When inflating the tires of any vehicle, it is always necessary to maintain the pressure set by the manufacturer, since non-observance of this important rule negatively affects the operation of the tires, and also affects the further safety of road traffic. What should be the correct pressure in the tires of the car (table). Let's talk about the dependence of the degree of pumping on weather, road conditions and methods of testing.
What happens if tire pressure is not observed
Most cars with front-wheel drive (both domestic and foreign) can be fitted with rims with a radius of R13 - R16. However, the basic equipment almost always includes wheels in sizes R13 and R14. The value of the optimal pressure in the tires of the car is selected according to its mass at full load. In this case, the climatic and road conditions in which the vehicle is operated must be taken into account.
If the wheels are inflated incorrectly
If the wheels are over-pumped
- The wear of the undercarriage parts increases. At the same time, while driving, all the bumps and pits on the road are felt. Driving comfort disappears;
- as the pressure of the tires of the car becomes excessive, as a result of this, the contact area of the tire tread with the road surface decreases. Due to this, the braking distance is significantly increased and the safety of vehicle operation is reduced;
- the tread wears out faster, significantly shortening the service life of car tires;
- Excessive tire pressure on contact with an obstacle at high speed can cause a hernia or even rupture of the rubber. This situation is extremely dangerous and can lead to tragic consequences.
Most owners of transport equipment with R13 and R14 wheels (the most common radius values) are interested in: what should be the optimal pressure in a car's tires? According to the recommendation of the manufacturer of the tire of the thirteenth radius, it is necessary to inflate up to 1.9 kgf / cm 2, and the wheels with the size R14 - up to 2.0 kgf / cm 2. These parameters apply to both the front and rear wheels.
Dependence of tire pressure on climatic and road conditions
In principle, it is necessary to maintain the same wheel inflation both in summer and winter. However, it is recommended not to inflate the tires slightly in winter. This is necessary for:
- Improving vehicle stability on slippery roads. Driving becomes more comfortable and comfortable with slightly flat tires in winter.
- Road safety is improved as the vehicle's braking distance is significantly shortened.
- Running flat tires in winter helps soften the suspension, resulting in less poor road surface conditions. Mobility comfort is increased.
You also need to know that with a sharp change in temperature (for example, after the car has left a warm box in the cold), due to some physical properties, a decrease in tire pressure occurs.
Therefore, before leaving the garage in winter, it is imperative to check the tire pressure, and if necessary, pump them up. Do not forget about constant pressure control, especially when the temperature regime changes and in the off-season.
The recommended pressure in R13 tires with the onset of summer is 1.9 atm. This value is calculated taking into account that the car will be half loaded (driver and one or two passengers). When the vehicle is fully loaded, the pressure value of the front wheelset must be increased to 2.0-2.1 atm, and the rear - up to 2.3-2.4 atm. The reserve should be pumped up to 2.3 atm.
Unfortunately, the road surface is by no means ideal, so most motorists specifically prefer not to pump the wheels a little. Because thanks to this, all the bumps and flaws of the road are not so felt when driving. Often in the summer, the pressure in the wheels is reduced by 5-10%, and with the onset of winter this figure slightly increases and is 10-15%. When driving on flat roads, it is best to maintain the tire pressure recommended by the manufacturer.
Taking into account all the factors, a tire pressure table is built.
What should be the optimal pressure for larger wheels
Despite the fact that most of domestic and foreign cars have wheels with a maximum radius of R14, most owners still install larger wheels (R15 and R16) to improve the appearance of their vehicle and improve some of its characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to know what should be the optimal pressure in a tire of this size?
It also depends on the degree of load on the machine. When it is half loaded, the tire pressure threshold should not exceed 2.0 kgf / cm 2, at full load this value is already 2.2 kgf / cm 2. If a large amount of various heavy luggage is transported in the luggage compartment, the pressure in the rear wheelset must be increased by another 0.2 kgf / cm 2. As you can see, the pressure in the tires of the fourteenth radius is approximately equal to the pressure in R15 and R16. 
