Help with Tire Pressure/which one?

[Toobusy]

We purchased an 09 Matrix S for our daughter (in college). It came with the 17" tires added on in a package.

The tires are:
Bridgestone Turanza EL 400
215/45R17

The car has tire inflation monitors that went off the first week she had it. Checked the tires and the psi was 22 each tire. The tire says they should be 51 psi MAX. Not sure why they were 22 psi at delivery. Husband filled them to 51.

Then she got a hole in her sidewall. Got a new tire and the tire store checked all the tires and set them to 44 psi. We are not sure why but when she came for a visit and my husband checked them, that's what they said.

So, we check on the door sticker and it says the psi should be 32 each.

Why so many numbers and which one do we use??????????

PSI on Tire: 51
PSI on door sticker 32
PSI from tire dealer 44

Anyone else with this car and tire...what do you have your PSI at?

[roadrunner2]

Originally Posted by Toobusy

We purchased an 09 Matrix S for our daughter (in college). It came with the 17" tires added on in a package.

The tires are:
Bridgestone Turanza EL 400
215/45R17

The car has tire inflation monitors that went off the first week she had it. Checked the tires and the psi was 22 each tire. The tire says they should be 51 psi MAX. Not sure why they were 22 psi at delivery. Husband filled them to 51.

Then she got a hole in her sidewall. Got a new tire and the tire store checked all the tires and set them to 44 psi. We are not sure why but when she came for a visit and my husband checked them, that's what they said.

So, we check on the door sticker and it says the psi should be 32 each.

Why so many numbers and which one do we use??????????

PSI on Tire: 51
PSI on door sticker 32
PSI from tire dealer 44

Anyone else with this car and tire...what do you have your PSI at?

I have an '04 XR and set the pressure as noted below:
Set the tire pressure at 32 psi for all tires. Mine are 'all season' Michelin Harmonys.

Those monitors aren't foolproof. Check the tire pressure periodically with a quality dial pressure gauge.

The 51 psi you see on the tire is the maximum pressure allowed in that tire. (Sometimes used when transporting a heavy load, but MUST be reduced back to 32 psi ASAP afterward)

This may be more info than you want but over-inflated tires wear out quickly in the center portion of the treads, and make for less road contact.