userdhp

First, thank you to all for the good tire advice a few weeks ago, especially covertw12.

I ended up being a bit conservative and getting the 275/35/zr20 pirelli p-zero neros.

Dealer installed them @ 35 PSI, however I was noticing some wandering around on the highway ... the car would just pull itself over to one direction ... and then at some later point, get pulled over to some other direction, etc. So it's not alignment, since it goes both ways ... it's like the road is telling the car where to go.

So I decided to check the pressure for these tires to see if it was safe to go higher than 35 PSI, and the sidewall is telling me my max PSI is 50 (!)

So ... I'm cool with that ... I think I'll do 45 just so I have some margin for error, but since I have never seen a 50 psi on a tire before, can I get a confirmation - 50 PSI is a sane pressure ?

(also, any comments on low tire pressure causing the wandering I was feeling - I hope that is a common symptom of low tire pressure and that this fixes it ...)

Thanks.

Audis or VWs 4Life

Most tires have limits like that printed on the sidewalls and 50 could be it.

I run about 42psi hot. IE driving down the highway or around town for extended periods of time, and I never exceed 42. Occasionally I will see 43.5 but thats only under heavy load, lots of acceleration braking turning etc. It will bounce back to 42 in a few minutes type of thing.

I guess if the 20" stock wheel guys can chime in. There should be a recomendation on part of the door frame or on the inside part of the gas lid. (I forget where off hand) I would strongly suggest you go with their recomendations over mine as Audi has figured out what the car needs for the 20" stock tire size.

I always run the pressure of the car with max passengers load. (its gives two pressures one with one person and one with a full car) I always go full car regardless.

Also when you setup the pressure use the TPMS to frequently check that pressures don't go too high. I don't mind a stiff ride I came from an S4 so for me its no big deal.

CovertW12

the wandering sounds like the toe might be off.... that would account for it pulling both directions.

keep us posted.

Yea Snow

as losing the full performance on their cornering ability. With that width and size, there will always be some 'tracking' on roads with imperfections. I like the 20s on this car, even with the compromises, and they do reasonably well up here in Park City in snow and ice - but I learned the hard way with overinflating.

userdhp

... and do you have the same 275/35 ... pirellis even ?

Glad to have some confirmation about the "tracking", although I will check the toes as was suggested...

dtwa8

He said that this will not overinflate them (which will cause poor handling and premature tire wear in the center), but will significantly improve road hazard resistance.

theanimala

My car has been at 31.5 lbs all around since I purchased the car 8 months ago. Dealer has done services, including the 45K, and it was still 31.5. Just today I raised mine to 37 all around. Maybe I should bump it up a bit more?

TimD

uhh...that 50 is the limit. you put it at 50 cold and youre gonna go over..

userdhp

... but i was not aware of the increased wear in the center.

I think I will go from 35->40 all the way around and see how I like it.

A8inLubbock

I have 19" on my car, with Dunlops, I keep 42# with nitrogen, I think that equates to about 40# in Air, ( not sure, tho) our weather here can vary daily from 10F to 65F,(winter) 70f to 100f in summer, and I don't get those temp variations in tire with N. I don't notice any pulling either way, I did a little with 35# and air. I think you have to try several scenarios (within limits) to see what works best for you.