Tire Pressure with NO load!

[sk8rdi16]

I was wondering what a good tire pressure would be to run in my 95 2500 Suburban with Michelin LTX stock size. I will probably never load it. Have nothing to pull.
There is no sticker on the driver door either.

Thanks

[DmaxMaverick]

The stickers only show what the pressure should be at full capacity. It won't help you for unloaded conditions.

You need to know what your axles weigh when the Sub is empty, and loaded with whatever gear you will likely be carrying around and a full tank of fuel. Your stock tires should be rated at 3042# each @ 80 PSI (245/75/16E). Configure how much weight each axle will be carrying and divide 6084 (3042 X 2) into it. This will give you a % of load capacity. Add about 10% more pressure to allow for dynamic loading and incidental loads. Do this individually for each axle, as the weights will be different. You can adjust the pressure up from there for ride and control.

For example:
3,800 # front, 3,100# rear.
Front = 62%
80 (PSI) * .62 = 49.6 PSI. Add 10 % to that for a total of about 55 PSI.

Rear = 51%
80 (PSI) * .51 = 40.8 PSI. Add 10% to that for a total of about 45 PSI.

These numbers are for example only. You will have to know your weights to be accurate. Just plug your weights into the formula for your starting pressures. If your rig just happens to weigh the same as the example, I just did the math for you.

Keep in mind that if you load up with any significant weight, or tow, or make any changes to your current setup, you will have to do it over again.

Using this method should give you an optimal ride and offer the best tire wear.

[HowieE]

Michelin has an LT tire loading chart on

http://www.michelinrvtires.com/michelinrvtires/hom_us***p

Look in the lower left corner of the page and it will link you to the RV tire page. That page has many LT tires listed for various loads. Keep in mind to go a little on the heavy side for that case of beer you did not have when you weighed the truck.

[65-f100]

The door sticker on my 96 K2500 Suburban shows 50 PSI for the front and 80 PSI rear. I,like you, rarely tow or load it with anything other than young-uns. I rides like pretty rough unloaded at these PSIs. I'd love to know what some of the others are running in theirs.

[Marty Lau]

I run E rated tires all the time. A local tire dealer told me to increase tire life run at 35-40 lbs max unless you load it down.

[Spindrift]

I run E rated Bridgestone Duelers. When the truck is unloaded, I run 50 psi in the rear and 55 psi up front. It's a comfortable ride, for what it is, and I've seen good wear. Now, when I'm hooked to the trailer, that's a different story. In that situation, I need to account for 2 cases of beer.

[Billman]

E Rated 235/85's when loaded 80 all around.

Unloaded 55 front. 45 rear.

I would think lower tire pressure would account for more heat/less tire life?

[ttpost]

lower pressures = more heat, more tire wear and lower fuel economy but a better ride. i run mine at 65 uloaded and gained about 1/2 mile to the gallon.

[catmandoo]

i just ran out to calif over the labor day and was running 45 to start,there was just 2 of us in the 1/2 4x4 sub with 245 lt's,and maybe 200 lbs of stuff,we stopped in denver and picked up 3 more people and another 100 lbs of stuff and i could feel that the tires felt mushy so when i hit grand junction i bumped um up to 50 all around and that helped lots.i could have probably run 55 in the back but it seemed to ride good and the tires look perfect for wear ,but unloaded around town here it's back to 40-45.

[kowsoc]

I'm sure the guy at the tire shop meant that the centreportion of the tire would wear out much quicker that the outside portions of the tread therefore reducing tire life. I like to run my 94 ext. cab 4x4 with 265's with 55 psi front and 45 back no load.