How strict is everyone on keeping the air pressure exact. I am supposed to have 32 in the fronts and 36 in the rears. Do I need to add air if I am 1 pound low, one of the fronts had 31 and one of the rears had 35. (In fact I think I lost the 1 pound of air when I was trying to check it)

Thanks Russ

Edited by - RussK on 01/31/2006 10:53:00 AM

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Pressures vary with the weather conditions. Weekly adjustments are plenty along with a visual inspection each time you drive to make sure no tire is going down (wheels are expensive).

I only adjust mine when it drops by 5% or more (ie: 3-4lbs).


Paul

Pro racers adjust tire pressure in 1 lb or even 1/2 lb increments... On a motorcycle, on the track I could feel a difference in 1-2 lbs. For the street that's overkill and I do just what SF is saying. My opinionis that within about 10% is ok. That's about the thresehold I can feel the difference and that's about the range of change the weather will cause.

Russ
Historically, Porsche's recs for tire pressure have not been based on what yields the best handling, but on a compromise of many additional factors such as fuel mileage, noise, wheel protection, tire wear, a bias for understeer, etc. I've no doubt that Cayman owners will experiment & consensus performance recs will emerge.

Use a good quality tire gauge: by the time your tire looks low, you'll be at a level low enough to cause tire damage.

Don't sweat a few pounds, although you may be able to detect a perfomance difference from a 2# change. For track use, when pressures are set by tread temps, a 1/2 # change makes a noticeable difference. So it really depends on how you drive, how sensitive your butt is to your car, & how compulsive you are.

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Dan

Great Info! This place is the best and so are its members!

Mahalo Russ

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Russ K, What wheels do you have. If they are 19' then I think you are running them a bit low at 31/34. after that then a pound or so all around is not a problem unless the fronts are off from each other which would give pre mature tire wear and other handling malady's.

This topic brings a good question about tire gauges - are people mainly using digital these days, and are there any with a bleeder valve ? I noticed that the gauges sold by Porsche are analog and I think one of them has a valve.

On the same topic - are people pumping directly from a compressor or using a tank - I use the tank method and then go arround and top up each wheel as needed.

I have really nice digital gauge, but I found it a little hard not to let air out when trying to get a reading. I am sure that I allowed at least 1/2 pound to escape during the process.

Can't we just use the pump that comes with the car to add air to our tires?

Russ

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I have a small compressor and a small tank - I could just pump directly, but I find it easier to pump up the tank to about 100 psi and top up each tire - in the end I find it a faster procedure, and those tanks are not expensive ( in Canada about $30 so it should be around $20 or less in the US ). As Russ pointed out, it is hard to get a reading with some gauges - the good once will have a rubber seal.

I use an analog tire gauge by Accugauge. It does have a bleeder valve which is pretty handy. They come with a lifetime warranty and have very quick warranty repair service. Not very expensive either....If I remember correctly they are about $10-12.

I use the Porsche tire guage, works great and comes in a really cool case!

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