Reduce air pressure on outside dually tire.

[Mrudolph]

Have you ever had a tire go flat on one of the dual's? How many days until you discovered that you had a flat tire? It's happen to me at least twice and many days went by before I discovered the flat. The last time was two years ago on our last leg home from Alaska. I checked all the tires that morning, as I do every morning while towing. We had the Lance camper on the truck. While at home I discovered the flat a few days later. No telling how many miles I drove the truck with one flat dually. Nothing happened to the tire, I had it fixed and all is still well. Now, I have a IR Fluke and I check all the tires every time we stop.



I may try your suggestion with no load on the truck.

You probably drove 0 miles, most likely it went flat at home after the trip.

 

[DonTX]

That pressure on the sidewall, is for MAXIMUM LOAD ONLY! If you are less than max weight on that tire, the printed pressure is simply an overinflated tire, not at all good for the tire. You can go to the manufacturers site to determine the correct pressure for each load situation.

What's there to calculate???? Pressure is listed on the tire sidewall, plain and simple... 80 PSI on E LR tires

 

[Bob Cochran]

What's there to calculate???? Pressure is listed on the tire sidewall, plain and simple... 80 PSI on E LR tires

MMeier - So is the weight rating in pounds, sorry could not resist!!! Lets use some logic here which in my case can be in short supply!!! There is 2 things to consider, the 80 PSI, and the weight rating of the tire in my case is 2778 for dual and single 3042 lbs I think(old my memory maybe gone). Now since we talking duals here these ratings basically says if the tire is carrying 2778 lbs the correct tire pressure is 80 PSI. Now if you lower the weight the tire tread will be such that the arc in the center of the tire tread runs more on the ground than the outside edge. The opposite hold true for under inflation situations. So adjust the tire pressure accordingly lower can be a lot raising above 80 PSI cannot be very much according to the tire manufacturer and even then only for a short period of time. If you need higher rating look and G rated tires.

If you really want to do this correctly; I have weighed my 5er and truck tire and axle weights and also the truck tire and axle weights no 5er. You set up a proportion with the 80 PSI over 2778 equal to X(unknown tire pressure) over your actual weight. Solve for X and you have the tire pressure you should be running. If you don't or can't weigh each wheel and tire take the axle weight and divide by the number of wheels/tires on that axle for the dually that would be 4 and use that weight for the calculations. Of course divide by 2 for the front axle and also use the single weight rating of the tire instead of the dual rating. I have done this for my trucked with the 5er connected and not.

As for the 5er I go ahead and use the 80 PSI regardless of the weight for basically 2 reasons. One I replace the tires on the 5er every 5 years no matter the mileage even if the tread is good and normally is because of age problems and cracking sidewalls. My truck gets enough miles that they are gone in less than 5 years LOL. Two if you have ever watched a 5er when backing and the side force on the tires if the side walls? If sidewalls are checked, or in my opinion for what it is worth, needs the high pressure to keep the tire on the wheel when backing.

Hope this helps as to why I do not use 80PSI at least all the time. Oo.

Oh, I have heard that you are supposed to lower inside to outside dually air pressure if roads are heavily crowned to allow rain run off. I don't now of anyone doing this however and I am not sure there is anyplace that would have roads crowned so much to require it. And even if there are you would be driving on them for enough miles to make this PSI adjustment.

 

[MMeier]

That pressure on the sidewall, is for MAXIMUM LOAD ONLY! If you are less than max weight on that tire, the printed pressure is simply an overinflated tire, not at all good for the tire. You can go to the manufacturers site to determine the correct pressure for each load situation.

Been running 75-80 PSI on my Michelins for just about 100k now. Truck does not always have a load on the trailer, or in the case of my Oklahoma turns no trailer at all till I get back there, which using what you have stated above... and others are saying, you would think my tires would be messed up by now. just rotated and balanced earlier this week, guess what, even wear on all 6. Running anything less then say 65 PSI on these haevy beasts, I say is BS, plain and simple! NEXT!!!!!

