CRAPPY RIDE QUALITY? Read Here

[ChrisKringle]

You wouldn't believe how much of a difference air pressure makes -- mainly the rear. Though I was going to have to sell my truck for a GMC, 'till I played with the air pressure. Still may, but that's another thread.



Ended up with 30 psi in the rear and 65 (max) in the front on 35" Toyo M/T's.



I got my tires rotated, and they pumped them up to 60. The ride was unbearable. At 30 in the rear, the sidewall bulge is still less than the front at 65 (max), so I may go to 25 for the rear and further the comfort level. Pump the fronts up to max for fuel economy, corner handling, and height. For the rear, decrease intil sidewall bulge is equivelant. Probably not on stock tires though, thin sidewalls, unless your running a duelly. Obviously this is for unladen city driving.



It made a HUGE difference for me, don't worry about pumping the front up either, the coils are nice and supple with the weight of Cummins.

 

[Bertram65]

30 psi seems too low, empty my truck is 4200lbs on the front axle and 3000lbs on the rear, I would think you would need more than 30psi for 3000lbs. You will probably get worse mileage and wear out the tires quicker with them that low.

 

[Hercules130]

same here after i had my tires rotated, i could barley keep my truck straight. i think i put my rears to 40 psi.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

According to the tire pressure guide included with the service manual, unladen they say 50 psi front and 40 psi rear for a SRW truck. I don't remember what they say for a DRW truck but I think the rear is like 35 psi or so.



I dropped mine down to 50 all the way around and it made a world of difference in ride quality. That is with factory tires.



Jeff

 

[JasonCzerak]

I ran 60psi and 50 psi with the stockers. I think my cat scale weight on the the front was 4700, and rear 2700. Over all it was 7400 with fuel and me.



With the Nitto's 50psi all around works well.



The D range tires ride well, but handle like crap.



I had about 1000#'s of stuff in the bed for the first time in a long while. Boy did she ride like a caddy. Smokes a bit heaver pre-boost as well

 

[Nate]

I run 50psi front and rear in the truck. Seems to be working fine.

 

[BHolm]

You can also try some weight back there to smooth out the ride. I generally run with 600 lbs of sand bags up against the tailgate. I run 50 psi all around in my 285 BFGs and the truck rides pretty decent.



The premis of the thread cracks me up a bit, no offense intended but... . lets see, 3/4 or 1-ton truck with 35" tires and the ride is too rough Imagine that? Of course that is precisely why the GM trucks sell so well. They aren't trucks at all, low to the ground, soft riding, V8 engine, just big cars. Maybe that is what you need for driving around the city empty? When it comes to working them like a truck was intended, you'll be sorry you switched. As a fashion statement though, the GM trucks are perfect.

 

[JRG]

You can also try some weight back there to smooth out the ride. I generally run with 600 lbs of sand bags up against the tailgate.

A canopy works well.



JRG

 

[Jayrig]

I have to concur with the 30psi range in the rear (no-load)... 50psi front / +or- 30psi inthe rear... You can tell by the sidewall bulge and the wear patterns, to much psi & the tire will ride on center treads, not enough psi & tire wears on outer treads. . I'm running 35" Toyo MT's...

 

[ChrisKringle]

Yeah, I love my new found ride. I was running 40 all along in the rear, finally go tired of the jounce and bounce so started taking it down till I got some bulge. Only 10 psi, and a huge difference. I'll bet 25 would be fine. I run my Super Swampers on the jeep at 19 in the front and 18 rear so . . .

 

[TriSum]

I have always run my rear tires in the 25-28lbs, unloaded. The tires wear evenly and the ride is much better. If some people feel they need to air them all the way up, let them. I get tired of trying to explain to people that the tires only have to carry the weight that is over them. If the rear of your truck is 3000lbs and your tires are rated at 3400lbs at 60psi, that's about 28lbs per tire to carry that load.

Hmmmm, imagine that.

 

[ChrisKringle]

Exactly! For those of you wondering, yes the difference in ride quality is huge. My next mod. was going to be supple aftermarket springs/air bags/whatever, now I'd rather wait on that and put the $ toward something else.

 

[GWBourne]

You wouldn't believe how much of a difference air pressure makes -- mainly the rear. Though I was going to have to sell my truck for a GMC, 'till I played with the air pressure. Still may, but that's another thread.



Ended up with 30 psi in the rear and 65 (max) in the front on 35" Toyo M/T's.



I got my tires rotated, and they pumped them up to 60. The ride was unbearable. At 30 in the rear, the sidewall bulge is still less than the front at 65 (max), so I may go to 25 for the rear and further the comfort level. Pump the fronts up to max for fuel economy, corner handling, and height. For the rear, decrease intil sidewall bulge is equivelant. Probably not on stock tires though, thin sidewalls, unless your running a duelly. Obviously this is for unladen city driving.



It made a HUGE difference for me, don't worry about pumping the front up either, the coils are nice and supple with the weight of Cummins.

i dont know about the rest of you, but i bought a one ton truck knowing that ride was not going to be anything like a half ton. i traded in a 98 K3500 DRW Ex Cab Chevy with a 454 and 4l8e. i got a truck that rides MUCH smoother in comparrision, yet still rides rough. this is all due to modern suspension developments and stupid chevy design by placing the overloads 2 inches from the bump stop. anywho, its a one ton or 3/4 ton... its going to ride rough. if it doesnt then the suspension is either air and will be bouncy or is not going to be able to handle real truck work...

Grant

 

[Turbo1Ton]

I don't expect the ride to be like a Chevy half ton. If I can get a little better ride quality for free by adjusting my air pressure, then I'll do it. I just have to remember that I am running that low of pressure and make damn sure to pump them up before I load it up!



I agree it is going to ride rough, it's the nature of the beast.



Jeff

 

[kowaliga]

I've been suffering with siatica and dreading my commutes. I have stock 265 Michelins on a 3500 LWB, SRW. From 50psi all around to 35psi in the rear has made a WORLD of difference. The roughness is less acute and more bearable. Thank you guys for allieviating my pain and smoothing things out.