Yokohama AVS ES100 - 40+ PSI? [Archive] (2024)

Beach Dweller

27th May 2005, 10:00

I have a base 2003. I just replaced my oem turanzas (after 28,000 miles) with this tire (205/45/16). The local shop inflated them to 50 psi, and I had a cow when I checked them. As background, I plan to get an alignment there. I showed them the specs I want to try (a little less aggressive than a Lanny: front/rear; -1.0/-1.5; 1/16 toe in each wheel--although I am toying with 0 for the front wheels; 4.5 to 5 caster). They didn't bat an eye; in fact they had just done another miata and used an even more aggressive set-up (more negative camber). The reason I mention this is that I think it shows they are somewhat familiar with performance tires, alignments, etc. and are not hacks.

So, they said the 50 PSI was intentional, although I could run less; but they recommended not less than 40 PSI. I searched and read many threads about tire pressure, but lots are old. Any new data points for this tire & this situation?

BTW, I don't autocross (yet), but I do like to go fast around curves. No performance mods on the car, stock everything except a few cosmetic items.

elbee

27th May 2005, 10:07

Curves in Myrtle Beach? Maybe that airport/mall exit....17 southbound side is it?

50 psi is ridiculous. 40 is too high. 28-35 is good.

OceanRagtop

27th May 2005, 10:21

Depends on the specific deformation of a given tire in combination with your car's weight and your driving style. While I can see that 40psi would be about all that could be done on a T-rated Bridgestone Potenza RE-910 tire to keep it off the sidewalls, there's simply no way that a Bridgestone Potenza S-03 driven the same way on the same car is going to need the same pressures to keep the correct contact patch and resist sidewall roll-over. 50psi no more works for every situation than the 26psi sitting on the label in the door jamb of your Miata. Depends.

You can get the answer yourself. Grab a piece of chalk and draw a thick line over the tread's outer shoulder blocks and down over the sidewall. Set the pressures. Drive spiritedly for 15mins on your favorite local road. Evaluate the grip you felt. Evaluate the roll-over. If no rollover, try dropping pressures all around by -3psi. Evaluate with chalk again. There's simply no way that 50psi is going to give you nearly the grip and ride quality of something in the ~28-35psi range. (Track and autox needs notwithstanding.)

Data point: My car is a 96M with stock springs, adjustable shocks, fresh bushings, front and rear performance anti-sway bars, front and rear bracing (STB), with an alignment at performance settings matched to my style, and grippy T1-S tires. I typically run with 29-31psi out back and 30-32psi up front; plus 2psi for spirited canyon carving sessions; plus another 2-3psi for hard autox or track. By far, the best grip is right around 29-30psi.

- Michael

Beach Dweller

27th May 2005, 15:19

Elbee, you obviously feel my pain! The twisties in the Myrtle Beach area are few and far between, but you get to know them really well. Right on about the on & off ramps at 17 by-pass & the mall/airport. I've managed to discover a few more as well (notably, the exit from Grissom Parkway to 17 North--coming from either direction).

Ocean Ragtop, thanks for the excellent suggestion. I will do that; although it will be about 500-1000 miles probably before my tires break in to be able to get a true sense of the grip. For now, I think I am going to set the pressure at 35.

AZ Roadster

27th May 2005, 15:32

50 psi is WAY too much for any tire on a Miata. I have ES100's on my MSM and I run 29 psi when cold. A kid at my local Discount Tire once tried to tell me that I had to run at least 40 psi, and has set my new Yoko's to that pressure - even after I had requested 29 psi when the deal was being written up. :bang: I chalked it up to youthful ignorance. I made them go back and reset them as well. I have tried up to 35 psi but the ride gets too stiff for me. Of course, track conditions may be different.

Ben

kabel

27th May 2005, 15:36

elbee

27th May 2005, 16:47

Crashton

27th May 2005, 17:40

chuckerants

27th May 2005, 22:52

wales

28th May 2005, 20:07

Ted Foureagles

29th May 2005, 09:06

I like to run about 50 psi for the first couple of heat cycles on new tires. I must have once had a good reason for this, but it escapes me now. I'll sometimes take my 195/50/15 ES-100s up to 40 psi for a long road trip to help with fuel efficiency, and that's generally where I start an autocross that allows enough runs for tire fiddling. The chalk tells me that they're working best for the most part down around 35, and they're more predictable in the canyons at 28-30.

}}}}

Beach Dweller

29th May 2005, 10:13

I really appreciate all the data points. I ran my oem turanzas at 30 psi (street). Just yesterday I bumped my new ES 100s down to 35 for a highway trip to Wilmington, and the ride felt very comfortable.

Elbee, thanks very much for the alignment recommendation! I pass that Michelin place everyday on my way to work. I plan to give Harry's Discount Tire Center a try for the alignment, but it's good to have a tried & true alternative waiting in the wings.