TV tire pressure (mainly the front tires)

gijoecam wrote:

CHD Dad wrote:
Looking for some clarification on TV tire pressure, I am clearer on TT pressures. I was always under the impression that you were supposed to air up your TV's tires (ALL FOUR) pressure to max cold when towing (especially with P rated tires). It's just what I have been told since starting to tow as a blanket statement.

If I had a nickel for every time I've read that on here... It's a hasty generalization at best, and nowhere near what, IMHO, is the *right* way to set tire pressures. More on that in a minute...

Then I found out about load charts and you should match tire pressure to load placed on tire. That is all fine and good. Then I was looking at my scale weights and thinking about how several new MFG guidelines now specify you only need half the weight restored to the front of the vehicle.
{snipped for brevity}

So, what should you set the front tires to pressure wise and why do you recommend that pressure? Is it strictly for squirm resistance? Another reason? After thinking it through I think I have been doing it wrong all these years and need to get that pressure back down...

I set my tire pressures for the load, plain and simple. If that pressure happens to coincide with the OEM's factory recommendation, then it's a happy coincidence as the numbers on the sticker are always handy. The numbers on the door sticker are the recommended pressure for the maximum load the OE tire will see per the ratings. Deviate from that load (e.g. a dually running empty or a sedan with aftermarket tires on it) and all bets are off. Those numbers become a starting point or educated guess, but ultimately may vary for the particular setup in question.

And getting more to your point, I would say that yes, if the load on the front end is only restored to half of what is removed, then I would say that you could safely deflate to the appropriate load based on the charts. That being said, in the case of my Super Duty, even if the full 320lbs stayed off the front end (i.e. no weight distribution), it's not going to move me into the next lower pressure range for my tires, so I just don't worry about it.