I've fitted my winter tyres this week, and as per the handbook, inflated them to 3 psi (0.2 bar) above the 'summer' tyre pressures.
On the first time out on them, I nearly drove into a fence! Whether it's because I'm used to the Goodyear F1 tyres, or the road was a touch damp, but the cornering grip was awful. I don't recall the grip being so bad last year. The only other explanation I can think of is that the pressure was too high.
I am struggling to find a reason for the winter tyre pressures being higher than the summer tyres, and the only one seems to be that, as pressures should be measured with the tyres cold, and ambient temperatures in the winter are lower than in summer, the 0.2 bar increase is to allow for this. Presumably this is a Europe-wide rule of thumb? If so, would it be applicable to the UK where are range of temperatures isn't as great? Would it also apply at this time of year when the ambient temperature is only just in single figures?
Does anyone know of a different reason why winter tyres should be inflated to higher pressures?
On the first time out on them, I nearly drove into a fence! Whether it's because I'm used to the Goodyear F1 tyres, or the road was a touch damp, but the cornering grip was awful. I don't recall the grip being so bad last year. The only other explanation I can think of is that the pressure was too high.
I am struggling to find a reason for the winter tyre pressures being higher than the summer tyres, and the only one seems to be that, as pressures should be measured with the tyres cold, and ambient temperatures in the winter are lower than in summer, the 0.2 bar increase is to allow for this. Presumably this is a Europe-wide rule of thumb? If so, would it be applicable to the UK where are range of temperatures isn't as great? Would it also apply at this time of year when the ambient temperature is only just in single figures?
Does anyone know of a different reason why winter tyres should be inflated to higher pressures?
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