Juki5536

iTrader: (1)

Okay, now I finally got my Conti's in (235/45/17) variety that I'll be mounting onto my 2k2's on Mon or Tues (whenever I get my car from the shop). What I want to know is...if anyone is running this setup or has advice....what tire pressure should I use? 235 is a little thicker than stock size, so I expect some bulge, I dont want toooo much though. Any ideas what PSI I should be running in these? Thanks.

drewm

http://maxmods.dyndns.org/?TirePressure

Juki5536

iTrader: (1)

Thanks but that still doesn't give me #s...except for the 33-35 PSI range...Anyone who might run this setup or have a good PSI # for me?

Juki5536

iTrader: (1)

Anyone? Theyre getting mounted and balanced tommorow, and I could use the info....

97MaxGurl

iTrader: (17)

32-34 should be fine for daily driving.

That's what I run.

Ange

Juki5536

iTrader: (1)

Thanks. I'm thinking around 34-35 PSI, at least enough so it doesnt bulge too much. Thanks again everyone.

97MaxGurl

iTrader: (17)

IMO- 35psi is too firm. Ride around it for a while, you can always lower 2-3 psi.

AnGe

FloydMax

Hi! Sorry for the late reply. Just saw the post. I have ContiExtremeContacts. Great tire with incredible steering response and grip when they are pumped up pretty hard. I first drove the car when the tires were set at 32 psi all around after mounting. I thought the tires felt a little bouncy and the steering response was not crisp. To set higher pressure, I looked at the placard inside the driver's door (2001SE) and it said GVWR FF 2313 lbs RR 2013 lbs. Since the Conti's have maximum LOAD bearing (notice they did not say weight) at 44PSI, I set the fronts at 44 psi cold and the rears at 44/2313 x 2013 = 38.29, or 38 psi. These settings would be close to the optimal settings if the car was fully loaded: 5 passengers and trunk of luggage-that sort of thing. The steering response is immediate at this pressure. To my surprise, the bouncy condition and poorer recovery on holes, railroad tracks, etc. disappeared. I concluded that the five ply tread area makes for a very hard surface and the heavy one-ply sidewall makes for a very compliant sidewall that requires higher pressures to stay in control of that tread. I suspect that sidewall has an elastic characteristic that makes the tire bouncy until the air pressure has risen sufficiently to stretch it out.
I love the cars handling, braking and throttle response at the 44p psi fronts. My next thing will be to put a heavy chalk line across the thread to determine if the contact patch goes across the whole tire. I suspect it will because of the sidewall compliance. Conti says they engineered these tires for maximum contact patch and that means we should be able to run very high pressures with improved steering, braking, throttle reponse, gas mileage and tread wear.
I really think 32-35 psi is too low for these tires. Extreme low profile tires do not handle low pressure well due to the sidewall flex that can occur and that characteristic will be worsened by cold winter temperatures so be careful. I would start high and work down from there. Good luck with your Conti's. I'm looking forward to the first snow now. PS: I got 35,000 out of the RE92's but last winter was surreal with them: traction control helped a lot.