However Subaru and other AWD manufacturers have recommended using higher pressures (usually 2 or 3 PSI) in the fronts than the rears. This is because the engine and trans place more weight over the front tires. Discount Tires also suggests using higher pressure in the front tires to reduce understeer in AWD cars for performance driving.

The Discount tire chart still shows higher pressure for the front tires for rear engine cars, thus the argument that having more weight on that end should have more tire pressure doesn't make sense.

Tire pressures are always a compromise for ride comfort, handling, tire wear, and other factors. IMO, the engineers at the factory know best for normal every day driving.

 

The Discount tire chart still shows higher pressure for the front tires for rear engine cars, thus the argument that having more weight on that end should have more tire pressure doesn't make sense.

Tire pressures are always a compromise for ride comfort, handling, tire wear, and other factors. IMO, the engineers at the factory know best for normal every day driving.

I have been doing more research. Most of the late model Subarus including the Crosstrek have factory recommended higher front PSI. The Honda CRV does too. AND TOYOTA RECOMMENDS higher front tire PSI than the rear tires in the RECENT COROLLA (FWD) both gas and hybrid! So why not in our RAV4s?

 

The fronts are going to register higher once you get some heat in them anyway. I don't know if this is enough to make a difference or hair splitting. I thought the gas RAV handled pretty well. I was a little surprised that for rotations they recommended front to rear and rear to front without crossing, easy to do at home with two floor jacks. My guess is all this stuff is for simplicity sake for a high volume vehicle and has a built in level of protection if for some reason they started installing directional tires. One thing for sure although counter intuitive is to have the tires that will provide the most traction on the rears. I once read even professional road racers could not control a FWD biased car with worn rears in the wet. So for all of you didn't rotate your tires that want to buy just two tires and put them on the front not a good idea.

 

I thought the gas RAV handled pretty well.

I do too. However, there are several guys that push their RAVs harder than I do and they experience understeer and usually install thicker or stiffer rear sway bars to compensate. Recently on ToyotaNation a poster was asking me about stiffer rear coils because he did not like his RAVs understeer. I started this thread to see whether anyone had experience with how the tire pressures would effect the handling.

 

if you had access to a scale you could weigh the axels front and rear and see the weight as loaded with fuel and persons.
also the tires and side walls make a difference on handling.

more belts is a stiffer tire on trucks.
but you loose ride with the heavy duty tires as well as more tire pressure and contact patch.
but a higher pressure helps on rolling resistance.

also air bags help for some setups.
and leave you with the ability to adjust to the conditions.

 

The 2009 BMW X3 I had was AWD but most of the time it was rear wheel. The recommended tire pressure for it was 32 in the front and 35 in the rear. I had the 18's so front and rear tires were the same size. If I had opted for the 19's, the front would have been slightly smaller size than the rear. Don't know if the 32 and 35 would have been the recommended pressure for those tires. BMW doesn't require tire rotation and other than a nail in the sidewall, all 4 tires at over 32K miles all looked to have the same amount of wear. In fact, the tire guy had a heck of a time getting them off the car when I had them replaced.

 

Tested today. '21 XLE gas model. 245/65-17 Falken Wild Peak A/T Trail tires. 34 PSI front, 32 PSI rear. Smooth ride, no harshness over bumps and road joints. Took some good potholes which were barely noticeable. Transient MID MPG was mostly 27 and as high as 31 MPG after 80 MPH for 15 minutes on highway. Cornering was completely neutral (traction control on) and undramatic. No twitchy feel. Did follow road crown but to be expected on my local severely crowned PNW streets. Was dead straight (hands off steering wheel) on completely flat, uncrowned 1 mile stretch of road at 50 MPH. Would like to test with traction control off on a closed track but have none close by available.