Additionally, the pressures specified by the manufacturer are set to
provide balanced handling. By inflating to the maximum pressure as on
the side wall you have "unbalanced" the vehicle as well as diminished
the "tire contact patch" ( the actual surface area in contact with
the road) because an over inflated tire rides only on the centre of
the tire. This will cause premature wear as only part of the tread is
in contact with the road. It also of course adversely effects braking
and cornering capability..

The manufacturers specs are there for good reason.  Use them.

On 15-Apr-10, at 1:55 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

>
> Date:    Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:04:06 -0700
> From:    Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: Tire Pressure - what's on the sidewall or what's on
> the van?
>
>  RE: Tire Pressure
> The pressure number on the sidewall of the tire is the MAXIMUM tire
> pressure, NOT what you should normally be running.  For Westies the
> later
> models, for stock 185R14 C or D rated tires VW suggests 43 front,
> 53 rear
> and for the 20570s 30 front, 40 rear.  I've found the 43/53 figure
> (or just
> above) to give, at least for me, the best driving.  And wear is even.
>
> ------------------------------