Tire inflation

phillyg wrote:
Run them at max pressure indicated on the tires.

Are you saying you run 80psi on your 350 on all 4 tires all the time? If so how many miles did you get on your last set of tires?

Run them at max pressure indicated on the tires.

There is enough tire expertise on this group that they should be able to design the PERFECT trailer tire. If only the mfgs and engineers would listen to the pros.

rhagfo wrote:
Me Again, looking at your chart, if I took the time could likely find in my Owners Manual.
You like me have the optional 265/75-16E tires, the rear axle load rating is based on the stock 245/75-16E at 3,042# ea. 6,084# rating, With the 265/75-165E's ea. tire is rated at 3,415# so you don't need 80 psi to carry the axle load.

We have done our work, those that choose to run 80 psi in their LT E tires all the time will be rewarded with a very nice bald patch down the center of their tires. :S

What I did not note it the original post was that my truck is a bit of a handful to handle with 70-75 in the rear and no load. It also will knock your teeth out with 70-75 and no load, even with the Rancho 9000's set to 1.

I run the rears at 44 empty to account for small loads during day to day use. When I haul gravel and other heavy items I air up. I have a latch on air chuck and use that NOT connected to the air hose to air down and with the compressor to air up, as it beats hold a key to the valve stem or holding an air chuck by hand to air up.

Chris

Th truck in my signature calls for 45 psi empty. There is no way I would go lower than.

reaction to former post.
'
What you mean is that you would get centre wear of tire with 80 psi.
That wont happen. because there is a large range in wich the tires stays over the whole treath width to the ground.
Probably even if you really have only 70% of the weigth the pressure is calculated for on tire .

Then its best to keep the highest possible pressure with no bumping, to have as much possible reserve for things like, pressure loss in time, misreadings of pressure and weight, misyudging of weight, unequall load R/L etc.

Me Again, looking at your chart, if I took the time could likely find in my Owners Manual.
You like me have the optional 265/75-16E tires, the rear axle load rating is based on the stock 245/75-16E at 3,042# ea. 6,084# rating, With the 265/75-165E's ea. tire is rated at 3,415# so you don't need 80 psi to carry the axle load.

We have done our work, those that choose to run 80 psi in their LT E tires all the time will be rewarded with a very nice bald patch down the center of their tires. :S

As Barry notes above, this is from my 2001 Dodge 2500 4x4's manual.
Light load 45/40 Heavy load 55/70

I run 57/44 light and 57/70-75 heavy, because sometimes the pin weight has me pushing 6K a little on the rear. Tires are the optonal LT265/75R16E rated to 3415 each.

Run 80psi. Under or over inflated tires heat up. Excess heat will damage tires. Get the facts contact the tire manufacturer.

As usual, lots of opinions.

1) On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a vehicle tire placard which lists the original tire size and the specified pressure for that size. On motorized vehicles, the placard is usually found on the driver's doorframe, but it can also be found on other doors , other doorframes, the glovebox, fuel filler door or on the trunk lid. For trailers, it can be found on the left front corner, on the tongue, on a door, in a cabinet.

Find the vehicle tire placard and make a note of the tires size (including the letters) and the specified pressure.

2) Car manufacturers have generally done a decent job of sizing their tires relative to load carrying capacity. SUV and Light Truck manufacturers, not so much - although since 2008, they are on par with the car manufacturers. Trailer manufacturers are the worst of the bunch and many trailers have come with inadequate tires (from a load rating perspective).

3) If you are NOT using the tire size (including the letters) as listed on the vehicle tire placard, then you'll need to recalculate. The calculation isn't difficult, but does require the use of the tire load tables.

4) The owners manual should give you guidance about what inflation pressure to use, including what to use if the vehicle is not fully loaded (like an empty pickup truck). If the owners manual doesn't say anything about less than fully loaded, then the vehicle manufacturer probably intends for you to use the placard presure even when empty. (They do test the vehicle that way!)

5) Tire load tables are primarily for vehicle manufacturers to use. If the vehicle manufacturer has done a good job, the vehicle tire placard and owners manuals ought to be enough information.

6) Tire wear more affected by other things than inflation pressure. For example, steer tires tend to wear on the shoulders and drive tires tend to wear in the center. Inflation pressure has to be changed a lot to get the same affect. In other words, inflation pressure shouldn't be the first thing that comes to mind when you see uneven tire wear.

7) As a general rule, cars do NOT use the maximum inflation pressure of a tire. As a general rule, SUV's and light trucks do NOT use the maximum inflation pressure. As a general rule, trailers DO use the maximum inflation pressure.