[eschaider]

You are spot on about using tire temps to set tire pressures, Brian. Although Nitto publishes a max operating pressure, I suspect that is more of a cautionary do not exceed sort of communication.

If you inflated those tires to that pressure, the ride would be painfully harsh, and the handling would be less than if you had used a more appropriate (lower) tire pressure. The 51 psi maximum pressure Nitto publishes for the tire provides a load-carrying capacity of 2441 lbs per tire — about equal to the total weight of a Cobra but supportable by a single tire

I am sure the ride at that tire pressure would be memorable - in the extreme. I am guessing, but my suspicion is that 22 or 24 psi might be a good starting point to begin the process of determining what the car really wants / needs.