Hi Paul,
Here is a link to a previous banging around on the subject from last September.  http://209.200.117.236/forum/topic80769.html
My baby is a 82 and has a higher pressure listed on the door label than most of the earlier years.
I experimented with my new Indy 500s and came up with 34 psi for my combination of ride, handling and looks (20 they look flat).  So, have fun!

Keith

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The Firestone tire deal wasn't just because of the recommended pressures..it was more of a piece of crap tire than anything(imho). Firestone 500 tires were recalled in '73-'74 because they were exploding...and they've been exploding ever since. One of those tires on my '74(ds front) exploded when the car was still NEW, taking part of the fender with it. The recall replacement tires(NOT the 500) were fine...my car still had those on it when I bought it, and I still use them when doing the NCRS thing, and I get full credit for them.

Funny thing is, the Goodyear tires on the '73-'74 cars weren't having any troubles running 20 psi. Go figure...

I have 255-60R-15's on my 81.  Run with 32 lbs.  Firm Ride!! dskopp2011-04-04 19:47:49

Comp T/As were great tires! Had them on the '72 back in the day, and they rode, and drag raced very well!

And if yer runnin' LARGER  OR W  I  D  E  R  skins ?????

You would need to put larger or wider air in them....

Tire sizes will absolutely come into play here, no question about it. The larger the tire, the more the volume of air it needs, however....the pressure will be the same. 30psi is 30 psi, no matter how large the tire is. The tires on my '85 run more pressure, but they're also larger diameter, and wider, which normally requires more air pressure to start with.
Drag slicks run about 5psi in a huge tire, but most dragsters ain't making no turns(intentionally), or doing much heavy braking.

This debate/discussin will never end, which is fine....everyone has their own comfort zone with tires and such. As Norsky said, more pressure also helps with fuel mileage, since you have less rolling resistance, and that's a good, solid, valid point.
The air pressures recommended at the time were also a result of the tire technology of the time. Tires have come a loooong way since the '70s.
It's a "6 one way, 1/2 dozen the other", "glass half empty, half full", tomato, termater.....

I'm a 28 pound man mah-seff!! 

I would not like it ether if one or more of my Indy 500 blew up.  Only been near one tire that exploded.  That was on a F-15C.  It was really frigging loud. We were running dry Nitrogen and after a landing with excessive brake usage it just blew.  Well, we knew something was sup - the brakes were smokin'.  No one hurt.

Keith