Running rear tires on front - tire pressure??

[High Side]

I am just about ready to pull the trigger and purchase a set of stock passion rear wheels and tires to put on the front of Spike. My one last question to those who have made this move. What air pressure are you running with the rear wheels and 175 tires on the front of your smart?

[Turbo42]

run the air pessure the same as the rear in the front

[RussBarnes]

I have four 185/60-15 Michelins and now run fronts at 28 and rears at 36. Real smooth!

[John_H]

Originally Posted by babybenz

run the air pessure the same as the rear in the front

Same pressure? With so much weight on the back and a desire to keep a consistent contact patch on identical wheels, I'd expect the lower pressure on the fronts to be much more applicable.




But won't you want to run your tire pressure on the High Side?

[fortow]

Originally Posted by babybenz

run the air pessure the same as the rear in the front

No, don't do that!

The front tires require much less pressure than the rear tires regardless of whether they are narrower or the same width as the rears. It's basically the weight that the tires must support that determines the air pressure. There may be other factors as well such as tire design, speed and type of use and more, but weight is the critical factor for general street driving.

Start with using the same pressures that the factory recommended front and rear. Adjust these according to the type of driving you do and the weight you are carrying. Keep a close eye on tire wear by measuring with a tire depth gauge. If the centers beginning to wear even fractionally more than the edges then reduce pressures. Conversely, if the edges wear more then increase pressure. Do this only by a pound or two at a time until you arrive at a good compromise.

Generally speaking, wider tires will require less pressure than narrower tires for the same application.

[Old smart]

Proper tire pressure depends upon the load carried. The pulse is the same weight front and rear as the passion, and uses the same 175s on the front that the passion uses on the rear. The proper pressure for the pulse's 175 fronts is 1.8 bar or 26 psi.

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by Old smart

Proper tire pressure depends upon the load carried. The pulse is the same weight front and rear as the passion, and uses the same 175s on the front that the passion uses on the rear. The proper pressure for the pure's 175 fronts is 1.8 bar or 26 psi.

Pulse? The Pure uses 175's on the front?

But I agree, the fronts should carry less pressure. I would keep the same pressures as recommended on the OE sizes, so not to confuse the TPMS.

However, that's just me...

[bobhodgen]

I put 34 psi all around with my stock tires. Turn-in is much crisper and I have less understeer. With the recommended front pressure my car plows like crazy! I think the manufacturer is afraid of trailing throttle oversteer with the engine in the rear. Understeering cars are considered safer for the "average" driver.

I'm also thinking about getting a set of rear tires and wheels for the front.

[rfernatt]

Originally Posted by Big Panda

Pulse? The Pure uses 175's on the front?

But I agree, the fronts should carry less pressure. I would keep the same pressures as recommended on the OE sizes, so not to confuse the TPMS.

However, that's just me...

The Pulse is a European trim level with larger standard wheels and tires, so the comparison and inference is valid. It has some sharp looking wheels too...

I'm running 195/50s all the way around and am at 34 psi rear and 28 front. Everything has been peachy during my 6 months, 12,000 miles, and two tire rotations with this setup, but I may experiment with a little less air up front and in the rear.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by Big Panda

Pulse? The Pure uses 175's on the front?

But I agree, the fronts should carry less pressure. I would keep the same pressures as recommended on the OE sizes, so not to confuse the TPMS.

However, that's just me...

Mistake; change "pure" to "pulse" where appearing.