Maxing out tire pressures...

Hybridhunter wrote:
I run 95% GCWR from time to time, with 100% GVW (F150). Tire placard on the truck says the minimum, tire sidewall says the max. It really is as simple as that.
The number of HD trucks I see with worn centres on the tires tells me a lot of folks are over-inflating, and not rotating their tires.
I don't equate a degraded ride with increased capacity, the truck and tires will do what they are rated to do....

Most people under inflate the fronts and over inflate the rears. That is why most never see 50K on a set of tires. I easily get 100k and more with BFG's and Michelins.

I run 95% GCWR from time to time, with 100% GVW (F150). Tire placard on the truck says the minimum, tire sidewall says the max. It really is as simple as that.
The number of HD trucks I see with worn centres on the tires tells me a lot of folks are over-inflating, and not rotating their tires.
I don't equate a degraded ride with increased capacity, the truck and tires will do what they are rated to do....

am1958 wrote:
Capri:

As a result of the answers given here I was considering trying the pressure at about 39psi... It's be worth a try and would seem not to cause any issues.

Thanks to everyone for their responses.

I think you'll be happy there. I'm a t40-42 Psi rear and 38psi front for towing and 35 when not.
The tire sidewall gives the max load and max psi cold. Feel free to use both. You won't be on the edge of a cliff.

proxim2020 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

I run the tires on our Tahoe at 44 front and 40 rear. Even with those pressures the front edges wear. If you step up to a D or E tire and run full pressures you will wear out the centers unless you have enough load.

This is true. At those pressures it's easier to get a tire to crown with a light load. Ever thought about getting 51 psi tires for the Tahoe? It might help the edge wear problem.

There are a few other attributes to this

Rim width in reference to the tire's recommended rim width

How you drive. Never throttle over 40% to 'in it a lot'. Of course
the terrain...pure boulevard, pure highway, gravel roads, etc.

How your suspension is setup. Lifted, shocks, increases torsional
rigidity (anti-lean bars...AKA anti sway bars), etc

The tire's construction also. Had several sets of Michelin LTX-MS
LT265/75R16E's on 16x10 alloys at 80 PSI. All FOUR wore the two outside
tread ribs faster than the center ribs. Found that Michelin really
put in a lot of 'stuff' to keep the tread edge to sidewall stable.
That then had it pinch in the tread because the rim width outside of
their recommended rim width.

My Odyssey's front tires continually wear out the outer tread rib.
Even with max 51 PSI. It's the way I drive that does that. Mainly the
left/drivers front...because most all highway exits are to the 'right'

The Silverado's 33/12.5R15LT load range C's wear out the center. Both
because of the narrow rim (8.5 inch) and that they are way over sized
for a half ton. I do load it up often with gravel/dirt/wood pellets/etc
but it's mainly driven empty. Sidewall says MAX 35 PSI and do keep it
there because anything less has the sidewall's roll over on turns and
curves. It does have MonoMax shocks on all four corners and an over
sized front anti-lean bar.

Then of course alignment...

proxim2020 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

I run the tires on our Tahoe at 44 front and 40 rear. Even with those pressures the front edges wear. If you step up to a D or E tire and run full pressures you will wear out the centers unless you have enough load.

This is true. At those pressures it's easier to get a tire to crown with a light load. Ever thought about getting 51 psi tires for the Tahoe? It might help the edge wear problem.

These tires and wheels came off an 05 Escalade. They are probably good for another year or two. Will probably get a set of take offs from a pickup next. Don't put many miles on the Tahoe, like driving my RAM's better.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

I run the tires on our Tahoe at 44 front and 40 rear. Even with those pressures the front edges wear. If you step up to a D or E tire and run full pressures you will wear out the centers unless you have enough load.

This is true. At those pressures it's easier to get a tire to crown with a light load. Ever thought about getting 51 psi tires for the Tahoe? It might help the edge wear problem.

proxim2020 wrote:
I've always run the max pressure on all of my vehicles with P rated tires and have for well over 10 years now. The vehicles run from subcompacts to pickups. I like a more solid feeling, especially when cornering at speed, and the way it rolls when I'm coasting. You'll definitely notice road imperfections a lot more and the tires will feel more bouncy. Center wear is mostly a thing of the past. Tires aren't balloons anymore. Modern tires have multiple steel belts and piles running around the circumference of the tire. This combination provides the stiffness the tire needs in order to prevent ballooning and maintain its shape, even at max psi. It also helps prevent centrifugal growth (watch a dragster's tire in slow mo). I can only remember ever seeing signs of crowning with one of my tires, but there were too many outside factors that could've contributed to that tire's demise. That's not to say that a tire can't crown. Really wide tires (like 35x12.50) are prone to crowning. Also tires that are mounted on wheels that are too narrow will tend to crown. A chalk line across the tire will easily tell you where you stand.

I run the tires on our Tahoe at 44 front and 40 rear. Even with those pressures the front edges wear. If you step up to a D or E tire and run full pressures you will wear out the centers unless you have enough load.

I've always run the max pressure on all of my vehicles with P rated tires and have for well over 10 years now. The vehicles run from subcompacts to pickups. I like a more solid feeling, especially when cornering at speed, and the way it rolls when I'm coasting. You'll definitely notice road imperfections a lot more and the tires will feel more bouncy. Center wear is mostly a thing of the past. Tires aren't balloons anymore. Modern tires have multiple steel belts and piles running around the circumference of the tire. This combination provides the stiffness the tire needs in order to prevent ballooning and maintain its shape, even at max psi. It also helps prevent centrifugal growth (watch a dragster's tire in slow mo). I can only remember ever seeing signs of crowning with one of my tires, but there were too many outside factors that could've contributed to that tire's demise. That's not to say that a tire can't crown. Really wide tires (like 35x12.50) are prone to crowning. Also tires that are mounted on wheels that are too narrow will tend to crown. A chalk line across the tire will easily tell you where you stand.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
I run 55 in truck front tires (all the time), 45 in truck rear not towing and 80 (max tire) in truck rear when towing.

I get 60,000 miles out of a set of truck tires. Rides like a truck when not towing cause it is plus suspension is unloaded and ride smooths out when towing.

Don't think I'll be changing my ways

My 98 2500 4x4 is similar to your truck as far as weight. I run 72 front always and 45 rear solo and when towing I would bump to 80. I easily get 100K with 3rd gen tires and wheels Michelin or BFG's. You are wearing off the outer edges on the front at 55psi.

Thank you for your insight......unfortunately you can't see the wear on my tires. I can. And the fronts wear evenly across the width of tires. SO I will do what continues to give me a good even wear pattern.
Thanks anyway.

No problem. Hate to see people only getting 60K out of a set of tires.

Only getting 60K because I don't run tires until worn out.
We FTd and about 3 1/2 yrs. time for new tires because I did NOT want issues while traveling.
Might run the longer now that we aren't traveling FT. Might :B

60,000 miles is long enough for me because of time involved.

chevman