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Hi, I just wanted to give my .02 from my experiences of owning a Sentra E with manual steering-2300lb car and very soft suspension and my new ride an 03 SVT Focus, which to those of you who don't know handles like a sports car and has a stiff suspension.

Firstly tire pressure is the single most important factor to safely FAS in a sports/perf. car. WHY? Because for those of you who haven't tried both sides of the platter, I gaurantee you that the steering gets VERY VERY heavy and difficult when I lose power steering in my SVT-due to the stiff suspension, low profile 17s etc.

Solution: Check the tire pressures every two weeks and if you decide to add to the factory pressure-which WILL make the steering lighter the more you ADD, but don't add too much or you will unevenly wear out your expensive tires.

Or if you autox like me than you don't have to worry as much bec. racing wears the outer edges of tires and evens things out. ;)

My 07 Mazda3 steers great on a fas. Im looking into dumping the power steering all together once it's warraty is gone.

psy

I haven't seen any reports of wear from low profile sports tires, but for regular tires the myth has been disproven. Anyone have low profile tires that have actually seen uneven wear due to higher tire pressures?

I keep wondering if uneven wear happened with bias ply tires at higher pressures? Perhaps modern radials have a stiffer tread area and so don't do this?

I keep wondering if uneven wear happened with bias ply tires at higher pressures? Perhaps modern radials have a stiffer tread area and so don't do this?

Yes the older tires suffered alot of center wear from higher psi. About the only thing you will see it in now is 6,8,10,12 ply trailer tires. If they are aired up for heavy loads and only carry light loads they will wear the centers.

On the red 98 Ranger I'm on the 4th set of tires. The first set wore pretty even, the 2nd and 3rd sets were worn center mostly, which I can genuinely say was from consistent high speed driving for most of those tires lives... typical jaunts back and forth to work were on expressway at 75-85, and any longer trips on the interstate were at least at those speeds, and many times would have 95-97 mph runs of 100 miles or more. (only up to 97 cuz the governor shuts off the fuel at 98 :eek:) Those tires were inflated at typical 32-35 psi.
My current set on red Ranger is at 45 psi, and seem to be wearing very evenly, and there are only minimal times that it gets into the 70-75 mph runs now (wife mostly... sometimes son who gets grounded if he does - thanks ScanGauge for recording max mph:D )

I wasn't aware until recently that truck tires, and even the
largish ones on some SUVs [like the video crew Suburban at
the MPG challenge] are rated for 80 PSI. That right there
should speak volumes.
.
_H*