Tire Pressure- Mich LTX M&S

[gopriest31]

Just installed a new set of Michellin LTX M&S (stock size) on my 98'. Intially, the installer set the pressures at 29 PSI cold. Immediately the ride felt really squishy, and steering response was lazy. Reset to 32 psi cold per the owner's manual. Intially, it seems improved

Has anyone else played around with pressures on the LTX M&S on their 100 series? Any insight on pressure settings for good balance of highway smoothness and responsiveness? Any help would be appreciated
Thanks

 

[2003LC]

I had the Mich Pilots installed. Same ride as yours when they were set to factory pressure of 29 front / 32 rear. Took back to the dealer and they inflated them to 40 psi, which is higher than the max pres on the tire. I have put them back to 35 psi (max pressure) and the ride seems good. You can always call the michelin customer support for a ruling.

 

[nodaksn3]

I run 32psi on mine. They seem fine.

 

[SWUtah]

Michelin Pilot LTX M/S, I run at Lexus recommended settings 29 front / 32 rear. Seems like the correct PSI based on how the thread lays on the road and the LX rides. I run mine on the first sport setting and I love the way it rides and handles. I suggest you drive through a dusty parking lot and see how the thread is contacting the road. If you run to much air based on the tires design you won't have the outer portion of the thread touching the road, you want all the rubber on the road.

 

[1loudLX]

i run it with 35-40PSI all around, 3 years now...havent had a problem. *knocks on wood steering wheel* It runs on all the tread, even with high pressure it seems like i still wear out the outside of the tires more then the middle...maybe its the high cornering speeds.

When i first got the keys to the truck, that was about the first "mod" i did to it. The 32 all around was way to soft for my type of driving. Tires would literally roll over on themselves when i turned.

Max pressure on the 275/70/16s that i have say, 44PSI, so i run just under that at or just under 40psi.

 

[macneill]

When I rarely have my Michelins on, I run about 35 to take in account for the weight of the additional armor and winch.

The rest of the time I run my MTRs.

 

[gopriest31]

Thanks

Thanks for the replies- I drove it today at 32 psi cold, seems OK. I'll try 35 this weekend. I cant believe how much better the LTXs are than the Toyos I had- Body vibration, booming noise, steering shimmy, and pattern noise are GONE...

Bad thing is now I can hear other things which were previously drowned out by the tires. Time to turn up the radio, or maybe an audio upgrade??
Thanks

 

[SWUtah]

Thanks for the replies- I drove it today at 32 psi cold, seems OK. I'll try 35 this weekend. I cant believe how much better the LTXs are than the Toyos I had- Body vibration, booming noise, steering shimmy, and pattern noise are GONE...

Bad thing is now I can hear other things which were previously drowned out by the tires. Time to turn up the radio, or maybe an audio upgrade??
Thanks

I think if you are not going to use your LX/LC for rockcrawling or extreme off roading these LTX Michelins are the highest quality tires you can put on your lx/lc.

 

[LXPearl]

I ran my original LTX M/S tires (S rated) at 35 psi (max) and was pleased with their performance - 29/32 was too soft and squishy.

I now have the H rated version with 44 max and have moved up to about 40 psi on them. Started out at about 35 and was not as pleased at with the 40. Mileage and performance seems crisper at 38-40 psi and ride is essentially equivalent.

The LTX M/S tire with the H rating was specifically made for the LX470 (or LC), so it makes a very nice package for general use. Handling is improved over the S version.

 

[EAGuy]

different pressures front and rear

Hey all. I'm a newbie here. I've done a lot of sand driving and a little rock crawlin'. My off road rig and my street machine are two different vehicles and so run diff. tires/pressures, etc.
One thing I have learned to get the best performance from ANY vehicle is to run the spec'd pressures front and rear, adjusted for sidewall strength of whatever rubber you're runnin'. Notice I said front and rear..... Both my on-road and off-road vehicles spec different tire pressure in the front than in the rear. It makes sense when you consider the front to rear load difference in just about any vehicle. Since I do a lot of driving in the sand, adjusting tire pressures became a chore. I want both front tires to be one pressure and both rear tires to be a different pressure, but not necessarily the same as the front tires. Pain, eh?! I use a tire pressure balancing tool to help. http://thepsiclops.com
As for tire make/model, I'm a cheap S.O.B. and tend to drive the least tire that can get the job done. Funny, I spend 100 bucks on a high-tech tire gauge (mentioned above), but won't spend money on the tires!!
My 2 cents.

 

[hoser]

I use a tire pressure balancing tool to help. http://thepsiclops.com
As for tire make/model, I'm a cheap S.O.B. and tend to drive the least tire that can get the job done. Funny, I spend 100 bucks on a high-tech tire gauge (mentioned above), but won't spend money on the tires!!

Ah, a real production version of this. I like the lifetime warranty. How's the quality?

 

[EAGuy]

Holy Shmolie!! I just looked at your link. That is a LOT of money if you option it out. I think the general idea is the same. Mine auto-lights though when it is in use and stays on until it's no longer in use. It also comes in a tight little hard plastic case. It's real solid feeling overall. I've dropped it (lightly) a couple of times and it is still spot-on for accuracy. Over all I'd give it a thumbs up. Besides, the warranty should take care of any problems. The balancing part is intuitive. I mean, it doesn't indicate when balance is achieved, but you can tell pretty easily by watching the needle move.
I like it. It keeps me off my knees.
...I've only had it about one month now, by the way...

 

[gopriest31]

Thanks again

Thanks guys for the info- I plan to run the LTX MS year round; my 98' 100 is a 98% family truckster, ~2% off road beast for the forseeable future. My goal is in 2009 to get my wife a Sienna, which is what she wants, and I'm Toyota to the core, so I have to go Sienna, then turn my 98' 100 into my ride- an off road beast!

By then, it'll be long paid off and resale in the midwest will suck, so who cares!