tyre preasure

[donnieg]

Hi just wondering if anyone knows what the correct tyre preasure is for my van as i have been told different ones.My tyres are 185x14.
Cheers

[Mickyfin]

Have you checked on the drivers inner door frame, there should be a silver sticker with the correct pressures.

[donnieg]

yes i checked the door frame but there was no sticker

[ghost123uk]

The 80-90 wiki says =

e.g. Bowton Lad: My Auto-Sleeper camper is registered 1/84 (manufactured 10/83) & the VW T25 Instruction Manual dated 7/83 gives the tyre pressures for 185R14C commercial tyres as:-

FRONT: 2.5 bars (35 psi) REAR: 3.3 bars (47 psi) SPARE: 3.3 bars (47 psi).

So (unusually) our wiki is not a mine of information on this subject

Haynes says :-
38 and 55 for 185R14C
33 and 42 for 185SR14 Reinforced
39 and 48 for 185SR14C 6PR

However my 88 reg van says 43 psi front and 53 psi rear on the sticker (which is what I use)

Hope that helps

[donnieg]

Thanks very much guys

[ghost123uk]

Thanks very much guys

Sorry

[trentjim]

"correct" tyre pressure is alway a bit of a moot point and influenced by brand, loading and driving style. as a general rule you are trading rolling resistance against grip... more pressure = smaller contact area = less resistance = better mpg but at the cost of cornering grip and, eventually, uneven tyre wear.

doesnt help that much i know, but at least it explains why you get different recommended figures. A t25 track day might help you finesse the settings...

[ghost123uk]

My 43 and 53 seem to work. Any less and it feels a bit soggy. I have not noticed any uneven tyre wear on the TinTop over 8 years and 2 sets of tyres (that includes the ones on it when I got it).

Not had the Hi-Top (heavier) long enough yet to comment on tyre wear, but when I bought it I drove it around for a couple of weeks before checking the pressures (I know = naughty boy). When I checked them, they were all well below my usual 43 / 53 and when I pumped them up it felt much better.

[Robsey]

My Original Manual states the following

For Tyres 185 R 14C

Fronts = 2.6 bar = 37 psi
Rears = 3.8 bar = 54 psi

Spare = 3.3 bar = 46 psi

Hope that helps.

[Hacksawbob]

updated the wiki.

[ghost123uk]

updated the wiki.

[Robsey]

My Original Manual states the following

For Tyres 185 R 14C

Fronts = 2.6 bar = 37 psi
Rears = 3.8 bar = 54 psi

Spare = 3.3 bar = 46 psi

Hope that helps.

I forgot to mention that my manual is from April 1983.

It is amazing how little the manuals tell you from back then

I assume the wiki states that you must use tyres with C on the end for commercial / light van rating.

[Bowton Lad]

My Original Manual states the following

For Tyres 185 R 14C

Fronts = 2.6 bar = 37 psi
Rears = 3.8 bar = 54 psi

Spare = 3.3 bar = 46 psi

Hope that helps.

[/quote]


1) I would always believe Herr Volkswagen rather than a Haynes manual. However, the pressure in the spare tyre should always be equal to the highest pressure required in any tyre fitted to the vehicle. So, in the table above the spare should be at least 3.8 bars/54 psi.

2) Tyre pressures vary between air cooled & water cooled vehicles. The former seem to require higher tyre pressures, particularly the rear ones. Tyre pressures in later vans may vary ie. around 1986/87 onwards. Always check the sticker on the door pillar or manual for your van or get the tyre pressures appropriate for the year of your van.

[DevonMark]

Just topped mine up, front at 37psi, rear 50psi.

Will see how it goes at these pressures and possibly increase the rear tyres to 54psi in a couple of weeks.

[waltraud]

Ive just chaged over from 185/14 c to 205 70 14c any thoughts on whether pressures should be the same or different to 185s. Ive got 40 front and 50 rear andvfronts feel v rsttly I.e. showing up suspension faults. Cheerd