Chevrolet Corvette Tire Pressure Guide

Letting out a little air might help your Vette get better traction on the racetrack, but running a lower tire pressure than the tire manufacturer recommends can cause you to get worse mileage, while also being very dangerous. Next time you drive your Chevrolet Corvette, try a quick walk around to visually check the tires beforehand or check the tire pressure with a gauge; taking only a few minutes, it can prevent poor performance and dangerous situations in your Corvette.

Tire pressure that is too low allows the sidewall to move in a manner
that isn’t intended by the manufacturer which can cause the car to
handle very poorly. This also causes increased wear to the tire and can
often cause unnecessary stress to the sidewall; and as tires get older,
that increased stress is more likely to cause sudden blow outs. Danger
aside, low tire pressure causes more rolling resistance when driving,
which can cause the car to get decreased fuel mileage as it takes more
effort for the engine to keep the car moving. Low tire pressure can
allow the tire to make more contact with the road surface, which is why
many drag cars run incredibly low pressure, but that is not a safe
practice for public roads.

Most people don’t often think about overinflating, but it can cause
just as many problems, although it is less common. When tire pressure
is too high, the surface of the tire becomes bowed outward and this
causes the “footprint” of the tire against the road shrink. A smaller
footprint means that you have less contact with the road and the tires
will not hold the road well, especially in bad weather. Higher than
normal tire pressure also causes the car to have a rougher ride, as
there is less shock absorption by the tires so the driver will feel
more road vibration through the steering wheel and chassis. High tire
pressure can be a benefit to some people, as the exaggerated tire
pressure allows for less rolling resistance and added cornering ability
in close corners. However, as is the case with extremely low tire
pressure, very high tire pressure should be kept to the track and you
should always follow the tires manufacturers recommendation for tire
pressure when driving on public roads.