Tire pressure Manual vs. Max

I am driving a 1991 560SEL. The door panel label tells me to have the tire pressure at 27psi for normal load inthe summer. The max tire pressure stamped on the sidewalls of the tires is 41psi.

1. What should I have the pressure at?
2. I have it at 35psi now. What change will I notice by going either up to 41, or down to 27?
3. Why is there such a difference between the two pressures?

Thanks

[Gilly]

I think if you check again, there will be a different pressure listed between the front and rear tires. The pressures MB gives it what you should use, there should be a couple different pressures listed in the fuel filler flap. If you don't load down the car with luggage and people, the lower set of pressures should be fine. If you do happen to really load it up say for a trip, i would up the pressure to the higher "max load" pressure on the label.
What the tire manufacturer lists on the sidewall you should never go over on that tire, it's what the tire manufacturer says is the most air pressure you can safely run on that tire, assuming a cold tire. There should be more info on this topic in your owners manual as well.

The pressures inside the front door and on the fuel tank door are MINIMUMS! If you run those pressures, you run the risk of wearing the tires down the middle of the tread, most especially the right rear, don't ask why. I don't know why, but I know that it happens.

I have run 32 front and 35 rear on all my MB's with great success. But, all mine have listed 29 front and rear as I recall.

Good luck,

The pressures inside the front door and on the fuel tank door are MINIMUMS! If you run those pressures, you run the risk of wearing the tires down the middle of the tread, most especially the right rear, don't ask why the right rear. I don't know why, but I know that it happens.

I have run 32 front and 35 rear on all my MB's with great success. But, all mine have listed 29 front and rear as I recall.

Good luck,

[G-Benz]

Note that ambient temps affect these parameters greatly, so make sure you are not pressurizing to the max on a cold day only to have the tires overinflated on a hot day!

Same the other way around...recommended pressures by MB would be underinflated on very cold days...

"Cold inflation" temps described by the tire manufacturer implies 70-75F, not "winter" cold.

gillybenztech - You are correct, there are several combinations, I chose a simple one. There are situations on the flap that recommend 30psi in the rear.

I guess I will take "LarryBible's" advice and adjust for 32psi in the front and 35psi in the rear.

Thanks for the info.

[rickjordan]

On my TD's fuel door, there are actually 3 different pressure settings. Regular load, heavy load, and for traveling speeds of above 100 mph. Normal pressure is 28 front, 32 rear. My Passat has similar recommendations. Find an American that even "suggests" you might be traveling 100+ mph.