I have an original 1966 Mustang convertible with 200 Cu inch 6 cylinder engine and automatic transmission. I have new original size tires which are P205/75/R14. The tag in the glove box says tire pressure is 24 Psi all around. Is this correct for new radial tires or should the pressure be higher??

 

That's really low for radials. I'd try 28psi, but it would be good to keep an eye on tire wear to make sure you don't underinflate and burn out the outside of the tread.

 

second

 

How much does the car weigh? While I agree that 28psi is a really good starting point, a good rule of thumb with radials is 1psi per 100lbs. If the car weighs 2600 lbs, try 26psi. Don't ever exceed the max pressure of the tire. Most radials are happy at 32 to 35psi on modern cars weighing over 3400 lbs.

 

Thanks for all your replies. I don't really know what a 1966 Mustang convertible with 6 cylinder engine and auto transmission weighs but I'm guessing it's less than 3000 lbs. I think I'll go with 28 PSI and keep an eye on the wearing of the tires. Thanks again.

 

I've always aired them up to whatever the max rating is for the tire then try to keep them there.

 

the centers were not going bald?

 

Yeah, that's not a good practice at all. That's the max rating for the tire, which doesn't take into account the weight of the car.

I used to sell tires for Sears in a different life, and all of the customers who subscribed to this philosophy came in with the center of the tread worn down.

 

He has to be pulling our legs. No one is that stupid.

 

He's not stupid, it's just an old philosophy that gets passed around a lot.

I had this old guy come into the shop once complaining about his car pulling to the right after we installed his tires the previous week. Upon checking the tire pressure, we found the tires to be inflated to 55-60psi! The old codger was treating the modern radial tires like bias plies, where you can see the sidewalls sag if the pressure is too low. He aired them up until the sidewalls were nice and straight, which was way overinflated.

Not a stupid guy, he just didn't have the right information.