Unloaded Tire Pressures

[Norquist]

What do most of you run for tire pressures front and rear unloaded on the 2500's?

I'm presently running 50 psi front and 50 psi rear unloaded then when hauling increase the rear to 80 psi.

What I'm looking for is the possibility of a little smoother ride if possible whthout sacrifing tire wear too much.

Thanks

[bluenote]

I run things exactly the same as you do, and am generally pleased with the ride with 50 psi all around when empty. This truck rides better than my 99

[bora]

I run 55 psi all around unloaded. For towing, I increase tire pressures to 80 in the rear.

Bora

[Colorado Kid]

50/50 Empty, 55/80 towing anything heavier than an empty car hauler.

Comming down from the 60/80 the dealer put in calmed things down quite a bit, but I think the fronts need most of the 50psi even unloaded, and I don't like to run less in the back than in front even empty because I think it feels squirrely. (Might be my imagination, but it's my choice.)

[SoMnDMAX]

285's- 50 front, 45 rear empty. Towing- 50 front, 60-70 rear, depending on load.

265's- 55 front, 50 rear empty. Towing- 55 front, 65-80 rear.

That's what I found to wear and ride the best.

[schnier]

Solo 55 front (motor is heavy) 50 rear
Towing 65 front 70 rear
30,000 miles on original tires and rotating every 6,000 miles and the backs are just touching the cross over bar today. Time to rotate, I might get 40,000 out of them.

[BigO]

Stock size tires, GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S

50 in the front 45 in the Rear

[DURAMAN]

I tow regularly so changing tire pressure is a hassle. I leave 60 in the front and 75 in rear. I will say that if you don't rotate tires regularly at these pressures you'll cup the rear tires. Rotating about every 4k seems to help a lot. Also, I think the higher pressures make the truck feel more stable while cornering. Just my 2 cents. smile.gif

[LittleBigRig]

I believe that the air pressure ratings of 55 lbs in the front and 80 lbs in the back are for maximum loading (9200 lbs GVW).

My empty truck puts 4000 lbs to the pavement on the front axle and 2600 lbs on the rear (that diesel is one heavy mutha), so when I run unloaded at the recommended tire pressures, it is not surprise that I get slight overinflation wear on the front tires and extreme overinflation wear on the back. If we consider that 55 lbs is good for 4000 lbs and steering loads on the front, it is extreme overkill for the 2600 lbs in the back of an unloaded DMax.

To put this in perspective, I lowered the back to 45 lbs and I'm still getting some overinflation wear on fresh tires. My bet is that the magic combination is 50 lbs in the front and 40 lbs in the back.

With regard to the comment about handling, my truck seems more sensitive to small changes in the front tire pressure than in the back (unless they are really low). I'm more likely to feel the steering feedback loading up non-linearly during cornering (front underinflation) than feeling the truck sway (rear underinflation).

Hey, that brings up another point: anybody know why a $43,000 truck doesn't have a rear sway bar?

[mtomac]

empty
55 psi front
40 psi rear

loaded
55 psi front
80 psi rear

I kept lowering the pressure in the rear till full contact on the outside edges.

This is with the stock steel tex 245's

[Inspector]

Folks:
I tow quite a bit. My truck is a one ton dooley and I run 60 psi front and 55 rear when towing. My trailer is a 36ft. King of the road and is quite heavy. I have found that tire wear is very even. I rotate every 5000 miles and keep a close watch on pressures. I now have almost 62thou on the Miches and still have alot of wear left in them. The tread will out last the sidewalls. I am seeing some weather cracking now and will have to address that issue.
I will only buy Michelens. They cost alittle more but the peace of mind is worth it.
Denny

[Lyndal]

I have been running 55 front/40-42 rear lately. Seems to ride better and looks like wear better.

[IndigoDually]

Inspector,
Are You getting any rubbing between the duals with that low of tire pressure? I have mine aired all the way up to 80 in the rear because I pull often and adding or removing air once or twice a week sucks and I won't remember to do it. I was getting rubbing with the air pressure reccomended on the door.
How heavy do you pull and with what pin weight?

John

[Inspector]

John:
When my trailer is road loaded,it will be between 12,500 and 13,500. My tires have never rubbed. I'm not sure about the pin weight but when hooked up the truck will settle about and inch and half. The trailer is very well balanced and pulls extremely well. I used to know the pin weight but don't recall at this time. I will have to find a scale somewhere near and check it time permiting. I have the stock size tires and 55lbs in each rear tire seems to carry the load, whatever that is, well. The trailer tires are inflated to 80 lbs.
Denny