reducing tire pressure when unloaded

[Road_Phantom]

Mostly, we drive our truck unloaded, since it's our everyday beater as well. Our truck is a Ram 2500 reg cab 4X4. How low can I safely lower the air pressure to improve the ride for my arthritic wife?

[Cummins12V98]

Top row is for the newer RAM Dually trucks. 35psi will give 1,570# of carrying capacity per rear tire times 4 is 6,280# capacity for the rear axle. My rear axle weighs no more than 4k without RV. I can still load a 2k in the bed with room to spare.

YES the ride vastly improves when lowering for an unloaded to lightly loaded truck. 4wd trucks keep the fronts at 80psi!!!

[RollandB]

I used to in winter months if we don’t plan on using it, but now retired, in a week that doesn’t including towing, it’s in the garage all but one day on an average. Now I doubt I’ll reduce the pressure.

[Navyvette]

It makes a huge difference on duallies. I just dropped mine per Cummins suggestion and was night and day. On your alarm it will just stay on as a light and won’t chime every time after awhile. I had that happen on my 2016 when I was out of spec for a bit.

[Cummins12V98]

fj12ryder wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Road Phantom wrote:
Mostly, we drive our truck unloaded, since it's our everyday beater as well. Our truck is a Ram 2500 reg cab 4X4. How low can I safely lower the air pressure to improve the ride for my arthritic wife?

Sorry but your 2500 will set off an alarm when lowering! 3500’s not a problem.

Without knowing what year it is, how can you say that lowering the air pressure will set off an alarm. For all we know this is a 2000 Ram.

His profile

"2014 3/4 ton dodge Ram, 5.7 Hemi"

[JIMNLIN]

My 2500 Dodge/Cummins NV5600 has LT265/70-17 E load range. I use 45 psi in the rears when not towing. I find 65 psi in the front towing or not works best for this trucks axle loads and 60k-70k miles of service.

[fj12ryder]

I don't usually check profiles, I go by the information given.

[bpounds]

Actually we do know. Their profile says it is a 2014.

Still not a big deal. Put up with an alarm or put up with a wife who is in pain. It's a good point, so he knows going in. He might even be able to lower the pressure enough to help, without going below the alarm setpoint.

[Lwiddis]

“I know what the manufacturer says, but how low can I really go?” Knowingly lower tire pressure below manufacturer”s specs, blow a tire for any reason, come into my lane, hit me and watch the manufacturer abandon you. I’ll take everything you have.

Let’s all toast to whose who thought they were safe enough! (Now living in the poor house.)

[fj12ryder]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Road Phantom wrote:
Mostly, we drive our truck unloaded, since it's our everyday beater as well. Our truck is a Ram 2500 reg cab 4X4. How low can I safely lower the air pressure to improve the ride for my arthritic wife?

Sorry but your 2500 will set off an alarm when lowering! 3500’s not a problem.

Without knowing what year it is, how can you say that lowering the air pressure will set off an alarm. For all we know this is a 2000 Ram.

[Cummins12V98]

Road Phantom wrote:
Mostly, we drive our truck unloaded, since it's our everyday beater as well. Our truck is a Ram 2500 reg cab 4X4. How low can I safely lower the air pressure to improve the ride for my arthritic wife?

Sorry but your 2500 will set off an alarm when lowering! 3500’s not a problem.

[jadatis]

To estmate the axleweight in your normal use, find empty weight and give howmany persons and about where. I then will make an estimation and add that much reserve, at wich comfot and gripp is stil accepable.

Fuelconsumption will be a bit more with the lower pressures.

[bpounds]

The door jamb info does not answer his question. The inflation shown there is for a truck loaded to GVWR. I run there all the time, and many of us probably do.

But he needs a softer ride when not loaded for medical reasons. Nothing wrong with doing that. But you will need an inflation chart from the tire manufacturer, and you will need to know how much the truck weighs. I'm sure you can estimate that and be safe enough.

I doubt you will really feel much difference, but I understand the need to try it for yourself. If it helps, great. If it doesn't you'll just get tired of running the pressure up and down depending on load.

[jadatis]

If you an determine weigt on axles, better seperate tires, I an able to calculate a pressure. For normal use often rear can be lower then front, as old biscuit uses. Advice on car is for fully loaded, and rear nowadays even a bit overloaded. Pressure-advice is all for weight and speed.

[Old-Biscuit]

I have a 3500 SRW Dodge

Front Tires at 55 psi...all the time
Rear Tires at 80 psi for towing 5th wheel
**Rear Axle/tires at 6200# when towing
Rear Tires at 45 psi when NOT towing
*Truck weighs 7980# with 3120# on Rear Axle/Tires when not towing

Been doing that for 11 years.
60K per set then new tires (not cause tires are worn out but because I am anal about tires)
Tires wear evenly across thread

[corvettekent]

Look in the door jam of your truck for your tire pressure information.