Dually tire pressure

[AWay]

I tow my heavy 5er several times a year, the rest of the time I use my dually as a daily driver. I leave my front tires at 65 pounds all the time, but when not towing I reduce the rear tires from 70 to 45 pounds. Some have told me it's best to leave the pressure up in the rear, that pumping it up and down stresses the side walls. The owners manual says to do it.



Question is: Which is better, leave the back tires at a steady 70 pounds or let the air out to 45 when not towing???

 

[HHhuntitall]

Sidewalls are designed to flex, hence the radial tire. Airing down when empty will increase ride quality, reduce the chance of cord/tread separtion, and increase heat built up in the sidewall. Heat is not so easily dissapated in a rubber tire, but if you're not loaded, it's not much of a concern. Warm rubber flexes more easily than cold, so it's not much of an inhibitor until you begin to get more than 120degrees. Some people will claim you lose mileage when airing down. I've never noticed a difference, except in ride quality and tire wear. If you notice someone that does air down, and one that does not, the center tread will wear prematurely on many trucks that are not aired down, due to the light amount of surface contact. I'd not be concerned with the sidewalls, and more concerned about valve stem damage, which can easily be avoided by being careful when adding or releasing air... ... . if you spend the majority of your miles empty, I'd reccomend it.

 

[champspa]

I tow at 80 front and 65 in the rear and leave it that way . I tow a 3 axle trailer goose-neck with 10k on the deck. to much trouble to change it all the time.

 

[sabersix]

I run unloaded almost 100%. Front: 65 Rear: 45

When I picked it up at the dealer, it was 65 all around and the ride quality was horrible. I had the dealer take it back into the shop and lower the tire pressure in the rear before I left. Much nicer ride quality and tires are wearing OK too.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I'd not be concerned with the sidewalls, and more concerned about valve stem damage, which can easily be avoided by being careful when adding or releasing air... ... . if you spend the majority of your miles empty, I'd reccomend it.

To avoid damage to the valve stems, replace the OEM rubber valve stems with all steel stems. It's not a matter of if the rubber stems fail, it's when, and they will. One of the first things I do to a new dualley is take it to a truck tire shop and have the prone to failure OEM rubber stems replaced with longer steel stems whiich makes airing up and down easier.



When my truck is loaded with our heavy truck camper, the tires are 80 PSI all around, and when empty it lower them to 65 front and 45 on the rear.



Bill

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I agree with Stockard. Steel valve stems are a must.



This is what I use for I am constantly airing up and down. Very user friendly and haven't has a bit of trouble since installed. Tire-Man: Kit #3-6D

 

[Grizzly]

I tow my heavy 5er several times a year, the rest of the time I use my dually as a daily driver. I leave my front tires at 65 pounds all the time, but when not towing I reduce the rear tires from 70 to 45 pounds. Some have told me it's best to leave the pressure up in the rear, that pumping it up and down stresses the side walls. The owners manual says to do it.



Question is: Which is better, leave the back tires at a steady 70 pounds or let the air out to 45 when not towing???

It depends on what you're hauling. How much pin weight do you have.



I have 2K lbs pin weight from my 5er and I keep all 4 dual tires at 50 lbs full time and the front tires at 65 lbs full time. Works for me.

 

[EGroeneveld]

I keep my front at 80 and my rears at 65 almost all the time. Yesterday had a 8K trailer with heavy tongue wait on. Today its 3,000#s of wood in the bed. Just never know so I keep it higher. If I am going to drive a couple thousand miles empty on a long trip then I will drop the rear to 45 each.

 

[Skydiver]

Front is always at 80. I have 10 ply mud grips on the rear. When towing the rear go to 65-70. When not towing the rear go down to 35. I have ran the rear at 28.

My rear wear perfect. Because I can't rotate my front wear on the outside of the tread quicker than the inside.

How much weight is on each rear tire when running empty?