General rule for tire pressure?
I know the best answer is going to be "take everything to scales and check the pressure charts"....but is there a general rule of thumb if this can't be done? Thanks
Forum Discussion
Run more pressure than you think you need until you can find a scale, then start running the proper pressure. If your camping load is similar you only have to do it once. More is better than too little, but only to a point.
Overinflated tires decrease ride, traction, handling, tire life, and increase your chance of road hazard failures. There isn't a single tire manufacturer that would tell you to run max cold pressure all the time. The people that do that are just too lazy to do it right. Towing TT's changes pressure requirements a lot, 45-80 was my normal pressure change before I got 19.5's but I was going from 3500 to 6000 on the rear axle when loaded for camping.
The easiest way to calculate a good pressure is to use the sidewall railings. 3195 lbs at 80 psi is 39.93 lbs/psi. If my rear axle had 5500 lbs on it that would be 2750 per tire. 2750/39.93 = 68.9 psi. I would set them at 70 for running at speeds of 65+. You will find this method give you a few psi over an inflation chart. A couple psi is fine, especially if you are traveling fast or on a hot day. If I only needed 50 psi for the weight, 70 or 80 would be too much.
Overinflated tires decrease ride, traction, handling, tire life, and increase your chance of road hazard failures. There isn't a single tire manufacturer that would tell you to run max cold pressure all the time. The people that do that are just too lazy to do it right. Towing TT's changes pressure requirements a lot, 45-80 was my normal pressure change before I got 19.5's but I was going from 3500 to 6000 on the rear axle when loaded for camping.
The easiest way to calculate a good pressure is to use the sidewall railings. 3195 lbs at 80 psi is 39.93 lbs/psi. If my rear axle had 5500 lbs on it that would be 2750 per tire. 2750/39.93 = 68.9 psi. I would set them at 70 for running at speeds of 65+. You will find this method give you a few psi over an inflation chart. A couple psi is fine, especially if you are traveling fast or on a hot day. If I only needed 50 psi for the weight, 70 or 80 would be too much.