How to measure pressure: the correct sequence
Alas, even most experienced drivers completely ignore the procedure for monitoring the pressure of the car's wheels, considering this procedure absolutely useless. Checking the pressure in the tires is carried out using a pressure gauge, which can be integral with the pump, or be a separate element. Do not forget that the error of any manometer is usually 0.2 kgf / cm 2.
Pressure measurement sequence: 
- It is necessary to zero the readings of the pressure gauge.
- Unscrew the safety cap (if any) from the wheel nipple.
- Connect a pressure gauge to the nipple and push it lightly to purge air from the chamber.
- Wait until the arrow of the device stops.
This procedure must be performed on a monthly basis with regular vehicle operation. Measurement should be done before driving, when the rubber is not yet warmed up. This is necessary to accurately determine the readings, since after warming up the tires, the air pressure inside them increases. This is often the result of dynamic driving with constant speed changes and hard braking. For this reason, it is ideal to measure before driving, when the tires on the car have not yet warmed up.
Whether or not to inflate tires with nitrogen
Recently, almost all tire changing stations have appeared an expensive service of pumping tires with nitrogen. Its popularity is due to a number of the following opinions:
- Thanks to nitrogen, the pressure in the tires remains constant as they heat up.
- The service life of rubber is increased (it practically does not "age", since nitrogen is much cleaner than air).
- Steel wheel rims do not corrode.
- The possibility of tire rupture is completely excluded, since nitrogen is a non-combustible gas.
However, these statements are nothing more than another advertising ploy by marketers. After all, the nitrogen content in the air is about 80%, and it is unlikely that something can change for the better if the nitrogen content inside the tires increases by 10-15%.
In this case, you should not spend extra money and pump up the wheels with expensive nitrogen, since there will be no additional benefit, as well as harm, from this procedure.
The recommended tire pressure of the vehicle can be found in a special table located in the vehicle operating instructions. Depending on the car brand, manufacturers indicate the optimal pressure at which the load in the tires will be evenly distributed.
The concept of tire pressure should be understood as the density of the air pumped into the tire by the compressor. It is necessary to inflate tires taking into account the data of tables of pressure in tires of cars and trucks. The correct pressure ensures an even distribution of the load, affects the following parameters:
- fuel consumption;
- uniformity of tire wear;
- safety of movement of the machine.
There are several options for which the specified parameter will not be optimal:
- tires are inflated - the density of the inflated air is too high;
- underdeveloped tires - this parameter is underestimated;
- all wheels of the car have different pressures.
Correct pressure ensures reliable adhesion of the tires to the road surface and affects the comfort and safety of movement. You can find out how incorrect tire pressure affects tire wear by looking at Figure 1.
Figure 1. Influence of tire pressure on tread wear
In the first variant, the tire is under-inflated to the permissible rate, excessive wear of the tread along the edges of the rubber occurs. In the second version, the tire is inflated to the required rate - the tread wear is even. The third option shows an over-inflated tire - the middle part of the tread wears excessively.
In real operation, after twenty minutes of driving at high speed, the tire pressure increases by 0.5 atmospheres. Long journeys at high speeds can lead to an increase in the specified parameter up to 4-5 atmospheres. In such a situation, an over-inflated tire may burst while the machine is moving.
Lowered to half the atmosphere of the wheels can affect the "behavior" of the car, the risk of accidents increases. It is recommended to check the tire pressure once a week, as well as before long trips.
Influence of various factors
You can check the air density of the tires using a pressure gauge. It is recommended to carry out this procedure inside a garage or box with cold tires. The temperature difference between the moving and standing wheels is significant: while driving, the tire heats up. In this case, the air supplied inside it has the ability to expand when heated and reduce its volume during cooling.
Tire Air Density Measurement Procedure From a theoretical point of view, pumping up the wheels to normal pressure values is not difficult. From the practical point of view, everything is not so simple: having inflated tires on the street to an acceptable value in winter, you will notice that during the trip, the pressure inside the tires will change. It is possible to solve this problem by pumping up tires in winter inside a warm garage or box after two hours of inactivity of the car.
