Fellow Saturn Lovers...

[OdieTurbo]

Fellow Saturn Lovers... may I have your assistance please? Planning on starting my MPG crusade with my 2002 SL1 tomorrow, 3/28/2007. I have 2 questions that I would love some info on.

1) Increase in tire air pressure appears to be an easy and effective mod. Any suggestions on tire pressure for an SL1?

2) How do I counter-act the added wear due to over-inflation? Having been a mechanic for 7 years, I know that over-inflation will wear the center out quicker. Is there an increase in PSI that won't increase the tire wear? Or should I shoot for narrower tires and higher PSI to offset?

[davidjh72]

Forget about what it says in the manual/door jam of 30front/26rear. Fill 'em up to what's printed on the sidewall? My snow tires said 35 PSI, so that's what I set them to. My Goodyear all-seasons say 44 PSI, but I put them at an even 45 PSI. I've gotten 1-2 MPG improvement with that alone on my commute to work.

I'm interested in what other Satty drivers are going with.

[davidjh72]

I'll add that the center of the tread doesn't wear as much as the edges. I've got a Discount Tire "tread gauge" card when I got tires there. 30front/26rear or even 30/30, I measured tread-depth at 7/16s on the edges. Center 8/16s. Increasing PSI should wear the center more - even with the edges. That can't be bad can it? You want the tires to wear evenly. I see so many cars with the inner and outer edges bald, with another year's tread-life on the center from under-inflation.

[zpiloto]

This should get you started. In the end it's what you're comfotable with.

[davidjh72]

Originally Posted by zpiloto

This should get you started. In the end it's what you're comfotable with.

Good read zpiloto! Thanks for sharing.

[OdieTurbo]

Originally Posted by zpiloto

This should get you started. In the end it's what you're comfotable with.

Yes, very good read! Gives me some ideas where to start. With a 130 mile daily commute, I should see a difference in tire pressures within 2 days. Thanks!

[Bill in Houston]

Originally Posted by OdieTurbo

2) How do I counter-act the added wear due to over-inflation? Having been a mechanic for 7 years, I know that over-inflation will wear the center out quicker.

This is a non-issue. You will not wear out the center of your tires before the edges.

[zpiloto]

Originally Posted by davidjh72

Good read zpiloto! Thanks for sharing.

No Problem. Lots of this stuff has been covered before. There is a good search engine on the forum at the top that says "Search The Forum" If you have an idea just type it in there. There is still more on tire pressures if you want more info. Good luck

[cfg83]

OdieTurbo -

I do the 10% rule. My tires are rated at 40(*) PSI, so I subtract 10% and drive at around 40 PSI.

EDIT : (*) The above should be 44, not 40.

CarloSW2

[zpiloto]

Originally Posted by cfg83

OdieTurbo -

I do the 10% rule. My tires are rated at 40 PSI, so I subtract 10% and drive at around 40 PSI.

CarloSW2

Is that the new math? 10% of 40 is 0