Forester tire pressure

[Kenneth Almquist]

I bought a 2004 Forester with Yokohama Geolander G900 tires. The
dealer delivered the car with 40 PSI in the tires, which is a lot
higher than Subaru recommends. (Subaru says 29 PSI front and 28
to 36 PSI rear, depending on load.) The tire sidewalls state that
these tires can handle pressures of up to 44 PSI.

Is there any advantage to using a higher tire pressure than Subaru
recommends, or is my dealer just crazy?
Kenneth Almquist

 

[OORAH!]

I bought a 2004 Forester with Yokohama Geolander G900 tires. The
dealer delivered the car with 40 PSI in the tires, which is a lot
higher than Subaru recommends. (Subaru says 29 PSI front and 28
to 36 PSI rear, depending on load.) The tire sidewalls state that
these tires can handle pressures of up to 44 PSI.

Is there any advantage to using a higher tire pressure than Subaru
recommends, or is my dealer just crazy?

Our Forester (great car!) was delivered with 40# all the way
around. Others here have reported the same thing. The dealer
said they're supposed to set the right pressure when prepping
the car, but that often doesn't happen.

The technical explanation is that they're originally filled with
Japanese air, which is susceptible to the attitude of this
hemisphere. Positive vibrations get the molecules excited, and
the pressure goes up.
Or so I'm told... 8^)

 

[Edward Hayes]

After having driven my 2000 Forester 55,000 miles and started at 5 psig over
recommendations I settled on 32-34 front and 30-32 rear as best for my
driving style. I am a fairly brisk driver who likes corners but, need
comfort too. eddie

 

[Edward Hayes]

Forgot to mention that tires need to be inflated to 40-50 psig to seat the
tire bead and they are shipped that way for a reason. It was the dealer
responsibility to reset then to recommended pressure. I always set/check
mine in the morning before driving and use a good quality digital gage. I
also check ALL fluid levels and tire pressures including the spare ASAP with
my new cars. eddie

 

[Mike Bender]

(e-mail address removed) (Kenneth Almquist) wrote in @shell.monmouth.com:

I bought a 2004 Forester with Yokohama Geolander G900 tires. The
dealer delivered the car with 40 PSI in the tires, which is a lot
higher than Subaru recommends. (Subaru says 29 PSI front and 28
to 36 PSI rear, depending on load.) The tire sidewalls state that
these tires can handle pressures of up to 44 PSI.

Is there any advantage to using a higher tire pressure than Subaru
recommends, or is my dealer just crazy?
Kenneth Almquist

My '03 Forester was delivered with the Geolandar G900s pumped to 45 PSI all
around. After reading the recommended pressures on the doorjamb and
thanking my lucky stars that I hadn't had a blow-out, I dropped the
pressure to 32 PSI all around. While the ride improved (became quieter and
much less choppy), I noticed that the handling had become mushy and that I
lost 1-2 MPG from my gas mileage. Then I happened to examine the tire
sidewalls and read that the tires could handle up to 44 PSI. I put the
pressure back to 40 PSI all around and while I lost a bit in ride comfort,
handling is back where I like it. I'm still waiting to see if my mileage
bounces back (it's only been a week since I put the pressure back up). IMO,
I'd leave the pressure where the dealer set it.

Snuffy

 

[Kenneth Almquist]

Forgot to mention that tires need to be inflated to 40-50 psig to seat
the tire bead and they are shipped that way for a reason. It was the
dealer responsibility to reset then to recommended pressure. I always
set/check mine in the morning before driving and use a good quality
digital gage. I also check ALL fluid levels and tire pressures including
the spare ASAP with my new cars. eddie

That explains the tires. Thanks. I've already reduced the pressure to
35 PSI; I guess I'll reduce it a bit more.

I've does all the fluid checks in the engine compartment. Everything is
nicely filled to the upper level marker except for the engine oil, which
is 9/16 inch *above* the full mark. I don't think this isn't enough to
cause problems, but I'll see what the dealer has to say about it. And
just to be safe I think I'll make a practice of changing my own oil rather
than having the dealer do it.
Kenneth Almquist

 

[TransFixed]

(e-mail address removed) (Kenneth Almquist) wrote in @shell.monmouth.com:




My '03 Forester was delivered with the Geolandar G900s pumped to 45 PSI all
around. After reading the recommended pressures on the doorjamb and
thanking my lucky stars that I hadn't had a blow-out, I dropped the
pressure to 32 PSI all around. While the ride improved (became quieter and
much less choppy), I noticed that the handling had become mushy and that I
lost 1-2 MPG from my gas mileage. Then I happened to examine the tire
sidewalls and read that the tires could handle up to 44 PSI. I put the
pressure back to 40 PSI all around and while I lost a bit in ride comfort,
handling is back where I like it. I'm still waiting to see if my mileage
bounces back (it's only been a week since I put the pressure back up).