In summer, the cooling of tires is very slow, so the wheels are pumped up after the trip when the tires have completely cooled down. Many car enthusiasts argue that the permissible tire pressure is different in winter and summer, therefore, in the summer, you need to under-pump the tires to the permissible norm, and in the winter - to pump the tires. This is a misconception. The tire pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer is the same in winter and summer, motorists need to monitor this parameter and try to keep it within the normal range. Under-pumping or over-pumping of wheels leads to a deterioration in the adhesion of tires to the roadway, and reduces the tire life.
The tire pressure is influenced by the location of the tires on the front or rear axle. The axle load of the vehicle differs significantly. An even distribution of the load is called weight distribution, it is optimal if 50% of the loads are on the front axle and the same amount on the rear, but in real conditions it is impossible to achieve such a distribution of loads. Therefore, the load on the tires of the front and rear axles is different, for example, compare the data in the tables below.
Tables with the values of the recommended tire pressure of cars by make
Toyota
Recommended tire pressure for Toyota cars: Camry, Corolla, Starlet, Rav 4, Karina, Selica, Supra, Lexus GS 300, Previa Salon (4x4), Lit Ice, 4-Runner, Land Cruiser 4x4 (Starlet, Corolla, Carina, Camry, Celica, MR2, Supra, Lexus GS300, Previa, Saloon (4x4), Model F (4x4), Lite Ace, 4-Runner, Landcruiser 4x4, RAV 4).
Alfa-romeo
Bmw
Chevrolet
Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep
Recommended tire pressure for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep cars: Cheri Voyage, Vision, Saratoga, Le Baron, Viper RT 10, Cherokee / Wangler (Voyager, Vision, Saratoga, Le Baron, Viper RT 10, Cherokee / Wrangler).
Daewoo
Daihatsu
Fiat
Honda
Hyundai
Recommended pressure inside tires of Hyundai cars: Pony, Lantra, Sonata, S-Coupe, Getz, Santa Fe (Pony, Lantra, Sonata, S-Coupe, Getz, Santa Fe). 
Kia
Recommended air density for tires of KIA cars: Serato, Sid, Rio, Carens, Sportage (Cerato, CEE'D, Rio, Carens, Sportage). 
Lancia
Recommended tire pressure of Lancia cars: Delta, Dedra, Tema (Y10, Delta, Dedra, Thema). 
Mazda
Recommended tire pressure of Mazda cars: 3, 6, 121, 323, 626, Xedos. 
Mercedes
Recommended pressure inside tires of Mercedes cars (C, TE, E, SL, SE / L / C, GE, GD). 
Mitsubishi
Recommended tire pressure for Mitsubishi cars: Colt, Lancer, Galant, Sigma, Eclipse, Space, Pajero (Colt, Lancer, Galant, Sigma, Eclipse, Space, 3000GT, L300, Pajero). 
Nissan
Recommended tire pressure for Nissan cars: Micra, Sunny, Primera, Prairie, Serena, Maxima, Terrano II, Patrol (Micra, Sunny, Primera, 100NX, Prairie, Serena, 200SX, 300ZX, Maxima, Terrano II, Patrol). 
Opel
Recommended tire pressure for Opel cars: Corsa, Combo, Astra, Cadet, Vectra, Caliber, Omega, Senator, Frontera, Monterey (Corsa, Combo, Astra, Kadett, Vectra, Calibra, Omega, Senator, Frontera, Monterey). 
Peugeot
Recommended tire pressure for Peugeot cars (106, 205, 306, 309, 405, 505, 605). 
Porsche
Recommended tire pressure for Porsche cars (944, 968, 911, 928, 959). 
Renault
Recommended tire pressure for Renault cars: Espace, Express, Twino, Safran, Laguna, Alpina (Express, Twingo, R5, Clio, R19, R21, R25, Safrane, Laguna, Alpina, Espace). 
Skoda
Recommended tire pressure for Skoda cars: Favorit, Forman, Cordoba, Fabia, Roomster (Favorit LX, Forman LX / GLX, Cordoba, Fabia, Roomster). 
Subaru
Recommended tire pressure for Subaru Subaru cars: Wagon, Vivio, Justy, Impreza, Legacy, Forester, Outback (Wagon, Vivio, Gli, Justy, Impreza, Legacy, XT Turbo, SVX, Forester, Outback). 
