Toyota Prius: why prius front tire pressure higher than rear?

<com> wrote in message
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My guess is that since the Prius is front wheel drive, the higher pressure
will help improve fuel economy. Lower pressure in the rear reduces some of
the ride harshness.

It is more common to see higher tire pressure specified for the rear tires,
especially for rear wheel drive vehicles, because that is where the cargo is
usually carried.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

The front axle of a front-wheel drive car carries 55%-65% of the total car
weight, requiring more air pressure in the front tires.
Additionally, the front axle is carrying 80%-90% of the total car weight
under heavy braking, when the "weight-shift" causes the car to nosedive from
the deceleration.

Dick



<com> wrote in message
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<com> wrote in message
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Put in 42 front, 40 rear for maximum mpg.

"Ron Sleeter" <com> wrote ... 

I did this to try to compensate for the tread wearing more at the edges
than at the center. I can't say that I've seen any difference in mpg.

Al
2005 with 20K miles

In article <com>
com "Ron Sleeter" writes:
 

Um. I mis-read the pressure chart on my Prius and over-inflated
the tyres. Fortunately, not long afterwards I happened to visit
the dealer/garage (the same that gave out champagne to compensate
for a recall's "hassle") and happened to mention the pressure I'd
used... A strained look crossed the face of the dealer-bod, who
suggested that he take the car aside and adjust the pressure down
to what was _actually_ recommended on the chart. He did and the
mpg stayed much the same: currently getting around 57mpgUK. OTOH
I suspect tyre life and the safety of my ride improved. (FWIW, I
don't have the tyre pressure tables handy.)

(BTW, 57 mpgUK == 45.6 mpgUS.)
--
Andrew Stephenson

I read elsewhere about this use of 42 psi for mileage, but it seems to
me it would compromise safety by decreasing skid threshold in the event
of a rapid stop and/or rapid maneuver on wet roads?


Ron Sleeter wrote: 

<com> wrote in message
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Maybe by one percent. Proper inflation is important to minimize the
possibility of bruise breaks from hitting pot holes and stress fractures
leading to a thrown tread. The 42/40 pressures recommended by many (I use
these pressures) are within my tire's rating.

<com> wrote in message
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I have never heard of the term "skid threshold" but if you are talking about
the point at which the tires lose traction with the road surface or
something like the coefficient of friction, then the higher tire pressure
doesn't compromise safety. There are so many variables that affect tire
performance and tire life that a change in 1 variable will be offset by
changes in others.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)