Michelin PS4 interesting (to me) Tyre Pressure

[Jackie Treehorn]

Since fitting and getting used to the PS4 tyres I have thought the side walls were stiffer than previous tyres, it wasn't unpleasant but noticeable.  Possibly a characteristic of the new PS4 tyre design?   I run just under the 36spi on the sticker at 34 psi cold.  But with this in mind I contacted Michelin to ask what they thought was the correct tyre pressure for my car.  Tyre spec, reg and car details exchanged they replied with "29psi on the front and rear unladen" compared to 36 PSI on the sticker on the car WTH! 
 

That's so different to the sticker on the car I have emailed again and am waiting a response to confirm.  However it is likely that the discrepancy is due to VW wanting the car to achieve a high mpg and so have suggested a high tyre pressure, while Michelin perhaps want performance from the rubber how it was originally designed.  Either way The recent pissing contest at the ring (where manufacturers compete over a meaningless track time) saw the CSS run front 27psi and 31psi rear on the 19" cup 2's so it is possible I guess to see how a low tyre pressure can work although that was an extreme operating window for the lap. Either way it's interesting to see the difference from 2 alternative points of view, and if they come back to me with anything different i will update...

[kalimon]

Quite conflicting information. 
I may experiment with lowering mine slightly to see if the difference is noticeable

[itavaltalainen]

Afaik Michelin do not supply VW factories, not for Golf at least?

Different tyre models need slightly different pressures even same dimension tyres - I slightly vary from type of tyre.

Had Michelin winters, they wore evenly at a certain pressure while some Avons wore too much in the centre..... lots of flank left.
Conti summers ran at higher pressure than Goodyear Eagle F1 and still wore on the edges whereas the F1 wore perfectly evenly.

[Mk7-GTD]

Don't go by what they did at the ring with the cup 2's, by the time they were into the lap the pressures would have been up at least 5psi especially on the front. Anyone that does track days on road tyres know the first thing you do it adjust the pressure down several psi.

I have Cup 2's on my CC and I run them at 32psi all round on the road. I have tried them at 36/37psi and the difference was very marked. Harsher ride but a big drop off of grip especially on bends that have bumps on them.

[davewilliams000]

Running my PS4s on the front (still bridgestones on the rear) at 36/37 psi as I went by the sticker. Can't say I've noticed that the ride is any harder TBH. Even at this pressure, they're superior to the bridgestones in every way - I've never seen the traction control light come on once since having them.

Tried a 0-60 the other day on a quiet road (which had a 60 limit) and managed 7.4 seconds (measured using the lap timer from start and stopped manually when the needle got to 60)

Since I got a good time there I don't need to try it again now as I don't want to wear them out too quickly! 

[Jackie Treehorn]

Don't go by what they did at the ring with the cup 2's, by the time they were into the lap the pressures would have been up at least 5psi especially on the front. Anyone that does track days on road tyres know the first thing you do it adjust the pressure down several psi.

I have Cup 2's on my CC and I run them at 32psi all round on the road. I have tried them at 36/37psi and the difference was very marked. Harsher ride but a big drop off of grip especially on bends that have bumps on them.

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be measuring the road pressure against the track pressure, just interesting that they run the track tyres that low, (while commenting on the road temp from Michelin).     As 27 psi is more than 10 psi down on the 19" road tyres.  Dale at BTG made a comment about the trouble FWD cars have keeping heat in them at the Ring and noticed the fastest times were the first lap runs.

Thanks for the feedback on the Cup 2's, I think I will go down to 29 psi over the coming weeks on the Ps4 as suggested and see how I get on...

@ Davewilliams: Like the time     

[davewilliams000]

Don't go by what they did at the ring with the cup 2's, by the time they were into the lap the pressures would have been up at least 5psi especially on the front. Anyone that does track days on road tyres know the first thing you do it adjust the pressure down several psi.