Volvo
Recommended pressure inside tires of Volvo cars (240, 440, 460, 850, 480, 940, 960). 
Audi
Citroen
Recommended tire pressure for Citroen cars: Xantia, AX, C 15, ZX, BX, XM, C2, C3, C4, C5. 
Ford
Recommended tire pressure for Ford cars: Fiesta, Curier, Escort, Sierra, Mondeo, Proba, Sation, Taurus, Aerostar, Explorer, Maverick, Focus I, Focus II, Fusion (Fiesta, Courier, Escort, Sierra, Mondeo Station, Probe , Scorpio, Taurus, Aerostar, Explorer, Maverik, Focus I, Focus II, Fusion). 
Volkswagen
Recommended tire pressure for Volkswagen cars: Polo, Golf II, Golf III, Vento, Corrado, Passat, Caravel, Synchro 4x4, Jetta 2005, Ruareg (Polo, Golf II, Golf III, Vento, Corrado, Passat, Caravelle, Synchro 4 × 4, JETTA 2005, TOUAREG). 
Vaz
Recommended pressure inside tires of VAZ cars: 2104, 2105, 2106, 2107, 2108, 2109, 21099 2110, 2111, 2112, 2114, 2115, Lada Kalina, Lada Priora, Niva. 
Pay attention to the optimal parameter of the density of the injected air, influenced by the car brand, the location of the tires on the front or rear axle, the size of the tires (for radii R13, R14, R15, R16 .. the specified parameter is different) and the load of the car.
Conclusion
The fuel consumption of the car, the load on the chassis, the resource of tires, and controllability depend on the pressure in the tires. An increase in the ambient temperature leads to an increase in the density of the air injected into the tires; with a decrease in the air temperature, a decrease in the tire pressure is observed. Therefore, the density of the air with which the tires are inflated is checked after the rubber has completely cooled down: tires cannot be pumped immediately after a long trip. In winter, pump up tires in a warm garage or box, so you get as close as possible to the optimal density values.
In case of large differences in air temperature, measure the specified parameter more often. Consider: the load on the tires, regardless of the season, increases when the car is fully loaded, so adjust the density of the air pumped into the tires depending on the operating conditions of the vehicle.
The pressure in the tires of the vehicle must be checked regularly and maintained at the values recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. A deviation from the established norm can lead to a variety of consequences, and most importantly, traffic safety depends on it. What pressure should be in the tires and what it affects, we will consider in a little more detail in this article.
WHAT IS THE THREATENESS OF DEVIATION FROM THE SET PARAMETERS
On front-wheel drive cars of the Volga Automobile Plant, such as VAZ 2110, VAZ 2114 and VAZ 2115, you can install wheels with a radius of R13, R14, R15 and R16, but normally the cars are equipped with only wheel disks and tires of the 13th and 14th radius. The optimal tire pressure depends primarily on the load and weight of the car, and much more depends on the road conditions and ambient temperature.
If the wheels are poorly pumped, then:
- The tire protector will wear out faster;
- It will become more difficult to steer the car and the steering wheel will be harder to turn;
- Fuel consumption will increase, and the more the wheels are deflated, the more noticeable is the consumption of gasoline;
- There will be a tendency for the car to drift, especially on a wet and snowy road, and stability will be lost;
- The power of the car will decrease, as the resistance to movement will increase.
If the wheels are over inflated, then this is also not very good:
- When driving, all the irregularities of the road surface are felt, the ride becomes uncomfortable. In addition, the chassis wears out faster;
- Due to less adhesion to the road surface, the braking distance is lengthened, which has a detrimental effect on traffic safety;
- The tire tread wears out unevenly, and the service life of the tires is noticeably reduced;
- A hernia on the wheel may appear, besides, under high pressure when hitting an obstacle, rubber may rupture, which is completely unsafe at high speed.
Below are three pictures that show how the rubber tread adheres to the road at optimal, low and overpressure.
