Towing tire pressures on short wheel base vs long

I managed to get my cold tire pressure to 73 in the back of my 2500. The TPMS didn't like it that day, but by the next day it must have reset and decided it was okay. By the time I drive it to work it's back up to around 78 but the dingle doesn't scream at me every morning. The Firestone charts say I could run 60 and carry the 6000 lbs my axle is rated for. The front are a bit under 65 and that's more than enough for the 5500 the axle can carry.

I wish Ram would use the tire rating rather than maxing them out like they do. I guess they'd rather play safe, and I guess that's good because most people sort of ignore their tires.

There are many ways to skin this cat. None of them involve underinflating a tire.

It is perfectly acceptable to air up your tires to the pressures listed on the door sticker and running like that all the time.

It is also perfectly acceptable to find the inflation chart for your tires, weigh your truck, and inflate to the level shown on the chart.

The difference in wear and tear on the tire will be minimal. The difference in braking performance will be minimal because the front tires are inflated for the load on the front end (door sticker usually says 65PSI front, and front end weight doesn't change all that much).

It's not about wheelbase, but about the type of tire. Your 1500 had P Metric tires and your 3500 has LT tires. LT tires support a quite a bit of weight at higher pressures. However, you can lower the pressure when you're not so heavily loaded. This helps make the ride a little more comfortable.

Each manufacturer produces something called an "inflation chart" for LT tires. It will tell you the minimum PSI needed in order to support different amounts of weight. Get a hold of this chart from your tire manufacturer and weight your truck with the trailer attached at a CAT scale.

Once you know how much weight your tires need to support then you can figure out how low you can lower your PSI for comfort. Doing it this way sure beats guessing or riding around at 80 PSI constantly.

The factory sticker on the door of my 2014 F150 w/ HDP is 55# front and 60# rear. That's what I keep them at, even when towing. But I have a relatively light trailer, 4950# GVWR.

Always run max pressure...more issues with low tire air pressure than with "over inflation."

Sport45 wrote:
I use wide masking tape across the tread to determine appropriate loaded and unloaded inflation pressures. When the tape wear is biased slightly to the middle the inflation is right. This works for me, YMMV.

I do run trailer tires at sidewall max as I've yet to replace one because the tread was worn out. Max inflation means less heat and less rolling resistance.

Max inflation may be right for the TV too. I just never did the research to see if the fuel savings would offset the added cost of getting fewer miles out of the tires.

Max pressure WITHOUT max load is over inflated, and also LESS traction, which equals less braking!!! :S

I use wide masking tape across the tread to determine appropriate loaded and unloaded inflation pressures. When the tape wear is biased slightly to the middle the inflation is right. This works for me, YMMV.

I do run trailer tires at sidewall max as I've yet to replace one because the tread was worn out. Max inflation means less heat and less rolling resistance.

Max inflation may be right for the TV too. I just never did the research to see if the fuel savings would offset the added cost of getting fewer miles out of the tires.

65 up front and 80 in the rear for me when towing. That's what the sticker says for max cargo capacity. That said, I would follow the tire inflation chart when not towing if this were my daily driver. Being as it's not, I just leave them inflated.

I've heard the TPMS will nag you on a 2500 if you lower the tire pressure too much, but I'm not sure if it will on a 3500.

I sure don't air up to max on my 2001 Ram. Loaded rear axle is right about 5,500# (2,200# 5er Pin), each tire has a capacity of 3,415# (6,830# axle) I run between 65 psi to 70 psi, better ride, more important better traction!!!!
Empty I run between 45 psi to 50 psi.

the bear II wrote:
Some RV'ers I know will adjust the air pressure lower when not towing claiming they get a better ride.

Not a claim but reality. If you enjoy a harsh ride so be it.