Just Checked Tire Pressure - And Got A Surprise

[TrueFaith]

My 2.5 6MT has a little under 1000 miles on it. I hadn't checked the tire pressure since I bought it, so yesterday I got out my gauge just to see if I had lost any air. That's when I found out the pressure in all 4 tires was 45psi!!! WTF!!!Pressure for the Contis I have is supposed to be 32psi. I let out enough air to get the pressure where it was supposed to be, but why would the pressure be that high? Was it transported from the factory like that or do you think this was a dealer prep screw-up?

[rjdmmfl1]

were the tires cold or warm when you checked them?

I.e., did you check them early in the morning, before you drove them, or did you check them after you had driven around for a while?

My 2.5 6MT has a little under 1000 miles on it. I hadn't checked the tire pressure since I bought it, so yesterday I got out my gauge just to see if I had lost any air. That's when I found out the pressure in all 4 tires was 45psi!!! WTF!!!Pressure for the Contis I have is supposed to be 32psi. I let out enough air to get the pressure where it was supposed to be, but why would the pressure be that high? Was it transported from the factory like that or do you think this was a dealer prep screw-up?

[Scandinavian Flick]

were the tires cold or warm when you checked them?

I.e., did you check them early in the morning, before you drove them, or did you check them after you had driven around for a while?

tires go up or down 1 psi for every 10 degrees farenheit that it changes, so it would have to go up 130 degrees to get to that psi, thats over the normal air temp, his tires would of been between 200 to 220 degrees , he wouldnt of been able to take that temp if they were that hot, so im thinking that the dealer screwed up in the prep

[rjdmmfl1]

tires go up or down 1 psi for every 10 degrees farenheit that it changes, so it would have to go up 130 degrees to get to that psi, thats over the normal air temp, his tires would of been between 200 to 220 degrees , he wouldnt of been able to take that temp if they were that hot, so im thinking that the dealer screwed up in the prep

or both! I wasn't suggesting that they would be that high just from driving, my bad, I should have been more specific in my response

I think it was a combination of both, the dealer could have set the tires at 40 Psi, and itt could have jumped a few degrees if he took the measurement whie the tires were warm!

To the OP, a very simple solution is to just let your car sit for an hour or two, and then go out with your tire pressure gauge, and set them where you want them!

[TrueFaith]

I checked the tires at 10AM before I had driven the Coupe at all that day, so they were stone cold. Finding one tire at 45 was a shock, but the other 3 all within 1-2psi of 45 also? Either someone's gauge wasn't working (I checked mine with a 2nd gauge) or somebody wasn't paying attention when they were filled. I drove through a torrential downpour that afternoon thinking I would have been hydroplaning pretty good if I hadn't discovered the error.

[Scandinavian Flick]

glad you found it, also now.. your cars tires will last longer, the center of the tire wont be all worn, AND on a good note, now your car should accelerate slighty faster,

[Cali 2 Balti G]

There is another recent thread about tire pressure. The discussion involved recommended pressure. Some folks think the tire sidewall is the place to get this information. I think this is incorrect - because the tire sidewall only tells you the max pressure for the TIRE only - not any specific vehicle application. The specs for your vehicle are on the vehicle usually on the door jam or sometimes under the hood of your car and your manual.

So in this case the tech (rookie?) may have set the tires according to the sidewall which is a max. pressure and not the reco. pressure for your car.

[beeristasty]

i swear i read somewhere that the factory over-inflates tires to help prevent flat spotting. It made sense to me, since cars can sit for a while. And before the car rolls off the lot, the dealer is supposed to do an exit inspection. My memory is a little fuzzy though

[adidas2go]

There is another recent thread about tire pressure. The discussion involved recommended pressure. Some folks think the tire sidewall is the place to get this information. I think this is incorrect - because the tire sidewall only tells you the max pressure for the TIRE only - not any specific vehicle application. The specs for your vehicle are on the vehicle usually on the door jam or sometimes under the hood of your car and your manual.

