Hey everyone,

Thanks to much searching here I know what tires I will buy next for my Element.

My tires came from the dealer inflated to 35 PSI. These are the stock GY tires, and the PSI rating on them says 44 PSI. I have read here that people with the stock tire run about 38 average PSI.

Doesn't running tires at the max PSI get the best gas mileage? Why would I want to run them any lower than the 44 PSI like it say on the sidewall?

Also, stock tire size is 215/70/16, right? But do I understand that you can run a 225/70/16 on a stock rim? What is the benefit of that?

Thanks everyone!

The tires that come with the E get a bad rap from the guys who like to work on cars. For me, they're fine. On the drivers door pannel (?) there's a plate or decal that tells the pressure, mine is 33 front / 35 rear.
In the mileage thread, I was informed that is the factory recommendation for general use across the country - higher pressure, better mileage but worse traction in wet areas. I'm currently doing 35 all around, funny, after all this typing, I really don't go that nuts over exact mileage readings anyway! :)

u never want ur psi at max. hotter temps expand air and ur tires will be overinflated which will lead to other problems. i would suggest 40 psi be ur absolute max. give ur tire some space to expand.

Cool, then I'll try 40 PSI. Probably a little more comfortable ride too.

Now, what about the tire size, running a 225 instead of the stock 215?

idk about the stock size. when my stock tires wore down i just got rims and tires. if u checkout the terrain tire threads, people have up sized. gl.

Never run max tire PSI, the inside lining of your car actually has the recommended tire pressure, should be somewhere between 32PSI - 35PSI cold tire pressure; when you start moving, the heat will expand it up...

Note that the Max Pressure on the side also includes 'at max load' number, something like 1700 lb. Those numbers are also available in the spec tables from the manufacturer (look up the tire on Tirerack). What the means is that, if you put that max load on the tire, you should be using the max psi.

4 x 1700 = 6800lb, much more than the gross weight of a loaded Element (4300lb?). So the tires do not have to be inflated to 44 psi to properly support that load.

The 32/34 numbers that Honda recommends give, in their opinion, a good balance between hard enough to support the weight, and give good handling, but soft enough for comfort. Tirerack has some technotes discussion under and over inflatation.

As noted in many threads, 32/34 is good starting point. Some Element owners find that they get better tread wear if they run the tires somewhat harder. A softer tire wears more on the shoulders, a harder one, more in the center. A harder tire may also better gas usages, though I have not seen concrete numbers.

Harder tires also give a lighter feel to the steering. Some like this. Others are bothered by it. There have a number of threads in which new owners complain about twitchy handling. In many of those cases it appears that the dealer had left the tires at 'shipping' pressures (around 40 psi).

On the question of tire size, yes 225/70/16 will fit nicely. It's about 1/4" larger in radius. In 2003 there was a larger selection of tires in this size than in the 215 width. Now the difference is not as great. So unless you really want a tire that is available only in that size, there are few real reasons for switching.

I ran 40 PSI in my stock Goodyears. The handling and ride improved. It also helped them last over 30K miles. It seems of you keep them around 40, the stock tires will last much longer, than the factory 32 front. 34 rear specs.

The max rating on the tire is max COLD psi. Inflating your tires to the maximum pressure isn't going to hurt them. There is plenty of headroom for thermal expansion. That said, there is no need to, unless your running with the maximum load. I inflate mine to what the door panel says.

PaulJ,

Thanks for that good explanation on tire size.

Everyone, thanks for the answers. 40 PSI seems fine for now, but I may drop them to 38 just to see the difference. It's nice to know I have some leeway.

OF note, I think the pressure differential between front and back (though I could be mistaken) also has some impact on how the AWD senses it needs to engage or not. For the record, I run mine at 32 up front, and 34 in the rear. I've never had tires hold pressure as good as these have.

Yes Pat - mods for the E and experimenting can be fun - but I bet there's a REAL good reason they specifically tell you the tire pressure....

I have thought about whether the front-back pressure differential affects the AWD engagement, and haven't been able come up with any reasons.

However a glance at this Tirerack Technote on pressures for competition tires suggests that the bias choosen by Honda favors understeer, which is generally seen as safer for most drivers.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=58

I don't know if the effect is that significant.

suggests that the bias choosen by Honda favors understeer, which is generally seen as safer for most drivers.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=58



I believe that the recomended pressures were chosen to find a general balance of ride comport and to encourage understeer. I think if Honda's engineers could chose the tire pressures without the "help" of the legal department they would be closer to 38 or 40 all around!

I don't think the few psi would change the diameter enough to affect awd/rt4wd activation.

Will

ignore the recommended pressure. 45 psi all around gives great gas milage. And that thump sound when you go over seams in the concrete on the expressway can't be beat.

45 psi all around gives great gas milage. .

What's the long term tire wear at that pressure?

With my Cooper ATRs (225/70/16), 4 psi above recommended is almost too high, if judged from tire wear (higher in the center). With the narrower tread Wranglers 4psi appears to be about right.

I run a good 40 psi at all corners and sometimes a few psi higher in the rear if I am hauling stuff a lot. I find that my mpg are better here than stock.

I think it would take a lot to through off the wheel speed enough to affect the 4wd system but I am no engineer so I will stay out of that one.

As for understeer, I hate it! Give me oversteer any day. There is nothing worse than the feeling of turning the steering wheel and seeing the object you are trying to avoid come straight at you as if your steering linkage is broken. That is just my personal opinion.