Is it fine to have lower tire pressure than the manual suggests?

My tire pressure is lower than what the manual says (270 kPa or more) and slightly different between the front and back tires. I don’t know the exact values right now, but there are no warnings from the car, and everything feels fine while driving. Should I be concerned?

It might slightly impact your range, but it’s not a big deal. Just top it up when you get the chance. Your car will give a warning if the pressure gets too low.

That’s only about a 2% difference. If you’re using ‘Murican Freedom Units™, that’s around 36 psi—no biggie.

Kyrie said:
That’s only about a 2% difference. If you’re using ‘Murican Freedom Units™, that’s around 36 psi—no biggie.

As a true Freedom Unit fan, I saw “270” and thought, HOW DID THEY NOT EXPLODE?! Then I realized you weren’t talking psi.

@Ashby
I had the same moment of panic, until I noticed “tyre” was spelled in some foreign sorcery. :grin:

I’ve driven with low tire pressure before, and the car felt awful. Wouldn’t recommend letting it get too low.

I genuinely thought you were talking about PSI for a second.

It’s pretty normal for tire pressure to drop in the winter or if you’re driving off-road. Lower pressure helps with grip in those cases. But if you want the best efficiency, stick to what’s recommended in the manual.

Lower pressure can actually improve ride comfort. Overinflated tires make the car bouncier. I keep mine at 36 psi and it rides much smoother.

I’ve never seen my tire pressure in triple digits! Though, I just fixed mine—finally got rid of a nail that’s been in there for over a year. :roll_eyes:

Keaton said:
I’ve never seen my tire pressure in triple digits! Though, I just fixed mine—finally got rid of a nail that’s been in there for over a year. :roll_eyes:

It’s a different unit, kPa instead of psi. 270 kPa is around 39 psi.

@Donovan
I honestly thought Europeans just drove around with ridiculously high tire pressure!

Shannon said:
@Donovan
I honestly thought Europeans just drove around with ridiculously high tire pressure!

Well, the ride might be a bit rough, but hey, the efficiency would be amazing—until the tire blows out!

@Donovan
Kilos per acre? They should switch to hectares instead of acres. Amateurs.