Just bought some used LM-22's from fanoftheliving with about 4000 miles. I wasn't sure what pressure was ideal, so I just set them all at 30psi. The handling is kinda squishy now, so I'm wondering if there's any reason not to go up to 33 or 34psi. Anyone have an answer on this?

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Thanks!
Avi

 

Yes, they will be a bit spongy but after all, snow rubber is softer. I run my snow tires @ 35psi and it has been working well. You can't really push snow tires too hard in the dry anway, but 30 psi is too low. Stock pressure is 32 and you shouldn't go below that. Remember, if you measure your tire pressures in a heated garage, by the time you get outside into the cold, the pressures will drop. Conpensate for this when you fill them. Check them at least once after the tires have been outside for a while so you have an idea of how much to compensate.

 

"Heated Garage"

You spoiled bourgeois degenerate!

.............

j/k! I aspire for that heated garage one day! complete with the jacuzzi, to admire the S2K while relaxing with some bubbly.

Thanks for the info! I'll try 35psi, I'm sure that will help the handling!

(btw do you have a link to your infamous "how to change the s2k oil" thread? i just picked up some mobil 1 but I'm not sure what other supplies I need. thanks!)

 

All of my "How To's" are listed here along with many others from forum contributors:
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.p...threadid=108435

Here's the oil change one:
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.p...?threadid=70348

ps. Having had a heated garage, then not having one and now having one, is like going back into the stone age and returning.

 

Thanks! Great post! I hope to change my oil, tranny, and diff fluid sometime this month.

PS I hear that. One day! For now I had to stretch my budget to get the S2K. Just bought a house a year ago, but no garage, oh well.

 

Holy Crap! 6 psi makes a huge difference! I took all four up to 36 psi tonight, the handling improvement was immediately, dramatically obvious. Now I understand why people like this tire so much! Not bad at all!

 

Just remember to let some air out when the temps get warmer if you have not yet decided to change back to the summer tires.

 

Will do, but fanoftheliving (who sold me the tires) warned me not to leave them on too long, because they wear out quickly when the avg temp is over.... 50 or so. So I figure I'll put the S02's back on for our March 28 AutoX, and just leave em on from that point.

... can you remind me why, in general, we can run higher pressures in the winter than in the summer? it's eluding me right now...

Thanks!

 

You are not really running more pressure when it's cold. What you are doing is having to pump more air into the tires to have the same pressure as in summer. Cold air contracts and exerts less pressure, therefore, you need to have more air. You only need to go higher pressure if you are measuring and adjusting it in a heated environment. Tire pressures should always be taken "cold". All this means is: at ambient temps of the environment that the car is driven in, prior to being driven for the first time of the day (so as to not heat the tires up from rolling). This is why I said that if you park in a heated garage and the temp outside is very cold, you'll need to pump in a few more #'s of pressure so that once the tires hit the cold and contract the air inside, the "proper" driving pressure is achieved.

Oh, and you are wise to not leave the snow tires on when the temps gets too warm. Yes, they'll wear out quite fast.

For example: If my heated garage is about 65*F and it's below freezing outside, I might need about 38 psi just so they will read about 35 psi once the car goes outside and gets "chilled", especially after being parked at work all day in the cold. Trial and error will be needed here without a proper formula.

 

Of course! Great explanation! THANKS AGAIN! You're an invaluable asset to this community! I hope I can follow your lead and help people out however I can.