Many car owners are wondering what pressure in R14 tires on VAZ models should be. According to technical conditions, the wheels on a VAZ 2114 (2115) car are pumped up to 1.9 kgf / cm² (R13), on VAZ 2110-2112 cars, 2.0 kgf / cm² (R14) is recommended. Moreover, there is no difference on which axle the wheels are located - on the front or rear.
IMPACT OF WEATHER CONDITIONS AND ROAD FACTORS
The pressure in the tires of the VAZ in summer, in principle, should be the same as in winter. But in practice, in winter it is done a little lower for a number of reasons:
- Slightly flat tires allow better control of the car on slippery roads, it becomes more stable;
- The suspension is softened, and bumps in the road are not felt so;
- The braking distance becomes shorter, the likelihood of an emergency is reduced.
It is necessary to take into account the factor that after a temperature drop (after leaving a warm garage on a frosty street), the pressure in the R14 tires will decrease due to physical factors. Therefore, it should be checked before setting off, and if necessary, pump up the wheels. Also, when warmth comes after winter, pressure measurements should be taken.
The pressure in R13 tires in summer is usually maintained at 1.9 atm., But this level is designed for an average vehicle load (two or three people in the cabin). If the machine is fully loaded, then the pressure should be increased on the front axle up to 2.0-2.1 atm., On the rear axle up to 2.3-2.4 atm. The spare wheel is pumped up to 2.3 atm.
Russian roads are not of good quality, and therefore many car owners deliberately reduce the pressure in the tires so that all the irregularities of the road surface are not so noticeably felt when driving. Usually in the summer the wheels are "lowered" by 5-10%, and in the winter by 10-15% of the norm. On level tracks, you can adhere to the factory standard.
For example, a car tire pressure tableLARGE WHEELS
From the factory, the installation of wheels with a diameter of R15 and R16 is not provided, but some motorists, in pursuit of fashion and improved technical characteristics, install them on their VAZs. And accordingly, you need to know what should be the pressure in the R15 tires, and what the pressure in the R16 tires. It all depends on the workload of the VAZ model. With an average load of the car, the wheels are pumped up to 2 kgf / cm², on a loaded car it is better to pump them up to 2.2 kgf / cm². And if a lot of heavy luggage is placed in the trunk, then the rear rubber is pumped up by another 0.2 kgf / cm². It turns out that the pressure in the R14 tires is approximately the same as the pressure in the R15 and R16 tires (for the VAZ 2110-2115 models).
MEASUREMENT METHODS
How to measure the pressure in the tires of VAZ cars? Measurement can be made using a special dial gauge, but it should be noted that they may have an error of 0.2 atm. The pressure gauge can be either a separate device or as part of a wheel pump.
Measuring pressure is very simple:
- We reset the pressure gauge reading to zero;
- We turn off the cap from the wheel spool (if any);
- We put the pressure gauge union on the nipple and push;
- We look at the indication of the arrow on the device.
The pressure may rise when the tire heats up. This often happens when the driver prefers a dynamic driving style with frequent and hard braking. Therefore, the measurement is made on the car before the trip, when the wheels are not yet warmed up.
INJECTING TIRES WITH NITROGEN
Recently, it has become fashionable to pump up wheels not just with air, but with nitrogen.
There is an opinion that:
- Nitrogen keeps the pressure more stable, and when the wheel heats up, it does not change in the tires;
- Rubber does not age longer, because the pumped air with nitrogen is cleaner;
- The steel wheel rim is less rusty;
- Reduces the likelihood of rubber bursting, since nitrogen does not support combustion and reduces the risk of explosion.
Therefore, it is hardly worth giving in to the persuasion of sellers of dubious services and throwing money down the drain. The only thing that you can be sure of is that the wheels will not be worse from pumping nitrogen. If you don’t mind the money, then you can try this innovation on your car.
When purchasing a vehicle, many novice car enthusiasts often ask themselves what should be the standard parameters of pressure in R14 tires? Lack of professional knowledge on car maintenance and professional training in car operation very often becomes the reason for the owner's elementary forgetfulness to check the tire pressure. As a rule, this is considered a serious mistake and directly affects the handling of the vehicle, which can lead to a serious accident on the road and dire consequences. But let's talk about everything in order.
