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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: Overseer on 09 August 2005, 12:16

Title: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: Overseer on 09 August 2005, 12:16

I know they're inside the filler cap.. and they're also in the haynes manual.. BUT different!

my fronts seem to look very low.. back seem ok..



now i'm running on the stock 15s.. with 195s on the front and 205s on the back (car came this way..)



what PSI do you guys use?



Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: Silent-Hunter on 09 August 2005, 12:22
205/50/15's all round 3 bar in the front 2.8 in the rear .. :grin:
Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: Overseer on 09 August 2005, 13:05
grr PSI :P lol

3 BAR = 43.5  PSI
2.8 BAR = 40 PSI

damn thats high...

ok.. well the sh!t inside the petrol flap on my car says 38 PSI all round (dont forget front smaller..)

and the haynes says something like 41

Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: Hatchet Harry on 09 August 2005, 13:10
30 front and 28 rear..
Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: Overseer on 09 August 2005, 13:25
that sounds really really low!
Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: 8vgti on 09 August 2005, 13:28
30 front and 28 rear..

same for me ('97 P on 205/50/15)
Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: Overseer on 09 August 2005, 13:39
^ you guys are both 8v drivers though...


i'm guessing the difference is that the 16v lump is a lot heavier
Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: jte on 09 August 2005, 13:56
I just go with the petrol cap numbers for the vr6, 38 front 35 rear
Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: Overseer on 09 August 2005, 14:29
^ you're running 195s all round?
Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: DUNNY on 09 August 2005, 20:14
i run on 17" 30 all the way around any more and it will shake the fillings from your teeth
Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: nogama3 on 10 August 2005, 12:24
pump too much in and your car will lose lots of grip. not safe to do this mate. i run 32 on my mk3 on 17's and was running 30 on 15's.
Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: Overseer on 10 August 2005, 14:07

^ a mk3 8v again?


i was asking for official figures... i've seen 38 (petrol flap) and 41 (haynes) for my car so far..

one of my front tyres had gone down to 30 PSI and it looked flat..


Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: Silent-Hunter on 10 August 2005, 14:50
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/count-von-carstein/000_0006_0001.jpg) :grin:

8v flap ... :huh: :grin:
Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: Overseer on 10 August 2005, 15:40
ok so according to that (which i think is not quite the same as the one in my car)

195s all around part loaded = 36 front, 33 rear
195s all around fully loaded = 38 front, 41 rear 

205s all around part loaded = 30 front, 28 rear
195s all around fully loaded = 33 front, 36 rear

if we use that for my motor...

part loaded.  36 front, 28 rear
fully loaded. 38 front, 36 rear

this also proves adding more weight means a higher PSI should be used..
therefore the heavier 16v may mean the pressures need to be a bit more all round


i'll take a shot of mine when i'm home for comparison


Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: jte on 10 August 2005, 21:49
My petrol flap gives one set of figures, as presumably VR6's only had 205/50/15 tyres as standard.  Which is what mine has.

Pressures are:
Unloaded - Front 38 Rear 35
Loaded - Front 41 Rear 44


Don't underinflate the tyres as handling, braking and fuel economy will all suffer.  If you are running standard wheels/tyres go with what VW put on the car.

Also, the edges of the tyre will wear much quicker with underinflated tyres, as i found out when running 215/40/16s at 30psi.

Overseer, i would use the pressure's you arrived at in the last post, then as soon as one pair of tyres wears out decide if you want 195 or 205 and keep them all the same.  Although i'm sure that's your plan anyway.  If it helps, my p reg 16v had 205 all round so i would expect that's what yours should have.  Only trouble is, 195s are much cheaper than 205s!
Title: Re: anyone got a decent guide to tyre pressures?
Post by: Overseer on 10 August 2005, 22:58
yeah i been wondering what to do.. whether to even out and have 1 size all round... although it does look kinda phat with different sizes front->back since it makes it look meaner..

thing is.. i've only been replacing the ones that need doing..

and i hope to grab a set of anniversary wheels at some point.. so it wont be an issue then.

i'm running 38/38 right now and it seems fine..

didnt remember about taking this pic until i'd jumped out the shower after getting home earlier.. n couldnt be bothered to dress again to go outside n take pics!