Have I been over inflating?

[Alchemist]

I've been running 40psi in my 20" Y spoke alloys (which is what they had in them when I bought the car), but having checked the ratings on the door pillar it seems this is too high. This could also explain the extra firm ride (I know they are firm anyway with low profile R/F tyres) and perhaps why I had a cracked rim.

I have a 7 seater with 275/40 R20 (front) and 315/35 R20 (rear) types, which states a range of 2.1/2.4 front and 2.3/2.9 rear. So (converting to PSI) I should be aiming in the middle - hence: 33 psi (front) and 39psi (rear).

I'd be interested to know what pressures others run with similar sized wheels. I rarely use all seven seats, mostly just the wife and two kids. I also tow from time to time but always top the pressures up before doing so.

Andrew

[mr angry]

I run 32psi all round on the same sized tyres

[marti]

I also run on 2.2 bar (32psi) all round....

[Waka]

I have those wheels on my 7 seater (usually with a 12 stone dog in the boot) and run them at the higher end of those ranges with no problems.

[Alchemist]

I have those wheels on my 7 seater (usually with a 12 stone dog in the boot) and run them at the higher end of those ranges with no problems.

Thanks as in you're running the 20" or the 18" wheels?

[Waka]

Oops sorry, read your post too quick!

I'm running a set of staggered 20" wheels.

[Leslie]

I have 20s oridinary tyres not runflats and use 35 front and 39 rear as too low and the rear inside and front outside will wear out quite quickly .

[X5Sport]

Staggered 20” and staggered 19” winter and only ever run at 32-33psi. I have used higher pressures under full load but the transmission showed it’s displeasure as soon as the load was removed. ‘*’ rated tyres.

[Leslie]

Might try 33 all round and see what its like

[Alchemist]

Thanks all, I've dropped to 32 front and 34 rear, will see how it runs as looking for a slightly more forgiving ride (on me, the tyres and the transmission!).

[DavetheBlade]

It seems if you run the recommened tyre pressures you'll get feathering of the front outer tyre edges despite running the correct geo settings. Mention this at service and BMW will of course "check" your car and low and behold you'll get it back wth 40psi in the front or at least I did .

[Graeme]

Mine is a 2007 E70 3.Od 7 seater on 19" wheels. Tracking was adjusted to correct excess wear on the insides of the rears. Recommendation to follow the inflation figures given on the door pillar - 2.1/2.3bar with a light load, 2.4/2.9bar fully loaded ort towing.. In 163k miles I've never had feathering on the fronts (usually a sign of incorrect tracking) and for the past 60k no excess wear on the rears - and that includes a lot of towing with the pressures at the higher figure given.

My best advice is have the tracking properly set front and rear and use advised pressure for the size of tyres you have.

Graeme

[Huxsta]

We have an 11 plate 4.0d on 20” 333 alloys staggered set up the same. I run Dunlop sport max gt all round at 39 psi. I get NO edge wear on any corner. My fronts have as much on the shoulders as they do in the middle and they are getting close to the wear bars. The rears the same although they have about 6mm across the whole widths. I will never run lower than these pressures......,even though I might loosen some teeth!!!