You are correct that the stock tire pressure is in the door jam, however, you get aftermarket wheels, now where does your tire pressure info come from? The sidewall of the tire. That is always the correct place to use. 10 psi below max pressure and your good to go

[Major153]

My 2.5 6MT has a little under 1000 miles on it. I hadn't checked the tire pressure since I bought it, so yesterday I got out my gauge just to see if I had lost any air. That's when I found out the pressure in all 4 tires was 45psi!!! WTF!!!Pressure for the Contis I have is supposed to be 32psi. I let out enough air to get the pressure where it was supposed to be, but why would the pressure be that high? Was it transported from the factory like that or do you think this was a dealer prep screw-up?

I got my car the same way - stupid dealership... so much for the $1300 PDI (pre delivery inspection)

Anyways, my spare was also at 45 psi - you might want to checkc that too...Cheers

[Coupe du Jour]

My Coupe tires were fine but my previous ride an 02 Maxima SE came from the dealership with one tire @ 45psi. !!!!!!!

[TrueFaith]

I got my car the same way - stupid dealership... so much for the $1300 PDI (pre delivery inspection)

Anyways, my spare was also at 45 psi - you might want to checkc that too...Cheers

Good idea and I hadn't thought about that. While I don't have too many complaints about the dealership where I bought my Coupe, they were a bit lax in the final inspection at pick-up time. The salesman kept insisting that I could recharge the battery of the fob by inserting it in the dash slot and I kept correcting him since I had already read the manual on line.

[marlin29311]

I got my car the same way - stupid dealership... so much for the $1300 PDI (pre delivery inspection)

Anyways, my spare was also at 45 psi - you might want to checkc that too...Cheers

your spare tires should be that high - the donuts are high pressure tires meant to be kept at that level. In fact, if i remember correctly, it should be 65 psi...

And my dealer inflated the tires on my 3.5 to 40psi as well...

[RussTee]

Glad to hear it's happening to others. I test drove mine, but didn't notice the TPSM light on. Half way home, I did. The stupid-#$$ service guy actually tried to tell me that I did something. My tires had over 40 psi in them, as well.

Off topic, but I've had 5 Altimas over the past 10 years. I currently have two '08's. Last year, the dealership hired this obnoxious jerk to run the shop. He is so pompous and pretentious. When the rear speaker in my coupe, blew (after only 3 weeks), again, the idiot tried to charge me. My wife, who is usually very sweet and calm, let him have an earful. I was there, and it was great. You know, you spend a hell of a lot of money, and who wants to be treated like an idiot by some service jerk. Sorry, rant over. Thanks for the vent...

[Rev_D21]

Did Obama jump out and pat you on the back?

[RussTee]

Did Obama jump out and pat you on the back?

NO. But he did tell me that if I voted for him, the first thing he would do when in office, would be to have that guy fired.

[xeene]

Did Obama jump out and pat you on the back?

that was spot on!

45 psi isn't that bad, look on the bright side you'll save money on gas but your ride will be rough and your suspension will do more work. btw, the tires burst pressure is around 200psi so i wouldn't freak out about it. i run my tires between 35 and 40psi, max on them says 44.

Modified by xeene at 9:15 AM 8/6/2008
Modified by xeene at 9:15 AM 8/6/2008

[Major153]

your spare tires should be that high - the donuts are high pressure tires meant to be kept at that level. In fact, if i remember correctly, it should be 65 psi...

And my dealer inflated the tires on my 3.5 to 40psi as well...

Hmm... that's interesting. My spare is a full size wheel that can be interchanged with my stock wheels. It says ~45psi on the side wall, so I think 65psi is a bit high

[marlin29311]

Your sedan has a full size spare (the 3.5 has an option for the full size spare)- the coupe has a donut no matter what you do. The donuts have high pressure - 60psi recommended.

[pm_page6776]

OK, here it goes... 32 psi seems to be ideal for most tires, however nissan designed your TPMS light to come on at 29 psi. We car people do not have a problem maintaining our tire pressure but most people do. All they know is that amber light keeps comming on. This is why service stations are inflating tires slightly above 32 psi. As for 45 psi, I would agree that is a bit too high. Nissans come from the factory with the tires inflated to MAX pressure and sometimes above!!! The pressures should have been corrected with your pre-delivery inspection. I like to set tire pressures to about 36-38 psi. This tends to be a good window where your light will stay off between oil changes, will not cause premature tire wear, and provides a comfortable ride.