and owners manual.
If you want better gas millage a narrower tire should help, My S600 calls for 245 rears
When it cones to tires and performance, you have 3 major factors:
Ground contact (affected by width and tread pattern)
Air pressure (too low will wear the edges out, too much wears the middle as you've experienced)
Rubber compound (the harder the rubber the longer the tire will last mile wise and will often give better gas millage through sacrificing performance/grip)
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 810
Likes: 182
From: Laguna Niguel
'94 SL600,'05 SL600,'06 S65,'07 E63,'14 E63S,'09SL600 all sold, ‘15 S65,‘18 E63S,'17 SL65, '17S65Cab
In my opinion the manufacturers pressures on the door sticker are selected to produce a controllable understeer while having enough air in the tires to carry the rated load at the maximum car speed. On my S65 I run 40psi front and 34psi rear. Rarely are there more than two people in the car, if the car was fully loaded for a long trip I would add two psi to the rear tires. At 40/34 the steering is much sharper and the handling is closer to neutral. Straight line traction seems good. All four tires wear evenly across the tread so that would indicate tire life will be dose to maximum.
If you feel the ride is too harsh try 38 front and 33 rear.
If you feel the ride is too harsh try 38 front and 33 rear.
