Tire pressure

[Nelson]

I'm wondering if today's tires use the same pressure as the original tires used. My owner's manual says 18 front and 20 rear for regular use. Are those numbers the same for modern tires?

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Those would be a little low for a set of modern radials. I'd start at 26 psi and work from there.

 

[Nelson]

Thanks. I thought they sounded low to me but 26 sounds better. My experience of driving my Sprite ended 39 years ago and I figured things have changed. Now if only I could drive it again. The only thing keeping me off the road is my missing carbs. Joe Curto has had them seven weeks and I'm getting really antsy.

 

[jlaird]

need about two lbs less in front than rear for Max cornering potential.

 

[Nelson]

Thanks, Jack. That goes along with the difference given in my manual.

 

[spritenut]

I run 26 front and 28 rear.
The Sprites seem to like those pressures.

 

[Pythias]

I'll have to pump up my tires.... I've been running 22/24 just for the comfort. ..Should I run even higher for extended freeway time as per "the book"?

 

[bigjones]

I run 26 front and 28 rear.
The Sprites seem to like those pressures.

Do you see uniform wear across the tread pattern?

Cheers!

 

[Pythias]

Do you see uniform wear across the tread pattern?

That is an interesting question. Personally I can't wear out a set of tires. Almost anything you can buy today is wear rated to last 50,000+ miles. That's over 7,000 miles a year across the seven years of a tires "safe" life span. Plus, these cars are so much lighter than the cars for which the tires are rated, they're likely good for well of 70,000 miles. Heck I even considered having a set shaved.

________________________________________________________________

Ok, I pumped 'em up and went for a drive. I have a slightly harsher ride, but not as bad as it was before I changed the rear springs. The car does feel a little "lighter on its feet" and seems to roll down the highway with less effort. I think I'll keep it this way. I can hardly wait to get fuel economy readings.

 

[aeronca65t]

One thing I'd suggest: check your tire presures HOT and not COLD.
Your tires are hot most of the time (when is use), so it makes sense to get them up to temp before checking.

I'm running around 28-30 psi hot in my street car with radials (not a Spridget......it's an MGB).

As stated, those old tire pressure specs are for bias tires and not radials. Bias tires always run less pressure.

For comparison, Spridget racers who run on the latest Hoosier TD bias race tires typically run around 26 psi (hot).
On the other hand, those of us who race on DOT radials run much higher. I run around 38 to 40 psi (hot) in my Toyo 888s.

 

[RonMacPherson]

Wheeh, you had me wondering at first if you were gonna recommend heat gun across the tread surface setup... Remember poking the rubber at the track for setting tire pressure.(That should give you some idea of how old I is).