 

[Bob Cochran]

MMeier - Do what ever works for you and I can say also my Michelins look good doing it my way also. When it comes down to it you do what feel best but saying it is BS? We could all say the opposite in your case since my tires looks good adjusting tire pressure to the load. I prefer not to say BS but suit yourself!!!! I will say though when you say someone else is BS it can tend to get you ignored even if you have almost 4,000 posts. Kinda sad really, I all the time hope for better here, and usually am not disappointed.

Next time I see you post at least for my case I will refrain from comment as it appears you always know best. Not worth arguing over with anyone. I always try to be reasonable and look at things from others perspective than my own so we can all learn. I will not post anything you say as BS as I respect your perspective as being as valuable as anyone else.

 

[DonTX]

Well, it is not me or someone who says that, it is the maker of your Michelin tires!

It seems obvious you need to do a little reading on their website. Don't feel bad, I was pretty old when I found out I was doing it all wrong as well.

 

[GAmes]

Running anything less then say 65 PSI on these haevy beasts, I say is BS, plain and simple! NEXT!!!!!

I run 55 in my duels which allows up to 1865 pounds per tire. I keep the fronts at 65 and normally get 120 k on them. The trailers I pull range from ski boats which is nearly no weight on the rear to 40 ft toyhaulers which run about 3500 pounds. I don't adjust the pressure for each load, that would get very tiresome (no pun intended). I just replaced them after 108k with the tread depth to the top of Washington's head on a quarter, all the way across. If I was hauling a three car trailer I might up them to 65 or 70, or maybe even 80. I don't know what that type of load weighs. You might be getting the same amount of miles, but I'll bet my ride when empty is a heck of a lot better than yours. Oh, I run Michelins also.

 

[Grizzly]

Been running 75-80 PSI on my Michelins for just about 100k now. Truck does not always have a load on the trailer, or in the case of my Oklahoma turns no trailer at all till I get back there, which using what you have stated above... and others are saying, you would think my tires would be messed up by now. just rotated and balanced earlier this week, guess what, even wear on all 6. Running anything less then say 65 PSI on these haevy beasts, I say is BS, plain and simple! NEXT!!!!!

I have to agree with Don/TX on this one. I do what he quoted from Michelin and it works for me.



PS, it's not BS

 

[MMeier]

Maybe this is one of those "we will have to agree to disagree on this one" type of deals... spaeking of which, where did that saying originate from ?? Had a former member here use that one on me a while back !!! Not trying to **** anyone off, do what works for you, I'll do what works for me and my 202k mile rig! I'll check back here occassionally if possible this week, might be running nonstop the next 10 days !!!

 

[DonTX]

Well, no matter how you cut it, there are compromises. Nobody expects you to drop your air pressure in your tires when you drop your trailer at the yard and head a few miles home. I actually cheat with mine as well, I haul only my fifth wheel with a known weight on the tires, and inflate them for that load. I do however in the winter make short shopping trips to pick up this or that, 5 - 10 miles away. I don't change the pressure for that. Many hard working trucks can often average their loading and inflate accordingly. I would think it very rare that the maximum load and pressure would be appropriate. All the manufacturers warn against overinflation of course and have load tables to determine correct pressure. Tire life will definitely suffer from overinflation (according to the tire makers).

Maybe this is one of those "we will have to agree to disagree on this one" type of deals... spaeking of which, where did that saying originate from ?? Had a former member here use that one on me a while back !!! Not trying to **** anyone off, do what works for you, I'll do what works for me and my 202k mile rig! I'll check back here occassionally if possible this week, might be running nonstop the next 10 days !!!

 

[Bob Cochran]

Maybe this is one of those "we will have to agree to disagree on this one" type of deals... spaeking of which, where did that saying originate from ?? Had a former member here use that one on me a while back !!! Not trying to **** anyone off, do what works for you, I'll do what works for me and my 202k mile rig! I'll check back here occassionally if possible this week, might be running nonstop the next 10 days !!!

AMEN!!!!!Oo.