Tire Pressures Settings???

[clarkbar]

Hi All,

Need advise for truck tire pressures for towing. Have a brand spanking new 3500 4X4 Quad Longbed DRW. I am going to be towing a car trailer weighing about 6000# across the Pa Pike ( please say a prayer for me). Actually I have done this dozens of times with my Ram 2500 V10 but am becoming increasingly irritated at the poor condition of this road. And they make you pay to boot. Lucky they have no competition. These guys would have been out of business long ago. And they just raised rates something like 40% on Aug 1st. Sorry for the rant.

Would much appreciate any info you can give me on tire pressure settings while towing.



From the Burgh,

Clarkbar

 

[Diesel Nut]

I personally run 80 in front and 75 rear full time. Yeah, I could bring it down for ride quality, but hey, it's a truck, right?

 

[John - K5AWO]

You can't go wrong with the sidewall pressures.



You will get the best mpg and safety margins.



Ride is harsher, but with a trailer, I keep 'em aired up tight.

 

[klenger]

You should have received a document with your delivery paperwork on tire inflation pressures. You can download a copy at http://www.klenger.net/dodge/3rd-gen-reference/2004-tire-inflation-pressures.pdf



Note the last paragraph on the 1st page about adding 10 lbs for speeds over 65 MPH to what the following charts call out. Based on this document, I can load my truck up to max GVWR with 60 lbs all the way around, which has worked well for me. Weighing your truck with the loaded trailer attached would privide the best baseline to start with. Good luck and welcome to the TDR.

 

[DPelletier]

I ran my SRW truck at 60 front and 50 rear (empty) and 70 front and 80 rear fully loaded. Of course, with my slide-in camper, sway was critical so running the rear tires at maximum pressure was a must. When in doubt, use more pressure than you need. The downsides of too much pressure are a rougher ride and uneven treadwear. The downsides of too little pressure are uneven treadwear, poor handling, increased heat and potential tire failure.



Dave

 

[dpuckett]

Assuming your trailer is a bumper pull, I'd leave the fronts at the empty pressure you normally run. For the rears, I'd go about 10pis below the max; not sure what they rate for the new trucks, but they put LR E's on the older duallies, so about 65-70psi. The 6K load isnt that much, you have 4 tires to spread it out over; unless you go 85+ you shouldnt have ot worry about overheating form sidewall flex. I've never noticed tire pressure or ply rating to have much, if any, effect on ride quality (though it will affect wear patterns), esp on rough roads. Plenty of experience with that, too. What the geck do the states do with their road monies? They sure dont maintain them.



Daniel

 

[Mel Fuelling]

You've got several good replies for tire pressure starting points. I have an unproven theory that you can improve on these starting points once you have your load on the road by using an infrared temperature gun to scan each tire tread. (At the first safe opportunity to stop after traveling far enough for your tires to reach operating temps. ) Slowly scan each tire tread and asap, adjust tire pressure to achieve uniform temps across the tread. On my work truck which weighs about 9,000# loaded, with Michelin LTX A/S

215-85x16E, this is 73# front, and 50# in the DRW. These tires are wearing evenly so far. It seems to work well on car tires, pickup tires, and semi truck tires.

Mel

 

[DPelletier]

Guys,

He doesn't have a dually.



Dave

 

[claymike]

Well according to the chart I am 5 psi over on my front tries while towing. I run 65 psi in the front and 75 psi in the rears, towing 21k gross.