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Old 02-26-2019, 08:46 AM
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RidingOnRailz RidingOnRailz is offline
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Re: Recommended psi verses Max psi.

My 2015 base Elantra sedan, OEM T-rated 195/65R15, calls for Fr/Rr 33psi cold. For the 2011-13 of that same trim level, Fr/Rr 32psi is specified.

At 33psi cold to all four corners, my Elantra accelerates fine, gets mid-20s to mid-30s MPG gas mileage according to the gauge cluster, but handles/rides nervously and a little rough over gravelly, bumpy roads. I experienced this both with the Kumho stock tires that came on the car, and with the True-Contacts I had installed two winters ago and am still riding on.

Cutting the rear tires back to 2011 pressures(32psi cold), tames some of that rear hop and there is no hit on that indicated gas mileage.

Cut to 2011 pressures all around, and this 2015 Elantra feels like a CAR again: nicely weighted steering even in Normal steering mode - and that rear end minds its business. I still use Sport mode on highways, for maximum steering weight. Avg. mileage does suffer a bit though at those pressures, with city falling to low 20s, and highways around 30mpg.


In retrospect: This Elantra, with 32 all around psi, out-handles the 2013 Sonata LTD I traded for it. That Sonata, with its wider 55-series 17s set even at 33psi, and history of 'self steering' issues - particularly on first through third model years of that body style - steered lighter in the dealer-set Sport mode than my Elantra set for COMFORT! It was a white-knuckle experience on highways, esp. after dark, and after dark plus raining. I just could not feel where the car was in its lane!

Not to mention on my specific Sonata the Caster angle was equally half a degree below the minimum range for some reason(previous driver mounted a curb at 30mph by mistake??). That was not adjustable unfortunately. I do miss the moonroof though: turns any car cabin into a cathedral!

Verdict: If acceleration and one-finger Tom Cruise-maneuverabilty matter most to you, go with wider lower profile tires. But for myself, and many others, higher narrower profile tires at modest pressures keep things tight on the straight and narrow. And we don't mind using actual muscle to turn the steering wheel. ;D
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