What is the appropriate tire pressure for a cold car in winter?
3 Answers
In winter, when the car is cold, the front tire pressure of 2.2-2.3 bar and the rear tire pressure of 2.4-2.5 bar are within the normal range. The specific tire pressure should be based on the value indicated for each vehicle. According to the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, the tire pressure in summer can be 0.1-0.2 bar lower than the reference value in the manual, while in winter it can be 0.1-0.2 bar higher. The relevant details are as follows: Generally, the lower limit of the standard tire pressure for car tires is sufficient. For example, the lower limit for standard tires is 2.4 bar. If the car is often parked outdoors, the tire pressure can generally be about 0.1 bar lower than the standard to avoid tire blowouts due to high temperatures. According to the regulations and requirements of the international GBT2978-2008 standard, the tire pressures for different tires are as follows: standard tires are 2.4-2.5 bar; reinforced tires are 2.8-2.9 bar; the maximum pressure should not exceed 3.5 bar. Abnormal tire pressure: Generally, an alarm will be triggered if the pressure is below 1.8 bar or above 3.0 bar. At this time, tire inspection and pressure adjustment are required.
I've been pondering about cold weather tire pressure for a long time. Veteran drivers like us who've been driving in the north for ten years are accustomed to inflating tires slightly more than in summer. Specifically, we refer to the standard values marked on the door frame or fuel cap label, usually adding 0.1-0.2 bar. Last week when helping my neighbor check his SUV, the nominal tire pressure of 2.3 bar had dropped to 1.9, with all four tire sidewalls cracked from ice ridges. Now with temperatures dropping to -10°C overnight, it's normal for tire pressure to decrease by 0.1 bar overnight. Remember, parking in underground garages results in less pressure loss than parking outdoors. Using a mechanical gauge to check twice a month is the most reliable—those fancy tire pressure monitoring systems can sometimes be deceiving.
As a frequent long-distance driver, I pay special attention to three details about tire pressure in winter: First, check the vehicle's labeled full-load/empty-load standard values, such as my car's 2.4bar cold tire pressure. Second, always inspect when the car is cold, meaning it has been parked for over three hours or driven less than 3 kilometers. Lastly, consider load variations. Last week when driving my parents back home with a fully packed trunk, I inflated the tires to the recommended full-load value of 2.5bar in advance, and the car felt noticeably more stable on icy roads. Higher tire pressure saves fuel but makes the ride bumpier, while lower pressure increases fuel consumption and damages tire shoulders—this balance must be carefully managed.
