Got my 2016 two weeks ago, the TPMS warning started going off once in a while... I just stopped by at the dealer today to check the tires. They found 42PSI...WTF... The guy at the counter couldn't explain...of course.
Test drove a 2015 WRX Limited manual and thought the tires were filled with concrete, for it rode not firm (which I like), but very harsh, and somewhat skittish over bumps. Gave up on my WRX plan for over a week and learned about Ford Focus RS and the Golf R. Rejected both since, and this time, for on my second test ride in a '15 WRX Limited manual, I had the tire pressures set exactly as per the door label (car had sat for the previous four hours). The second test ride was a pleasant surprise. That second ride was not harsh, and it was not skittish over bumps, etc. Handled great too.
With above comments in earlier posts, learned that this is one car that needs to have its tire pressure checked right AFTER the PDI, to insure pressures are right (and of course appropriately theteafter). My WRX is ahead.
I had the same problem when I picked my 16 up from the dealership. the tire preasures were set in the mid forties... I sold cars for a dealer some years ago and observed that most of the Jeeps and Chryslers were very harsh on test drives and I began checking tire pressure as the harshness was causing me sales. The factory in many cases must set the presuure high as they may expect the car to sit for a while or they do it to ensure there are no flats during transport I surmise, maybe that 's what Subaru is doing?? My 16 rode like a tank on the way home and made me wonder if I had made the right choice. All is well now, love the car..
The factory in many cases must set the presuure high as they may expect the car to sit for a while or they do it to ensure there are no flats during transport I surmise...
This is the same reasoning the dealers will leave the tires a little high. They don't know how long the car will sit on the lot. Tires with a little extra air will ride better on a test drive than tires that are flat-spotted from being parked on the lot for a month, or longer. A slightly harsher ride is better than a vibration, in most cases.
Tire pressure is not a black and white setting, anyway. If you set your tires to OE spec in the middle of the day, shade or not, your tires will be low. You have to set your pressures at the coldest part of the day, or morning. Otherwise, you need to compensate for this by adding a few extra psi.
Mine were 38 PSI cold the 1st time I checked, which means during the middle of the day on warmer days they were in the 40's. I dropped them to 33 all the way around one cool morning... no loss of MPG, and the bumpy road compliance improved without any loss of handling at speed.
Wow I never thought about it but what Coulson said makes a lot of sense. Same principal as for when we are storing a car long term. It does explain why my tire pressures were so high - just recently dropped them down to the door panel settings myself.