The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Hey,

I have a Subaru, L Series, sports wagon, 1.8L, 89 model,

I heard along the grape fine that if you put 35Psi in your front wheels and just standard 32Psi in the back you ca geaps better fueleconemy out of your car in all the older models like mine?? and it;s noticable?

Are these even the write statistics? and has anyone ever heard of any thing like this??

Cheers

Well putting the right pressure in your tires will increase fuel efficency but I wouldn't have thought it would be that noticeable and as for the pressure I'd be more inclined to run the 35 all the way round but a test (more so for larger 4x4 tyres) is take a note of the Kpa when cold take the car for a reasonable drive then check them again if they stay almost the same then you have the right pressurre for your conditions (hot air expands increasing the pressure). The cheats way though is to look at the tyre placard or if you have it read the owners manual!
To get better economy people fill the tyres with all sorts of stuff but I think air works cheapest in the long run, but just don't use all the throttle find the sweet spot and every couple of tanks run fill up with premium it has additives too help clean the injectors and jets!

Oh yeah, nice, cheers for the info

Yeah makes sense b/c the L-wagons are all nose heavy and the more pressure in the front vs. the back will go some way to even that out.
On the point of increasing pressure all the way round, I would always increase pressure at least 2psi to what the car/tyre manufacturer says b/c its in their interest to have you chew through more tyres (more $ for them). If you ever do defensive &/or advanced driving courses they won't let you use your car if the tyre pressures aren't higher b/c they argue they are set too low from factory and the higher pressure is needed for proper handling (think it was 36 they set when i did my course)

lower tyre pressure = better ride comfort thats why they set them lowish from factory. 35-40 is better for tyre wear & handling if you can handle the harsh ride!

timmo wrote:35-40 is better for tyre wear & handling if you can handle the harsh ride!

Ah, we should be used to it with the state of our roads in oz!

If you run your pressure too high you'll find the centre of your tyre will scrub out quicker - maybe not on an L but most other vehicles you will find this occurs.

I've always run at 36 psi, sometimes 40 to get some extra life from the tyre cos the side's scrubbing out...

Cheers

Bennie

timmo wrote:lower tyre pressure = better ride comfort thats why they set them lowish from factory.

spot on

I used to run my 13s & 14s at 34 PSI...I think cooper tyres even in 13s when you could them ran closer to 40

sven

i have never used the factory psi settings, always 2-4 psi more. but the more pressure the firmer the ride. too low pressures the tyres usually wear on the outer edges and in the centre for too much pressure.
yes it will also affect your fuel economy but so will your right foot ( i learnt gone from 450 kms out of a tank in my work ute to just on 700 kms just by changing my driving style)

*whispers* I'm on 46 in my Liberty...... *looks down.. hehe
Cheers
AP

With the 2 RX's i have to run them at 38PSI to get even tyre wear and the Lib runs around with 40psi.

I should check mine properly, I just go by the thumb test... Thumb in the side wall

mine usually sit around 35.

235/75R15's tho

El_Freddo wrote:Ah, we should be used to it with the state of our roads in oz!

If you run your pressure too high you'll find the centre of your tyre will scrub out quicker - maybe not on an L but most other vehicles you will find this occurs.

I've always run at 36 psi, sometimes 40 to get some extra life from the tyre cos the side's scrubbing out...

Cheers

Bennie

Spot on Bennie - 36 normally for me, 38-40 on long trips - erring to 38 when it is summer. I find the ride is good though - this is due to the old shocks being shot!!!...lol.

Now I have new shocks - it is a lot firmer and the Canberra roads being shite, I drop them to 36 unless I an heading off somewhere...

Hooroo

I run 40psi in my liberty wagon it rides pretty nice no complaints