Why Prius front tire pressure higher than rear?

perfbm wrote:
> prius tire pressure spec says 35 psi front, 33 psi rear
>
> just wondering what the technical reason for this is?

something to do with weight distribution.

I tried running my Classic Prius with the same pressures front and
rear. I didn't do that for long - the car felt like it would fishtail
at a panic stop, whereas with a +2 or +3 psi difference in the front it
would stick those same panic stops. (Beware of those Dunkin Donut
shops in the morning commute!)

> do other cars do this too?

My cousin's Chevy Malibu is 29 psi front, 26 psi rear.

perfbm wrote:
> prius tire pressure spec says 35 psi front, 33 psi rear
>
> just wondering what the technical reason for this is?
>
> do other cars do this too?

Fairly normal, certainly every car ive owned/driven has had higher
front pressures than rear. Its due to the weight distribution of the
car - the heavier front end requires more air to maintain the same
contact patch and sidewall deflection.