Hi,I am getting ready to take my trailer from CA. in June to Yellowstone which will be a good 2,000 miles of towing when done.The trailer got new tires on it yesterday from Les Schwab and I asked them to air up the tires of the truck to the recommended pressure. I don't think they did because the rear tires are at 55.For the truck/trailer in my sig. ( 2500HD Silverado and 20ft. trailer truck tires LT245/75 )what weight should the tires be to haul my trailer which will be loaded for this trip?Inside of the door says 55 front and 80 rear. I've gone through the posts and th econfusing thing is the stabilizer bars which will distribute the weight. I am about to install the TPM system I bought but need your advice on the numbers first since I can't figure it out.Thank you,Ellie

What is the max rating on the tires?That is something you will have to adjust after each trip..I've got a larger trailer, and I find 65-70psi in the rear is about right, 55 in front. But my tires are good to 80psi.

The max pressure on the side of the tire says something about 3000lbs and 80psi cold.LT 245/75 is on the side of the tire. They are 4 years old and have 1,000 miles on them.

So, why the difference from the front to the back? I know that is a pretty dumb question, but I don't understand it. If the bars distribute the weight, then does that make a difference? Both trailer and truck will be loaded for the trip.

Ellie,I run my Toyo load range E tires at 80 lbs rear and 70 lbs front. Les Schawb initially advised 65 lbs upfront when towing however it was a little too soft. If your tires state Max Load @ 80 lbs I would agree that's were the rear need to be at.

Keep it simple...don't over think this.Air the tires to the max for towing as listed on the door jam.Mine...80 rear 55 front so that's what they get. Using a weight distribution hitch should not change this.Probably Les just made a mistake.When I'm not towing or loaded, I sometimes air them down slightly.

Truck Tire Pressure with Stabilizer Bars? | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

jadatis
Explorer
Aug 18, 2013
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Weigh your truck loaded use the numbers on the weight chart for your tires and inflate per chart, add 5psi to each pressure . Chart says 60 run 65.

All you are going to get on here are opinions. Use the chart that is what they are for.

If you then want to use a chart, use mine, they are better then the American charts and even better then the European charts.
Extra save pressure/loadcapacity-lists.

First determine the maximum load and maxloadpressure by looking on the sidewall, or get it from the list from the tire maker.
Then open the PDF beginning with the maxloadpressure ( yours 80 psi) and search the maximum load or Loadindex( LI) in that list at the front row, then look the wantend load back and read the needed pressure below or above that.
If you have weighed , add 10% to the axle weight before looking back in the list.
The PDF's are given per tire, axle single and dual, so you dont have to devide by the number of tires on the axle yourselfes.
Lists in America are always given per tire, In Europe always per axle.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 18, 2013
Weigh your truck loaded use the numbers on the weight chart for your tires and inflate per chart, add 5psi to each pressure . Chart says 60 run 65.

All you are going to get on here are opinions. Use the chart that is what they are for.
wandering1
Explorer
Aug 18, 2013
Inflate to max pressure on sidewalls. Tire dealers do not inflate tires for trailer towing. Stabilizer bars have nothing to do with tire pressure.
EllieThomas
Explorer
Aug 18, 2013
Will send a message, Bruce. Thanks, JAD
noteven
Explorer III
Aug 18, 2013
Edit.
jadatis
Explorer
Aug 18, 2013
EllieThomas wrote:
So, why the difference from the front to the back? I know that is a pretty dumb question, but I don't understand it. If the bars distribute the weight, then does that make a difference? Both trailer and truck will be loaded for the trip.

the bars only distribute the weight between Left and rigt, so make the compensation by the torsion forces more. This will make the difference between R/L you weigh less but still not R=L.
There is still difference between front and back.

For the needed tire pressure you could use my spreadsheet wich you can download from next map by RICHTCLICKING on the needed document and then choose download.
MotorhomeRVtirepressurecalculator
bbaker2001
Explorer
Aug 18, 2013
i agree with most. we want to go next year. would like to hear the route you took. have no idea how to contact you.
thanks
Keith_Haw
Explorer
Apr 29, 2013
downtheroad wrote:
Keep it simple...don't over think this.
Air the tires to the max for towing as listed on the door jam.
Mine...80 rear 55 front so that's what they get. Using a weight distribution hitch should not change this.
Probably Les just made a mistake.

When I'm not towing or loaded, I sometimes air them down slightly.

Just make sure the tires your running are the recommended tires and rated at that pressure, mine aren't. It had ST's on it instead of the recommended LT tires and are only rated at 55 lbs.
ScottG
Nomad
Apr 26, 2013
I think you'll be fine with those pressures but if you find yourself constantly making steering corrections then I suggest you add more air to the front - maybe another 10PSI.
Good luck with the LS ST tires - they're all chinese junk unless you get them to special order Maxxiss.
EllieThomas
Explorer
Apr 26, 2013
I am so grateful to y'all for helping me on this. So, 55 front, 80 rear it is.

You make it so much easier to understand than the reading I have done. As I get ready for this trip, I'll be here to ask more questions, I'm sure.

Thank you so much,
Ellie