Forester Tire Question - Yoko Avid Touring

[BRH]

About 15,000 miles ago, I replaced the original tires on my 2001
Forester with Yokohama Avid Tourings. I've been pleased with their
ride, particularly on wet roads. But lately I've noticed a distinct
humming sound from the tires that I don't think was there before. A
frequent passenger of mine also noticed it on his own. It almost sounds
that the tire pressure is too low, but I don't think that's the case.
The tires have been rotated every 5000 miles and I checked the
pressure. It's up to the recommended pressure indicated on the plate on
the driver's door of the Forester - 29 lbs.

Do the recommended pressures indicated on that plate pertain only to the
original tires? If so, how do I find out the recommended pressure for
the Yohohamas?

Any thoughts on that humming sound from Avid Touring owners?

Thanks!

 

[Edward Hayes]

I also have used Yokohama touring tires on my forester. Yes, mine did hum
somewhat when the tread was about 1/2 gone but got use to it as the other
qualities were so good. I do run my tires somewhat higher than you as I find
32-34 front and 30-32 rear work best for me. I now have Michelin Xones and
they are about 1/2 gone and wow the noise is far loader that the Yokohama
but, still livable. ed

 

[BRH]

Edward,

Thanks for the reply. I see that you inflate your tires somewhat higher than I
do. I'm just following the recommended tire pressures listed on the plate
inside the driver's door. Do those pressures pertain to any model tire being
used on the car? Or just to the originals?

Would you recommend that I inflate them a bit higher? I assume that would
result in extended tire life, better gas mileage and less noise, right? I just
want to make sure that I don't over-inflate them.

Thanks!

 

[Edward Hayes]

The tire pressure recommended on the drivers door are for all brands of the
original size. I found that I'm willing to give up some small amount of ride
comfort in exchange for slightly better cornering performance. My city
requires me to navigate many corners and I found the tread edges were
wearing faster than the tires' center. 2-3 pounds higher pressure is not
over inflating as the maximum pressure on the side of my tires is 44 pounds
per square inch. ed

 

[Rick Courtright]

Would you recommend that I inflate them a bit higher? I assume that would
result in extended tire life, better gas mileage and less noise, right? I just

Hi,

We had a discussion on this a year or so back, and IIRC, the general
practice was to go a bit higher than the door sticker. I generally start
mine at whatever the "full load" pressure is, and adjust upward from
there if I'm getting too much edge wear. This can run from 2-5 psi over
the door sticker numbers. As for overinflation--as long as your COLD
pressure does not exceed the Max listed on the sidewall (generally from
35 to 44 psi for US market tires), you're not overinflated.

Rick