Tire pressure R14
The owner of the vehicle needs to know that when using the car at different temperature readings of the environment, speed and driving technique, the pressure in the wheels will change. It must be borne in mind that with a temperature difference of 10 degrees, a change of 0.1 barrel will occur. At higher temperatures, for example, + 25 ° С, the tire pressure will increase by 0.8 bar, and at -25 ° С it will decrease to 0.8 bar.
For optimal traction, the pressure in the R14 tires should be in accordance with the permissible parameters indicated by the car manufacturer.
It is necessary to control and check the density of air in the wheel every time before riding. With half-flat or over-inflated wheels, the wear will be uneven and the tire will quickly deteriorate. This factor also affects driving safety.
Remember! The pressure in the wheels also depends on:
- type of vehicle;
- carrying capacity of the car;
- wheel size;
- road coverage;
- service life;
- conditions (weather and temperature);
- from the rubber used (winter, summer, different seasonal).
What should be the pressure
For a more comfortable ride, it is necessary to select the correct pressure in the R14 tires. If your path will be on a motorway with a smooth asphalt surface, then you must set the maximum value in the wheels. This will contribute to an increase in the roll when driving and give the necessary dynamics, as well as reduce the fuel consumption of your car.
If you go on a trip on dirt or sandy roads, then for high-quality traction, the wheel should be inflated according to the minimum value. In the urban cycle, the average reading is suitable. This is the best solution.
Control standards
Remember to use a pressure gauge before riding. Properly inflated tires are the key to your safety.
Always use a vehicle with a specified tire density reading. Inflated tires not only cause uneven tire wear, but also, as a rule, increase the braking distance. This will happen due to incomplete contact of the tire with the road. You also run the risk of harming your tires, as the over-pumped wheels receive significant shock loads on uneven surfaces.
With reduced tire pressure, driving becomes more difficult. The danger of getting into a skid increases with sharp maneuvers. The vehicle consumes more fuel and, accordingly, uneven tire wear occurs.
Measurement is carried out with a special pressure gauge, which happens:
- Mechanical (switch);
- Electronic.
The unit of measurement is:
- Atmosphere (Bar) - in Russia and the CIS countries;
- PSI (Pound Per Square Inch) - in Europe, USA.
Important to remember! To measure pressure, look for a high-quality device; you should not buy cheap goods or their analogues from China.
Check the pressure just before riding on cold tires.
Winter tire pressure R14
What pressure should be in tires in winter? This question very often becomes the cause of disputes among motorists. The answer is very clear. The air density in the wheels of the car is calculated based on the weight of the car, type of transport, model, wheel size and some other parameters affecting operation. It should not disagree with the one proposed by the developer of this type of product.
The pressure in tires 175/65, 185/60, 185/65 in winter should not differ from the pressure suggested in the instructions by the car manufacturer. So, for example, for cars of the VAZ line, the air density in the wheel should be from 2.0-2.2 atmospheres. In winter, it is allowed to pump the wheel up to the maximum value, but the car owner must take into account, before driving, the weather conditions and, accordingly, choose the required pressure in the wheel chamber.
In winter, many car owners make the mistake of thinking that flat tires will guarantee a softer and more comfortable ride. The pressure in the R14 winter tires must also correspond to the specified values in the vehicle operating instructions.
From the material above, we learned how to correctly select the standard parameters of the pressure in the R14 tires and what factors can affect the pressure in the wheel. It is important to constantly monitor tire pressure, especially under different climatic conditions. It must also be remembered that the older the tire of the car, the more noticeable there is a decrease in pressure in it.
Remember and follow the manufacturer's instructions for the comfortable and safe operation of your vehicle.
The comfort and safety while driving a car is influenced by various factors: the quality of the road surface, the technical condition of the car and tire pressure, as well as the driver's ability to quickly react to changes in the environment. Tires are the element that directly interacts with the asphalt, therefore, safety largely depends on the pressure in them and their condition.
Our article will be devoted to the questions of what pressure should be in the tires.
