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Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 8:51 am
by Odd
Would overinflated tyres (36psi) on a NA8 gave it potential to understeer?
Re: Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:02 am
by Magpie
On the track or in general? 36 psi all tires hot or cold? What tires? Under braking? On corner exit?
Oversteer can be corrected by lowering all the tire pressures slightly or just the rears.
Re: Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:25 am
by Odd
Standard NA8....ATENZA 185/60R14....36psi cold
On public road, at speed limit,going down Hill from Mt Glorious to Samford
braking into a corner....
Car under-steered....never done that before
but I normally run tyres at 26psi....36psi was by others....and I was't aware at the time
Re: Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:32 am
by Magpie
Sounds like the problem, however 26 cold is possibly a bit low for normal road use (my opinion).
Drop the tyre pressures and see if it makes a change.
Re: Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:45 am
by rascal
sooooo many variables that could be at play here, that trying to provide a meaningful answer is almost impossible.
how long had you been driving since cold?
how enthusiastically had you been driving since cold?
Both of the above could change what pressure the tyres were at at the time.
were all tyres at 36psi cold or just rear or just front or just one?
Was there any debris on the road? oil, water, gravel.
Was the weather colder or hotter than usual..
What time of day was it, was there dew on the ground
Did you enter the corner quicker than usual.
Did you brake heavier than usual
Did you have the same load in the car as usual.
blah, blah, blah.
Yes, a higher than normal pressure 'could' have caused it but it could also have been a dozen other reasons..
Just put the pressures back down to what you normally run (26 seems low) and in future limit others adjusting it, or check yourself afterwards.
Re: Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:46 am
by JBT
Around 30 psi cold should work for normal and spirited use. 36 cold is way too high IMO.
Re: Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:05 am
by Odd
All tyres were 36psi cold....
had just dríven up from gap to Mt Nebo....
Could have been oil on the road?
It has been posted here that roads in that area had issues
Seems many garages over inflate tyres on MX5's....no thought given to them being a very light car
I recently had the car serviced at a MX5 specialist....and didn't check tyre pressure after....I thought they would know what they were doing
When I found out that the tyres were over inflated (checked when I got petrol), I spoke to workshop manager
His response was they pump all tyres to 36psi....as under inflated tyres are a bigger danger....and most don't check tyres between services
My concern is that this practise on MX5.....isn't just ill conceived....it could be dangerous
Manufacturer recommends 26psi....Tyre manufacturer recommends another 4psi for high speed or extra load
Re: Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:33 am
by Magpie
Lower the tire pressures and go for another run in the same area, driving to suit conditions and see if it 'feels' any different.
Second what Rascal posted there are so many variables at play. At least putting the pressures back to 'normal' would remove this variable.
I still think 26 is low for road use. If on the track you would expect about 6° increase, however getting that much heat into a tire on the road would be difficult. Again if that is what the OEM recommends then go for it.
Re: Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:42 am
by Steampunk
+1 to Rascal's reply.
Rubbish tyres as well. Google can't find Atenza brand, did you mean Aderenza?
36psi is not significantly over inflated. Most people will run between 31-34 with no adverse effects.
A good set of tyres should always be first and foremost for ANY car.
Re: Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:43 am
by Odd
Sorry....Altenzo....
Mis-spelt
Re: Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:51 am
by SE
Odd wrote:Would overinflated tyres (36psi) on a NA8 gave it potential to understeer?
Manufacturer recommends 26psi....Tyre manufacturer recommends another 4psi for high speed or extra load
Why are you running 36

Re: Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:56 am
by Odd
SE wrote:Odd wrote:Would overinflated tyres (36psi) on a NA8 gave it potential to understeer?
Manufacturer recommends 26psi....Tyre manufacturer recommends another 4psi for high speed or extra load
Why are you running 36

See earlier post....
I recently had the car serviced at a MX5 specialist....and didn't check tyre pressure after....I thought they would know what they were doing
When I found out that the tyres were over inflated (checked when I got petrol), I spoke to workshop manager
His response was they pump all tyres to 36psi....as under inflated tyres are a bigger danger....and most don't check tyres between services
Re: Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 11:45 am
by NitroDann
He gave a fair answer.
Re: Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 11:54 am
by Odd
Fair enough....
My problem
Seems I need better tyres....and a good tyre gauge
and never assume.....;)
Re: Over inflated tyres
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 12:01 pm
by beavis
i almost always run road tyres in the mid 30s