New Mustang owner has question

This being my first Mustang and first Ford for that matter, let me address a simple issue for starters like tire pressure. The door numbers probably don't mean much since the car has been modified. It is a '71 Grande with a 351C, Top Loader tran and Mach1 drive train at 2.65 limited slip. The tires are P235/60 R14, what tire pressure would you recommend? From what I can read off the door sticker, how does 28 F/R sound?

Thanks

mike Happy Mustang owner!

Reply to
goodnigh
Loading thread data ...

Forget the door info. The tire itself will tell you the max pressure. I would run them 2-3 pounds under the max. For those tires it would probably be in the 32lb range.

Reply to
Blue Mesteno

The front tires were installed today and the installer set them to 38 psi. Thought it handled a little weird. Will leave the rear at 28 since they only have six months left one them.

Thanks

mike

Reply to
goodnigh

"goodnigh" wrote

I wouldn't trust half the tire monkeys that install those things, kinda like the oil boys at the local oil change shops. check the sidewall max pressure reading and make sure that the tires are UNDER that level. As the tire heats up during driving the pressure goes up and if the tire monkey set it too high, you can have a blowout.

In regards to the rear tires, if you have them too low, you'll wear them out even faster. Just put them a few pounds under the max and leave them alone.

Make sure you check the pressures regularly (weekly for me) and on really hot days since the pressures change (sometimes drastically) with temperature.

Reply to
Blue Mesteno

28psi sounds fine on all 4 , i pump mine BFG 215/60-15 front and 295/60-15 rear 28psi for daily use. And a lot less on the rear on track day ;-) 38 psi in front is too much, you will get center wear and wierd slipery under steering

Best...

Leon

Reply to
Leon Hulstroem

Will drop the front to 28 psi. Thanks.

It was like driving on Teflon.

mike

Reply to
goodnigh

I think you're still forgetting what the tire manufacturer suggests. Aside from all other suggestions or opinions expressed here, the highest opinion should be those of the people that actually produced the tires themselves.

Reply to
Blue Mesteno

Absolutely agree. And weren't we still running bias ply tires in '71? Forget that door tag!

One other thing - whenever I have new tires mounted, I always have my trusty tire guage with me. Ever since one shop left, oh, close to 100psi in one of the tires. (Thought it felt a little "squirrelly" as I was driving home...)

dwight

formatting link

Reply to
dwight

I have communicated with tire manufacturers via email in the past regarding similar issues. They all say to follow the car manufacturers recommendations, ie. 'door sticker'. The tire manufacturers have all said the car manufacturer spends a lot of time and money to determine what tire pressure properly fits their steering geometry. What the car maker had in mind for best performance. I just don't know what F75 or E60 means any more when it comes to tire size so the door sticker is useless. The other problem is the car's body, with door sticker, is the only original part! In lieu of proper sticker advice I will default to tire manufacturer's recommendations. Three psi below max rated pressure or something like that.

mike

Reply to
goodnigh

Seems I heard this some place, the tire co. number is for best tire wear, and the door sticker is the car co. suggested pressure for the best ride quality.

Reply to
GILL

Since when is MAX pressure not a rating of load/warranty limits? I SURE wouldnt use a tire that sated less than 39 pounds max.

Given the tire Geometry, I'd guess 32-34 pounds.

But the BEST way is to experiment from 30-36 pounds in 2 pound stages and see how they handle.

Reply to
Backyard Mechanic

"Backyard Mechanic" wrote

Well that statement is just confusing since I never stated that max pressure was a load/warranty limit. What I DID say is that the manufacturer would probably know best when it comes to tire pressure since THEY MADE THEM.

Most tires I've ever seen show a max pressure of 35, other than higher performance and/or low profile tires.

Reply to
Blue Mesteno

Just looked at my cars, a 60, a 65 and a 70 profile set, all standard or H rated:

44, 44, 39 lbs max pressure
Reply to
Backyard Mechanic

"GILL" wrote

Sounds reasonable too me, except in the case of the Firestone/Ford Exploder problem a few years back. Remember they were saying to practically run the tire with no air in it to keep the bastards from flipping over due to the tires detreading.

Reply to
Blue Mesteno

"Backyard Mechanic" wrote

That's fine. All I said was what I've seen. I can't believe you actually ran outside to find out. :)

Reply to
Blue Mesteno

My 45 profile states a max of 53 psi. I find that a 35 cold pressure seems to work well. Can't imagine running them at 50 psi.

Reply to
Richard

Not exactly

The Higher the inflation, greater tendency to roll.. so Ford used bigger tires/lower pressure.

But Firestone has shoddy QC and build practices in some plants, so the lower pressure= higher rolling temp = delamination... then, gasp, rollover.

Reply to
Backyard Mechanic

"Backyard Mechanic" wrote

Maybe not exactly, but pretty damn close. They weren't replacing tires at that point, just telling people to run the tires with almost no tire pressure.

The only tires I would consider buying from Firestone at this point are the Fuzion brand and possibly the Indy series. Problem with the Fuzion series is they seem to to be made mostly for the skinny low profile ricers. Just not quite wide enough for my '69 with a max width of 225? Sheesh, I need at LEAST 245, and even that looks kinda skinny, can you imagine a 225/60?? I'd burn those things off in a week. I'm thinking 275/60. Now if only somebody made a mid level tire in that size.

Reply to
Blue Mesteno

I've got 255/45/17 Fuzion ZRi's on mine.

Reply to
Richard

"Richard" wrote

Except I only have 15" wheels.

Reply to
Blue Mesteno

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.