IMO,
I'd leave the pressure where the dealer set it.

Well, that's probably not a good idea given the frequent occurences of
missed dealer preps. 40PSI is pushing it, but you (personally) may find
36/34 or so very comfortable, with good safety, mileage, and wear.
Everyone has their own comfort settings. I would not recommend
anything below 30 PSI, though (very comfortable, but decreased safety,
mileage, and tire lifespan).

- D.

 

[TransFixed]

After having driven my 2000 Forester 55,000 miles and started at 5 psig over
recommendations I settled on 32-34 front and 30-32 rear as best for my
driving style. I am a fairly brisk driver who likes corners but, need
comfort too. eddie

Good for you. I really thought you were more of a 28/26PSI kind of guy.

Happy driving,

- D.

 

[Frank Logullo]

I bought a 2004 Forester with Yokohama Geolander G900 tires. The
dealer delivered the car with 40 PSI in the tires, which is a lot
higher than Subaru recommends. (Subaru says 29 PSI front and 28
to 36 PSI rear, depending on load.) The tire sidewalls state that
these tires can handle pressures of up to 44 PSI.

Is there any advantage to using a higher tire pressure than Subaru
recommends, or is my dealer just crazy?
Kenneth Almquist

Looks like a lot of us have had the same problem. My Forester came with
tires at 45 psi. I had checked all fluids before taking a long trip but
missed this. When I posted same inquiry a few weeks back, I concluded from
answers that dealer was just sloppy on prep. Tires are shipped over
pressure just in case they lose some there is less chance of needing
re-inflation.
Frank

 

[null_pointer]

......................... Tires are shipped over

pressure just in case they lose some there is less chance of needing
re-inflation.
Frank

I was told the reason for high pressure was to help prevent the flat
spot from developing when the cars are sitting for long periods of
time, some of it tied down.

 

[GreatDaneDad]

I bought a 2004 Forester with Yokohama Geolander G900 tires. The
dealer delivered the car with 40 PSI in the tires, which is a lot
higher than Subaru recommends. (Subaru says 29 PSI front and 28
to 36 PSI rear, depending on load.) The tire sidewalls state that
these tires can handle pressures of up to 44 PSI.

Is there any advantage to using a higher tire pressure than Subaru
recommends, or is my dealer just crazy?
Kenneth Almquist

The pressures that Subaru recommends 29 PSI Front / 28 PSI - 36 PSI Rear (depending on load)
are recommended for good reasons. Safety, handling, optimum traction, comfort, proper alignment and optimum tread wear are those reasons.
So, if the dealer delivered the vehicle with 40 PSI in all 4 tires, then the vehicle was improperly prepped for delivery!
I recently purchased a set of Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus tires for my 04 Forester, and Pirelli specifically states that the vehicle manufacturers recommended tire pressures must be used in order to to maintain the tread wear warranty of their tires. Additionally, Pirelli states that these tires must be rotated every 5,000 to 7,000 miles to maintain the tread wear warranty, which is more frequent than Subaru's recommended rotation intervals. So, I'd advise using the pressures that Subaru recommends, and the rotation intervals of the individual tire manufacturer to get the most safety, and tread wear from whatever tires an individual decides to purchase for their Forester.
I'm running the recommended 29 PSI Front / 28 PSI Rear in my Forester's tires, and the vehicle rides and handles very well. I only haul around my Great Dane, and an occasional passenger and groceries so, the higher tire pressures in the rear tires aren't needed under the conditions in which I use my Forester. I'm also using a 6,000 mile rotation interval as recommended by Pirelli to ensure that I get the most tread wear from my set of tires.
Using higher than recommended tire pressures will in fact decrease the vehicle's fuel consumption, but the safety, handling, ride comfort and tread wear of the tires will be negatively compromised by doing so.

 

[brentim]

All tires have a max psi rating so don't go beyond that. Just remember that adding more pressure can affect ride comfort. I run 34psi all round in my Hankook tires and I can say that the wear is even.

 

[Salva1991]

Without doubt, It can be a problem with the head gasket