I have Cup 2's on my CC and I run them at 32psi all round on the road. I have tried them at 36/37psi and the difference was very marked. Harsher ride but a big drop off of grip especially on bends that have bumps on them.

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be measuring the road pressure against the track pressure, just interesting that they run the track tyres that low, (while commenting on the road temp from Michelin).     As 27 psi is more than 10 psi down on the 19" road tyres.  Dale at BTG made a comment about the trouble FWD cars have keeping heat in them at the Ring and noticed the fastest times were the first lap runs.

Thanks for the feedback on the Cup 2's, I think I will go down to 29 psi over the coming weeks on the Ps4 as suggested and see how I get on...

@ Davewilliams: Like the time     

I had a couple of gos on the bridgestones a few weeks before they got replaced and the best I could manage was about a second slower.

Keep us updated. I am very interested to find out how you get on 

How are you finding the wear? (and how long have you had them?)

Also what pressure gauge do people tend to use? I have a Halfords digital one that I've had for years that also has a built in depth gauge.

[kalimon]

Don't go by what they did at the ring with the cup 2's, by the time they were into the lap the pressures would have been up at least 5psi especially on the front. Anyone that does track days on road tyres know the first thing you do it adjust the pressure down several psi.

I have Cup 2's on my CC and I run them at 32psi all round on the road. I have tried them at 36/37psi and the difference was very marked. Harsher ride but a big drop off of grip especially on bends that have bumps on them.

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be measuring the road pressure against the track pressure, just interesting that they run the track tyres that low, (while commenting on the road temp from Michelin).     As 27 psi is more than 10 psi down on the 19" road tyres.  Dale at BTG made a comment about the trouble FWD cars have keeping heat in them at the Ring and noticed the fastest times were the first lap runs.

Thanks for the feedback on the Cup 2's, I think I will go down to 29 psi over the coming weeks on the Ps4 as suggested and see how I get on...

@ Davewilliams: Like the time     

I had a couple of gos on the bridgestones a few weeks before they got replaced and the best I could manage was about a second slower.

Keep us updated. I am very interested to find out how you get on 

How are you finding the wear? (and how long have you had them?)

Also what pressure gauge do people tend to use? I have a Halfords digital one that I've had for years that also has a built in depth gauge.

I'm using a TireTek flexi pro. Brilliant bit of kit and cheap.

[Mk7-GTD]

Don't go by what they did at the ring with the cup 2's, by the time they were into the lap the pressures would have been up at least 5psi especially on the front. Anyone that does track days on road tyres know the first thing you do it adjust the pressure down several psi.

I have Cup 2's on my CC and I run them at 32psi all round on the road. I have tried them at 36/37psi and the difference was very marked. Harsher ride but a big drop off of grip especially on bends that have bumps on them.

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be measuring the road pressure against the track pressure, just interesting that they run the track tyres that low, (while commenting on the road temp from Michelin).     As 27 psi is more than 10 psi down on the 19" road tyres.  Dale at BTG made a comment about the trouble FWD cars have keeping heat in them at the Ring and noticed the fastest times were the first lap runs.

Thanks for the feedback on the Cup 2's, I think I will go down to 29 psi over the coming weeks on the Ps4 as suggested and see how I get on...

@ Davewilliams: Like the time     

I think the Michelin guy told my brother that 27psi was the absolute lowest psi to run the front Cup 2's on his GT3 which are the same size as mine, 235/35/19

[Jackie Treehorn]

Regarding tyre pressure gauges I have 2 now and they read a little differently which is annoying, but they are consistent which is important. A third one started to read a little inconsistently recently so I chucked it last week.

I have a draper gauge and another: http://www.drapertools.com/product/69924/Tyre-Pressure-Gauge-with-Flexible-Hose

I was looking at getting this Michelin digital one but not sure,  I like the draper gauge with the flexible hose and release valve. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/85479/michelin-programmable-digital-tyre-pressure-gauge.