Swamper tyre pressure

dave_b

New Member
VIP Member
T6 Guru
So what’s your setup and your tyre pressure?

I’m fully converted,
17x8.5 Fuel Zephyr
235/65/17 Falken Wildpeak AT3WA AT 108H
36psi all round
 
PV half laden
17' Black Rhino Arsenals
General Grabber 235/65 x 17
Front 57 rear 48, as set by BMVS. they've been on over two years now and are wearing evenly across the tread. Excellent tyre with the 4mo.
 
Yeah i'm no expert so im trusting the experts. It did surprise me what they set them at but who am i to argue unless there are signs of uneven wear or otherwise, the van drives really well with them set at that.
 
So what’s your setup and your tyre pressure?

I’m fully converted,
17x8.5 Fuel Zephyr
235/65/17 Falken Wildpeak AT3WA AT 108H
36psi all round
Same wheel and tyre package but no conversion (just sound deadening) in my LWB T32 Kombi. 38 psi all round.
There was a 40 psi maximum pressure mentioned for these tyres. I fell for it myself until recently when someone on here pointed out that the warning on the sidewall in tiny words says "40 psi maximum pressure" it also says "when seating tyre"!
38 is a sweet spot for mine. Good comfort without looking under inflated. They appear to be wearing evenly too. I imagine 36psi loaded up must bulge a little?
 
Yeah, I’m starting to think it’s a little low, hence my question.
 
My Wildpeaks are 45 all round in a full lwb camper conversion, front still look like they bulge slightly compared to rears - have been thinking about upping the fronts to 48
 
These are often non standard sizes, often fitted to non standard vehicles with a lot of weight permanently aboard so there isn't a set-in-stone correct answer,

That said, somewhere in the low to mid 40's is more what I'd expect to see and after some experimentation settled upon 43/45 for my van on 235/55 r18 on ATs and a 300+ kg conversion in the back.

Like many such vans mine sits a touch low at the rear. I plan to correct that when the weather warms up again and then may need to have a play with the tyre pressures on the front again as the steering angles steepen. It's no big deal, just a case of paying attention and making a mental note.
 
Day van conversion
17x8.5 Navis Mac AT
235/65/17 Michelin Cross Climate SUV
42psi all round - was advised that this is optimal - 2 years on, wear is even and seems bang on
 
I'm at at 38psi all round at the moment in just above zero temperatures, in a Caravelle with a conversion (around 2.6t at a guess).

So at 'normal' ambient cold temperatures of 20 degrees (that's what the standard cold temperature reading normally means), they'd be at 40psi.

Mine are slightly bigger than the rest of you (fnarrr!) at 245/65R17 111H, so a higher load rating too and slightly stiffer.

I did check the other day and they seem to be wearing nice and evenly. I think I've got about 3-4k miles on them.

1000007279.jpg
1000007280.jpg
 
Last edited:
PV half laden
17' Black Rhino Arsenals
General Grabber 235/65 x 17
Front 57 rear 48, as set by BMVS. they've been on over two years now and are wearing evenly across the tread. Excellent tyre with the 4mo.
That seems very high for that kind and size of Tyre.
 
Yeah i'm no expert so im trusting the experts. It did surprise me what they set them at but who am i to argue unless there are signs of uneven wear or otherwise, the van drives really well with them set at that.
The first thing that I do when I leave the tyre depot is check and change the tyres to what the should be. Tyre monkeys mostly just poor it in no two tyres anywhere near each other never mind sensible pressures. Find a tyre comparison site but in all the details of the tyres VW supplies on the label the put in the new tyres and a new pressure with pop out. Do the same for unloaded and loaded keep a copy in the vehicle for mechanics or put an additional sticky up next to the old.

Sorry to say this but it is your legal responsibility to have correct tyre pressures no one else, you simply can not rely on tyre monkeys or garage hands. If you have an accident and it is discovered that you have incorrect pressures the you may be liable. It is no good saying to the court they felt OK.
 
Yeah, I always adjust after someone fits a new tyres. They are never correct.
 
Yeah, I always adjust after someone fits a new tyres. They are never correct.
Even worse on a motorbike! Quite often you get a new tyre fitted and the bike feels like absolute crap.... Ahhh, 50psi in the new tyre! That'll be why!

I remember when setting off early in the Alps the bike would handle like an absolute dog until a few miles in and the tyres had warmed up.
 
Of course they blow them right up to seal the rim and forget! Though I am asked and someone supposedly adjusts them, Pull over a very short distance away check tyre pressures and think did he use a pressure gage or just do the look test because even when they ask they are nowhere near what they are supposed to be and no 2 are alike.
 
The first thing that I do when I leave the tyre depot is check and change the tyres to what the should be. Tyre monkeys mostly just poor it in no two tyres anywhere near each other never mind sensible pressures. Find a tyre comparison site but in all the details of the tyres VW supplies on the label the put in the new tyres and a new pressure with pop out. Do the same for unloaded and loaded keep a copy in the vehicle for mechanics or put an additional sticky up next to the old.

Sorry to say this but it is your legal responsibility to have correct tyre pressures no one else, you simply can not rely on tyre monkeys or garage hands. If you have an accident and it is discovered that you have incorrect pressures the you may be liable. It is no good saying to the court they felt OK.
Im not sure Bognor Motors would appreciate being called tyre monkeys and im trusting them to know their stuff when it comes to mods.....I could spend hours on tinternet and find lots of conflicting tyre pressures. I do also know that at the end of each and every day that my vehicle is my responsibility. At some point you have to rely on experts to do work on vehicles. Im happy with the ride and the wear so whats the point in changing that. :)
To add, I have factory TPMS which Bognor adjusted the default on the pressures after these new wheels and tyres were fitted, which with the ambient temperatures at the moment i am forever adjusting myself with my own compressor so they are always running to said pressure.
 
Last edited:
@Kind of Blue, apologies, but it seems Bognor Motors are tyre monkeys after all!! Maybe i should of payed closer attention to my pressures, especially after several other issues (suspension nuts coming loose after a month/few hundred miles, their workshop forgetting to connect the door mirror wires behind the door card ) as it turns out they are recommending around 45psi all round, depending on load,wtf. The max pressure on the sidewall says 51psi !!!!!! What the hell are they thinking????!!!!!!!!!
I've alrerady made the trip down there twice to get things rectified,along with some other mods but i have lost faith now....maybe i'll 'review a business' in due course.
Fully understand my van is my responsiblity but at what point does one start/stop checking the quality of work if you are paying a reputable company to carry out the work on your behalf.Beyond words!


IMG_3425.jpeg

IMG_7696.jpeg
 
Back
Top