FR 18" tyre looks flat but isnt?

[ghosty]

Hi guys,

was wondering if anyone can help me check something, its on an 18" wheel of an FR

the front drivers side tyre looks flat there is about 1.5" height of tyre between the ground and the alloy wheel. i checked the tyre pressure and it was bang on 2.2psi on my gauge. i still didnt beleive this so took the car down to sainsbury last night and re-checked it there and it was the same pressure.

im sure the passenger side doesnt look as 'flat' and the rears def do not look the same and they are only inflated to 2.0psi

it just dont look right but the pressure isnt wrong, can anyone advise if this is normal or if there is something wrong. nearly forgot its the std pirrelli pzero rosso's and they have done less than 4000 miles

cheers,
g

 

[alx_chung]

Erm...should it be 2.2 Bar? PSI is about 30 odd, I assume its a typo?
Alex

 

[ghosty]

yep sorry got me units wrong way round, its at 2.2/36 as it says in the petrol cap
g

 

[mrcoyote]

Is it just the drivers side tyre or both the front ones? Don't forget you've got the weight of the engine at the front and hardly anything on the back so the fronts will look more compressed than the backs.

 

[alx_chung]

Is it just the drivers side tyre or both the front ones? Don't forget you've got the weight of the engine at the front and hardly anything on the back so the fronts will look more compressed than the backs.

That sounds like a reasonable explaination. I have noticed before on mines but have checked the pressures and they have come out ok.
Remember also the rears have more air in them as well.
Alex

 

[ghosty]

thanks guys!
the front drivers does seem slighty more compressed than the front passenger side

yeah maybe it is normal then, but just dont think i have noticed it looking so 'flat' before
it looked worrying enough for me to do a search and post for advice. i should have taken a picture shouldnt i

i'll take a pic tonite when i get in..
g

 

[JonoUK]

Are the wheels straight (As in pointing forward)?

 

[ghosty]

hi Jono,
yeah wheels were strainght but it didnt seem to make any difference
cheers,
g

 

[Daffy]

Get a decent tyre pressure gauge. The ones in garages can be out by a huge margin.

 

[wheelwright]

yep sorry got me units wrong way round, its at 2.2/36 as it says in the petrol cap
g

36 thats the car fully loaded pressure, 32/29 for normal load.....

Ye my drivers side always looks under pressure when the wheels are at an angle,
looks ok when steering is in a straight line.

Get yourself a digi tyre gauge and a cheap tyre inflator(as you should set tyre
pressure up when tyres are cold) and check once a week

 

[ghosty]

got pics

right got some pics to show what i been going on about

front drivers wheel


front passenger wheel


rear wheel



forget what i was saying about the psi, i am never gonna get that right
fronts are set to 2.2 bar and rears are 2.0 bar. checked with both my own digital tyre gauge and confirmed at sainsbury digital tyre gague. (so 2 digital tyre gauges cant be wrong right)

so the question is, is this normal and what everyone else has?
the pic of the rear (though not in focus, sorry) looks normal and the fronts look a bit on the flat side, or is it me being paraniod

any advice welcome, cheers
g

 

[BanziBarn]

I think that looks ok. Mine is same - don't forget the tyre is quite low profile so will tend to have this look.

One thing, is the ground the car is on level? If it's slightly sloped when that may squish the tyre a bit.

If you're sure the gauge is right then I don't think you need to worry.

 

[anthb]

I have the same on my Cupra tyres but the pressure is fine etc etc. We have a wonky drive that makes it look worse but even off the drive there's a bit of a difference.

 

[ghosty]

thanks guys!
i feel much better that nothing is out of the ordinary
g