Just curious.....I have the Pirelli P-Zero Nero's on my GTS. The tire says max inflation is 50psi. Can I actually have the tires that high or will it end up wearing out the centers of the tires 1st?

Reason why is I am STILL trying to get maximum mpg's out of it & I currently have them set at like 42psi. Ride quality is fine @ that presure & I thought that maybe I could go higher....less rolling resistance...hard ride :wacko:


So can I run them up towards the maximum psi without wearing out the center part of the treads 1st? I want them to wear evenly.

Tire tech's...let me hear ya!

Disadvantages of Overinflation

An overinflated tire is stiff and unyielding and the size of its footprint in contact with the road is reduced. If a vehicle's tires are overinflated by 6 psi, they could be damaged more easily when encountering potholes or debris in the road, as well as experience irregular tread wear. Higher inflated tires cannot isolate road irregularities as well causing the vehicle to ride harsher and transmit more noise into its interior. However, higher inflation pressures reduce rolling resistance slightly and typically provide a slight improvement in steering response and cornering stability. This is why participants who use street tires in autocrosses, track events and road races run higher than normal inflation pressures.


As you can see...I am already aware of this...but I still can't find my answer. I only carry myself & maybe my family of 4 once in a while....so I never have any additional weight in the car to really need the tires maxed out.

I am also aware that the vehicles recommended inflation is on the sticker in the door's opening...but still.....

Why overinflate? Why not just go to a bigger size? This way you don't run the risks of overinflation. Stock tires on a GTS are 215, you could go as large as 235 and not worry about rubbing on the wheel well.

Besides, as a fellow Chicagoan, you and I both know how unforgiving our streets can be. Your Lancer would want all the cushion it can get! I mean... improvement in steering response and cornering stability. There's only one place you can use that... the S curve on LSD.

...

That's Lake Shore Drive for all you non-Chicago folk.

True dat.......


Still, will they wear in the centers if I come close to the tires max psi or does that ONLY happen if you go OVER the max psi....that's what I am trying to find out.

After calling around to 6 different NTB's....only 1 said not to run them at at or near the max without wearing out the centers 1st. The other said they would only rec. up to maybe 45 at the max without starting to wear the centers 1st. I guess I should just leave them at the lower 40"s max.
Still....I'll see what happens. If I end up wearing out the centers 1st ....awwww, then I'll just have to buy better tires :grin:

Oh well......

I am a certified mechanic and have certifications in brakes and undercare and also alot of experience with tires. It is true for the average car or truck tire that if the tire is over inflated that it can wear the centers as well as if they are inder inflated they can wear the outside corners... but there are a few things to still consider...

1. With low prfile tires (anything 45 and under) you can push the recomended tire pressure without wearing the tire too badly.

2. If you have after market tires it can change the tire pressure as well. When you look at the inside door panel as see what it recommends for tire pressure, that it truely based off of the vehicle wieght in accordance to the factory installed tires. Once the tires are changed or the vehicle weight is changed the pressures on the door arent as accurate.

So when trying to decide what tire pressure to put the at, its more os less a hit or miss once you change the factory installed tires. It is always recommended to run the factory tires at what is given by the manufacturer and even after that as long as you stay with the same size tire.

If you do change the tire size, you can over inflate more with a lower profile tire and a thincker wall lining.

I know this is long but I hope it helps in the long run.

Yep it does help, thank you.

As some may know...my stock Dunlops that came with the car ended up getting swapped out for the Pirelli's. The stock tires had a max of 40psi & the Pirelli's have a max of 50 psi cold.
The Pirelli's also say on the sidewall that they are an extra load range tire. This is why I thought that I could run more presure in them without having the center wearing issues.

As I always do on a weekly basis...I'll check cold presure & I will also use my tread depth guage to see if the centers are wearing more than the outer tread & adjust if needed.

:liebe011:

wow i run my stock 215 dunlops at 33psi, dealership pumps them to 30

Yeah the dealer set mine to 33 as well....but I wanted a little less rolling resistance.
That's why I bumped up the Pirelli's to about 41-42. Still going good. I am going to rotate them this weekend sometime & double check the tread with my depth guage to see if they are in fact wearing evenly.