ContiEco Contact Question - Tyre pressure

[kenny320]

I need some advice on tyre pressures for the Chim. Its got a set of ContiEco Contacts on it and I'm not sure what the correct pressures should be. Currently they're at 28psi all round but I'm wondering if this is too high as the car seems VERY hard riding at the moment, much more so than it used too. I'm wondering if they were set too high when it was MOT'd.

Any ideas would be really helpful

[chris_chim]

I would suggest you start at the handbook values, 22 front, 24 back and vary from there until it feels about right.
Interesting choice of tyre, do you get many more mpg from them?

[kenny320]

chris_chim said:

I would suggest you start at the handbook values, 22 front, 24 back and vary from there until it feels about right. Interesting choice of tyre, do you get many more mpg from them?

They aren't my tyres of choice I regret to say. They are what was on the car when it was acquired. I'm thinking of changing them quite soon, probably for bridgestones or Toyos. The problem is that I reckon the pressures may be too high at the moment, and that may be affecting the handling.

The basic story is that I have had access to this car for the last year or so (the owner is a family friend). In February I drove it at xxx mph with no problems at all. The car handled very high speeds on less-than-perfect roads withuot any problems.

However, a few months later the rear dampers failed and the owner continued to use it for some time before replacing them. Since the shocks failed and after their replacement the high speed abilities of the car seem to have disappeared and I'm trying to find the root cause. I'm hoping it may be the pressure as they seem far too high to me. Whatever it takes, I need to get this car back into tip top condition cos its just so damn good to drive

I'll try dropping the pressures to the levels you suggest and see how it goes.

[chris_chim]

Are they definately the right sizes (205/55 15 front and 225/50 or 55 16 on the back)?
If not this may have all sorts of weird effects...

[kenny320]

I know the rears are certainly correct, I'll check the fronts. The weird behaviour only started when the rear shocks went though. It certainly doesn't handle like it did thats for sure. I'll try lowering the pressures a bit and see how it feels.