Well I'm from FL but came up to CO for my xmas break. In the cold weather what should my tire psi be? It is usually 32 psi in FL. Thanks

 

I got mine filled with Nitrogen, tires pressure never moves more than 1-3psi. Got them filled when it was like 80+ out now its gotten into the 20's.. PSI stays very consistant.

 

I run the same pressure year round. Whatever you had in FL, use the same setting here.

 

Why would you think your tire pressure should be different? Other than your pressure dropping as the ambient temperature drops when you travel from a warm to cold climate, you should maintain your tire pressure at whatever the pressure is that you keep them at regardless of location. If they're at 32 PSI in Florida when it's 80 degrees, they'll be about 27 PSI in Colorado at 30 degrees. You'll certainly want to pump them up some.

 

but haven't people in the past recommended lower tire pressure for wet weather?
Is this another job for Mythbusters?

 

In wet weather i think you would need to be kinda low to the point where their would be the most rubber hitting pavement!! And in the summer you jack up the psi for better gas mileage and minimum tread wear!! I would say 34-36 in the summer and during the winter the psi would change itself down to 27-30 depending on the temps!! I'm no tire expert but this is what i do!!

 

I think the risk the OP is talking about is filling his tires cold then getting them hot back at home and having a blowout.

The simple answer, dont fill your tires to max psi cold. Drive them around a little before you air them up.

 

With modern tires, there's no need to change tire pressures for wet weather. Low pressures cause the tire to lift in the middle. That can trap water in there and prevent the built in water siping from working properly.

If you're stuck in heavy snow, you can lower the pressure and it might help a little. Kind of like driving on sand.

Raising the pressure in the summer will save a little bit of fuel. But it will wear the tires out so much faster, you'll negate any fuel savings.

 

The recommended tire pressure is on a sticker on the drivers side door jam. That pressure is the same year round, wet or dry, hot or cold. Tires are also checked for correct pressure when they are COLD(before driving)whether the outside temperature is 105 degrees or 5 degrees. You don't drive and then check tire pressure. You should check tire pressure once a month or with the changing climate.

 

I personally think the stock 235/55/r17 pirelli p-zero tires need at least 36psi and not the recommended 32psi. @ 32 psi the tires sag more than they need to and cornering becomes sloppy. @36psi the cornering gets to be a bit sharper and more precise.

That being said, I drive at 35-36psi (cold tire pressure) year round. In the summer I have seen the tires go up about 1-2psi after a spirited drive.