thehaviet

I am about to get new tires mounted on my 2016 A6. Going through the manual, there's quite a difference in PSI between normal load and max load. The way I read it, normal load is for 3 or less occupants; and max load is with front and rear passengers with a loaded trunk.

My daily driving would consist of me driving alone, me driving with wife, me driving with kids, me driving with wife and kids. So the number of occupants would be 1 and up to 5.

So, is there a happy medium without adhering to the suggested normal load or max load PSI? Can I just set all 4 tires to the same PSI and forget it? If yes, what's the ideal PSI for all 4?

Wheels: 19 x 9.5
Tires: DSW06 255/40ZR19 XL 100Y

Thanks,

plat27265

I suggest going the middle ground, i.e. between minimum and max.

snagitseven

Start out with the manual's PSIs then add a pound or two at a time to find a happy medium between handling and ride comfort. I usually use about 2 PSI up from the manual specs.

thehaviet

Adding 2 PSI from the normal load numbers, or max load?

qqq1970

I use max load.

uberwgn

This is what I do as well: Normal load + 2psi

newmoon

There is going to be a sweet spot, but it's only 1-2 psi wide. It depends on your tires, wheel size and load. Plus you have to adjust tire pressures yourself at a stable temp before you drive anywhere because driving increases the pressures by 3+ psi, and a 10F change in temp changes the pressure 0.5-1 psi. So just go up or down by 1 psi each day until you find the sweet spot.

Lower pressures do not automatically mean a more comfortable ride, because once you get too low you will feel like the tire loses its absorbency.

I put mine at 33 psi all around and it absorbs bumps like they aren't even there, but I have 245/45R18 tires, the 2.0T FWD which is 320 lb lighter than the 3.0T, and am usually the only occupant.

thehaviet

Normal load for my tires per the manual.

36 front, 33 rear

Max load
39 front, 42 rear

There's a 9 psi difference in the rear between the 2 loads.

uberwgn

Yes, that's the case with most cars as the majority of the weight is carried on the front wheels unless the vehicle is being used as a taxi cab.

thehaviet

I also like to know if anyone's running 255/40ZR19 XL 100Y tires and what pressure they have on