When choosing tires, you need to pay attention to the following:
- their size - the tire is put on a disc of a certain size and if the parameters do not match, this can lead to rapid wear and loss of vehicle control;
- tread pattern - depending on the season, they choose summer or winter, and you also need to take into account where you mainly drive - city, rough terrain, dirt roads, highways;
- its characteristics - maximum load and pressure in tires, speed and weight indices, type of rubber - radial or diagonal;
- manufacturer - for example, everyone knows that Nokian, Bridgestone or Dunlop will last longer than the same Nizhnekamsk or Altai tire (although recently the quality of domestic products has improved markedly, an example is Kama-Euro).
The service life of the wheels will depend not only on the brand and their correct operation. The most important thing is to maintain the correct tire pressure.
Before putting the tire on the disk, you need to check some parameters:
- Recommended pressure for this car - a sticker with this information is usually glued on the back of the gas tank flap, glove compartment lid, on the center pillar or on the driver's door;
- Max Pressure - there is an indicator with this information on the sidewalls of the tires.
Therefore, the recommended pressure should not exceed the maximum. That is, if you pump with a compressor more air than necessary, then a high pressure will be created inside the tire, which ultimately can lead to serious consequences - up to and including rupture of the tire. And if this happens at speed, then it is not difficult to guess that your safety and the safety of the vehicle will be seriously affected.
The manufacturer's recommended pressure is usually indicated in technical atmospheres and can range from 1.4 to 3.3 atmospheres. For passenger cars of domestic and foreign production, the indicators in the tire are usually two atmospheres, there may also be indicators - 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, and so on.
Most motorists adhere to exactly these requirements.
However, it must be said right away that such parameters are calculated for some optimal conditions, for example, high-quality German autobahns. We in Russia know very well that local transport routes are often far from such standards. In addition, the values indicated on the tank lid are calculated for an average load - that is, you carry only a few passengers and do not overload the car with various building materials and weights.
Based on all of the above, we come to the conclusion that the optimal pressure is the one recommended by the manufacturer, adhere to these requirements and there will be no special problems with either the rubber or the chassis.
It is also recommended to regularly measure this indicator. In the warm season, this can be done once a month - at any gas station there is a pressure gauge and a compressor for measuring and pumping up. In winter, measure at least 2 times.
Pressure values table for domestic cars
For all brands of the domestic auto industry, the tire pressure, depending on the driving conditions, with or without load, should be the same.
| Car tire size | Tire pressure (kgf / cm 2) | |
| Front | Rear | |
| VAZ-2104 | ||
| R13-165 / 80 | 1.6 | 2.1 |
| R13-175 / 70 | 1.6 | 2.2 |
| VAZ-2105 | ||
| R13-165 / 80 | 1.6 | 1.9 |
| R13-175 / 70 | 1.7 | 2.0 |
| VAZ-2106 | ||
| R13-165 / 70 | 1.8 | 2.1 |
| R13-165 / 80 | 1.6 | 1.9 |
| R13-175 / 70 | 1.7 | 2.0 |
| VAZ-2107 | ||
| R13-165 / 80 | 1.6 | 1.9 |
| R13-175 / 70 | 1.7 | 2.0 |
| VAZ-2108/09/099 | ||
| R13-165 / 70 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| R13-175 / 70 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| R13-155 / 80 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| VAZ-2114/15 | ||
| R13-165 / 70 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| R13-175 / 70 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| VAZ-2110/11/12 | ||
| R13-175 / 70 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| R14-175 / 65 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| R14-185 / 60 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| Kalina 11183/93 | ||
| R14-175 / 70 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| R14-185 / 60 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| Priora 2170/71 | ||
| R13-175 / 70 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| R14-175 / 65 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| R14-185 / 60 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| Niva 2121/213/214 | ||
| R16-175 / 80 | 2.1 | 1.9 |
For foreign cars (Europeans, Americans, Japanese, etc.), the table of pressure values is presented in pdf format -.
Difficulties in measuring tire pressure
It would seem that everything is simple, but there are a number of problems:
- the tire heats up during movement, respectively, the air expands, the pressure increases;
- there are practically no ideal road conditions in any country;
- different units of measurement - technical atmospheres, bars, kilopascals.
