TYRE PRESSURE

[matthew2]

G,DAY ALL

Silly question I have got 7/50-16 tyres on my Def what tyre pressure should I run on the road and off road ? Sorry guys it is a 110 defender and with a slight lift in the suspension Kings springs and Monroe shocks .

[KarlB]

How long is a piece of ....

You need to tell us about your Defender for a start. Is it a 90, 130, 110? Is it standard or does it have modified suspension? What do you use if for? People on the forum are very generous and helpful. But you have to help then understand you issue first.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[JDNSW]

These are standard tyres, and the car is legally required to have a placard with the pressures to be used, and it is also in the owner's manual. Not sure where the placard is on the Defender, on my 110 it is just inside the rear door.

I would use the placarded pressures as a starting point at least. These vary, as noted, according to which model you have, and according to the load carried and at least in the case of my 110, with the speed you are travelling, with lower pressures allowed for soft surfaces.

In my case I have found that normal highway driving light, I use 35/35, increasing to 45/55 at full load is suitable. In very hot conditions on bitumen, add another 5psi. For sand, and perhaps other soft surfaces, pressure can be dropped to 15/15 (or even lower if absolutely necessary), but keep below 60kph.

Higher pressures (within reason) improve steering and probably braking, and enhance tyre life and fuel economy, but give a rougher ride. More than 5-10psi above the placarded figures will offer no further improvement, just make it rougher. Best tyre pressures will vary very little with type or even size of tyre.

John

[bcj]

my 110 300tdi is 28psi front 48 rear (I run 40 unloaded) on 7.50r16- I don't adjust and don't get stuck
Brett

[dromader driver]

haynes figures
-90
750r16 28/40 psi

-110
750r16 28/48 psi
On my trayback with Michelin XZA :cool: I run 28/35 unladen then go to spec pressures for heavier loads.

[numpty]

I run 35/35 on road unladen and increase the rear only to 40 if towing or loaded. As the weight on the front doesn't change particularly whether loaded or unloaded, I dont see the need to increase the front. And I am what could be considered a slow driver in that I rarely exceed 95k's/hr.

Off road (dirt roads/rocks/sand) I reduce pressure to what I think works.:cool:

A very subjective thing as you will see.

[newhue]

wouldn't the trusty 4psi rule hold true

[Blknight.aus]

yep the 4 psi rule works...

the placard is a good starting point for your pressures.

[Mellow Yellow]

G'Day matthew2,

Here's a thread on the same subject from earlier this year.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/96728-tyre-pressures-road-driving-2004-110-a.html

[Lionel]

How long is a piece of ....

You need to tell us about your Defender for a start. Is it a 90, 130, 110? Is it standard or does it have modified suspension? What do you use if for? People on the forum are very generous and helpful. But you have to help then understand you issue first.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

You might try reading his post a little more carefully! He's told you most of what you want to know.

Cheers,

Lionel

[KarlB]

You might try reading his post a little more carefully! He's told you most of what you want to know.

Cheers,

Lionel

I read it very carefully Lionel. He has edited his original post by adding the second sentence.

Cheers
KarlB

[pc3]

Ive been running 55 psi all round on my 130 PUMA...........I feel it rides well at this pressure and comfy (but im coming from a 1999 cruiser ute which near killed me comfort wise).

Maybe I should not be running 55psi ??

[Nera Donna]

Many moons ago when I worked in the tyre industry, this question came up many times. One of the old guys that had been around for ages showed me a little trick.
For normal road use only.
Park the vehicle on a flat surface, preferably concrete. Cover one section of the tyre with a wax type chalk. Say two to three inches wide (More doesn’t matter) and roll the vehicle in one direction so that a ‘chalk’ imprint is left on the concrete. If the tread pattern is more pronounce on the outside of the imprint, the tyres are under inflated. If its more pronounce in the middle their over inflated. You’re looking for an even thread imprint across the width of the tyre. As your vehicle load changes so will your tyre pressure requirements.
I used this method several times setting up tyre pressures for modified road cars. It does work but it is time consuming.

[Lionel]

I read it very carefully Lionel. He has edited his original post by adding the second sentence.

Cheers
KarlB

My apologies. I could see no reference to editing.

Cheers,

Lionel

[KarlB]

My apologies. I could see no reference to editing.

Cheers,

Lionel
No big deal Lionel. I have made the same mistake myself.

Cheers
KarlB
:eek:

[BilboBoggles]

As I understand it - One of the reasons Land Rover recommend different and lower pressures in the front, is to improve it's handling in emergency situations. (I can't remember if it's to adjust it from understeer to oversteer or vice versa...) but it might be a good idea to follow the guidelines, as I believe it could affect your insurance in some accident situations.

But I generally I run my Defenders at less than the placard, to improve their ride on the dirt roads I live on. Usually 30/40 or somewhere around that. Running them too hard reduces the grip your tyres have on the road, and makes the ride harsh.