Tire Pressure Quandry
I have a 2003 Fleetwood 24' Class C RV. I purchased it used with almost new tires on it. The Ford cab door jam sticker indicates LT225/75R 16E tires (front and rear) with Front @ 65PSI and Rear @ 80...
Forum Discussion
Another answer that may be correct for some of us with a 24' Class C is to go ahead and use the tire pressures recommended by the coach manufacturer even if these pressures seem on the high side for the size of the RV.
Winnebago recommends 65 PSI front, 80 PSI rear, on our E450 24' Itasca and that's what I use. These are the tire pressures for the maximum 14,050 lbs. that it's E450 chassis is rated for.
I use those pressures and get these affects:
1. I get great one-hand easy stirring and tracking when going down the road.
2. I get less tire sidewall heating on all six tires due to less sidewall flexing due to the more rigid tire sidewalls that result from high pressures.
3. I get no worries about "overloading our tire pressures" with any loads below chassis maximum - either as loaded when we start out or with increasing loads as we rockhound during the trip ( ;) ).
4. I get great lateral stability on curves, with passing big rigs, and in high cross winds due to the rigid tire sidewalls.
5. I get heavy vertical pounding in the rear from highway cracks due to the combined affects of the stiff E450 rear leaf springs and the more rigid rear dually tire sidewalls.
6. So far for about 10 years of us owning our Class C we have always gotten even tire tread wear - no baldness of any kind showing up in the centers of the treads.
I prefer use of higher than load-mandated tire pressures - IF AND ONLY IF - one does not get unevern tire wear from this and if one can put up with the stiff(er) ride.
Winnebago recommends 65 PSI front, 80 PSI rear, on our E450 24' Itasca and that's what I use. These are the tire pressures for the maximum 14,050 lbs. that it's E450 chassis is rated for.
I use those pressures and get these affects:
1. I get great one-hand easy stirring and tracking when going down the road.
2. I get less tire sidewall heating on all six tires due to less sidewall flexing due to the more rigid tire sidewalls that result from high pressures.
3. I get no worries about "overloading our tire pressures" with any loads below chassis maximum - either as loaded when we start out or with increasing loads as we rockhound during the trip ( ;) ).
4. I get great lateral stability on curves, with passing big rigs, and in high cross winds due to the rigid tire sidewalls.
5. I get heavy vertical pounding in the rear from highway cracks due to the combined affects of the stiff E450 rear leaf springs and the more rigid rear dually tire sidewalls.
6. So far for about 10 years of us owning our Class C we have always gotten even tire tread wear - no baldness of any kind showing up in the centers of the treads.
I prefer use of higher than load-mandated tire pressures - IF AND ONLY IF - one does not get unevern tire wear from this and if one can put up with the stiff(er) ride.
