TIre pressure during towing vs not towing

GrumpyandGrandma wrote:

Me Again wrote:


Door stickers are for max axle loads. Read your owners manual.

Chris

Then why does the low tire pressure light come on when I'm 4 lbs below the number on the door jam? Which is the way it came from the factory.

From what I can find, Fed law basically says the TPMS must come on when the tire pressure is 25%, or more, below the vehicle's placard. If it's only 4 lbs, then you might have an issue.

Lyle

Me Again wrote:


Door stickers are for max axle loads. Read your owners manual.

Chris

Then why does the low tire pressure light come on when I'm 4 lbs below the number on the door jam? Which is the way it came from the factory.

My Ford manual for a DRW truck says 65 psi rear and nothing about changing for loads, towing, etc, so I just leave it as is all the time.

My 2012 Ram manual plainly says running the tires a 70-75 lbs withtout a load reduces the contact patch on the road, creates uneven wear because the tire has a more round cross-section (more wear in the center of the tread and less wear on the edges). It also results in a noticeable rougher ride.

But it is a PITA to change the pressure and reset the TP monitoring system. So I don't do it often, unless I'm not going to be towing for weeks at a time. Such as when we are parked for a volunteer hosting job.

When we FTd and moved weekly we left rear tires at max psi

NOW....we air up & down as we aren't towing as much as before

80# when towing
45# non towing

55# fronts all time

98 RAM 4X4quad cab I ran 72 front all the time 45 rear solo and 75-80 read loaded.

I would easily get 100-120K on Michelin and BFG's at those pressures.

Read the tire/inflation chart for your tires and use them. The auto MFG numbers are CYA.

11 RAM Dually 80psi fronts all the time and 45 rear solo and 60 loaded with 4.500-5K load.

All above with good ride and even tire wear. I have driven well over a million miles so I have had a lot of time to see what works.

Acei wrote:
Yes I am talking about the rear wheels, pulling a 5th wheel.

Ok, so some of you DO adjust the air pressure... For those who do adjust, how do you increase the pressure? Do you use a portable air compressor hooked up to the cigarette 12V power?

When we eventually go full-timing, we will drive a 1t dually. Will dually behave ok not towing when the tires are max pressured? We do expect to drive every day and sometimes 100-200 miles at a time when not towing.

I would say, "Cross that bridge when you get to it". When you hit the road full-timing you can find out pretty quick which is a bigger PITA, changing tire pressure or putting up with the ride. From there you can figure out what to do.

I would set the pressure to 80 PSI when planning a trip, and set it around say 65 PSI when you will not be taking a trip for a long time. .

I would not change the tire pressure when you will need to use the other pressure within the next 10 days.

Fred.

I don't know, but I was just referring to my Owners Manual and it states that the info on the Door Pillar is the recommended Cold Inflation Pressure, no where does is say I can run 50% less pressure and be OK. Also based on some of the logic here, many cars should be able to get by with 15 or 20 Lbs pressure then. Anyway, my door pillar is 70 front 65 rears, which I do bump up to 70 with 4K of pin.

Me Again wrote:

GrumpyandGrandma wrote:
I haven't seen any tire pressure door stickers with 2 different pressures. I think the truck and tire manufacturers might know what is right.

Door stickers are for max axle loads. Read your owners manual.

To "Michelle.S" poster concerned about low inflation, my truck came with an inflation chart that showed that I could actually go lower that 42 lbs. I bought it new in June of 2001 and tires have performed well. I am just starting on the third set!


To OP, with a dually you do not have to run max sidewall pressure. It only takes 50 some lbs to support the RGAWR across 4 tires. I think that with a dually they are less likely to drive squirrelly with tires left to towing pressure.

Chris

I never run my tires at full inflation! If I placed 80 psi in them I would have 6,830# of capacity. With the 5er attached I run about 5,450# on my rear axle, so run between 70 to 75 psi. Empty I run about 45 to 50 psi, better wear and traction!