Is there a rule of thumb for the increase or is it tire dependent?

e.g. I have 16 inch rims and Falken Azenis tires. What should my pressures be on these 215/45/16 tires if the max cold inflation is 50psi?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

Totally dependent not only on the tire brand but the size, general suspension layout of the car, whether it is mounted on the front or rear, the nature of the course layout, the track surface, the ambient temperature, your driving style, spring rates, shock settings, anti-roll bar specs, car weight, and probably some variables that I have forgotten - some you can change and others you can't.

The ONLY way to really know is to test, using a stopwatch, the driver's butt, and a tire pyrometer. Lacking lots of time, the hardware and experience, start with the recommendation of someone who might know. Run it that way a couple of times to establish a baseline, and keep records! Then, try it with both ends a meaningful chunk higher. Then both ends lower. Then one end high and the other low, and vice-versa. Do not be afraid of giving up a good run time to learn something. Even without a lot of seat time, you will probably be able to start figuring out what feels good and the times should respond accordingly.

Kirk

 

Thanks

 

Kirk's advice is good stuff.

One more point - the maximum cold inflation shown on the sidewall is NOT a recommended pressure for the tires and should not be treated as such. Best place to start out is probably the tire pressure that is recommended by the manufacturer for the automobile. Then adjust up or down based on the multitude of factors Kirk mentions.