The manufacturer indicates the pressure for the so-called "cold" tire, but if you have driven a hundred kilometers per day and stopped at a gas station, then the measurement result may differ significantly. Therefore, it is best to purchase your own pressure gauge for measurements and do it, for example, in the morning.
In poor road conditions - constant pits and ditches - it is recommended to lower the tires a little:
- by 5-10% in the summer;
- by 10-15% in winter.
On the one hand, this is the right decision, since the suspension will not suffer, on the other hand, the rubber wears out faster - choose the least of two evils.
Different units of measurement are another problem. Usually either atmospheres or bars are used. 1 BAR = 0.98 atmospheres. If we are talking about kilopascals, then one ATM is approximately 101.3 kilopascals.
About pressure values in winter and summer
We wrote above that lowering is allowed in winter and summer, but not more than 15%.
In winter, reduce the pressure in the tire in the following cases:
- to increase the contact patch - the flat tire adheres more tightly to the road;
- to improve traction on a snowy road.
It is worth noting that in winter, at subzero temperatures, the air in the tire also cools during long periods of inactivity, so a heated garage, where the temperature is above zero, is an ideal place to check the pressure and pump up.
In summer, the tires are flattened only if they go off-road or the quality of the roads leaves much to be desired. The explanation is simple - the tire becomes softer at lower pressure, so in the summer various shocks and shocks are not so strongly transmitted to the suspension elements. In addition, on difficult off-road conditions, flat wheels behave like tank tracks - the contact patch increases, and traction is improved.
Nevertheless, riding on not fully inflated, as well as on inflated, tires is fraught with certain dangers.
What is the risk of incorrect tire pressure?
A tire inflated according to all the rules is the key to excellent handling, moderate fuel consumption and maneuverability.
If the pressure is too low in the tire, then the following incidents may occur:
- an increased contact patch will lead to an increase in rolling resistance - the wheel will not have a shape as close as possible to a circle, but to an oval, respectively, more fuel is consumed, and in place with it, engine oil;
- flatter wheels wear out faster;
- the angle of inclination of the wheel changes, the car becomes less stable when cornering;
- there will be hernias on the court - irregularities are blown out, which can literally burst when hitting obstacles;
- lengthening the stopping distance.
Pumping won't do anything good either:
- a significant deterioration in comfort, the rigidity of the rubber increases;
- silent blocks, shock absorbers, springs, ball joints, levers fail faster, body deformations are possible;
- uneven wear of the tread;
- the braking distance increases.
There are certain positives with increased tire pressure: because the grip surface is reduced, the car obeys the steering better and feels more confident when cornering.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why tires are always inflated more than required on Formula 1 cars.
Tire nitrogen pros and cons
One of the "tricks" in recent years has become the pumping of wheels with nitrogen.
Many people laugh - in the air around us, there is already 75% of this gas. If you deal with the issue in more detail, using knowledge from chemistry and physics, then the only advantage of using it in tires is that it does not seep out of the wheel so quickly and the pressure remains stable for a long time. In all other respects, the difference is so minimal that no special changes will be felt.
Here are the main myths about nitrogen:
- this gas is much lighter - yes, indeed, it is lighter than air, but the difference per tire will be only 6-10 grams. Will this "improvement" greatly affect the dynamic performance? - the answer is obvious;
- not so susceptible to low and high temperatures - any gas and in general any substance shrinks when cold, and expands when hot;
- nitrogen does not burn and does not explode - it is difficult to imagine a situation when the air in the tire burns, the rubber itself burns, regardless of what it is inflated with;
- less aggressive and non-corrosive - there is nothing to rust inside the tire.
But nitrogen and pumping are more expensive for them, so all the advantages are far-fetched.
conclusions
Having dealt with this issue, we can draw the following conclusion:
- the optimal tire pressure is indicated by the manufacturer and should be adhered to;
- in winter, and when driving off-road, the tires can be lowered, but not more than 15%, but do not forget that the handling becomes worse, and the rubber wears out faster and the suspension is damaged;
- nitrogen does not give any advantages.
Observe traffic rules, adhere to the speed limit and regularly check the pressure in all tires - this will avoid an accident, and the car will not let you down on the way.
What is your tire pressure? Leave your opinion and comments below!
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