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04-07-2015, 06:06 AM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member
2011 30' Flying Cloud
Arvada
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 411
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Tire Pressure
I'm sure this has been asked many times and I could not find anything in the archives, so here it goes.
Our Silverado 2500 HD calls for a cold tire pressure at 60#front and 70#rear. What is your experience with increasing the pressures when towing Thanks
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04-07-2015, 06:29 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack46
I'm sure this has been asked many times and I could not find anything in the archives, so here it goes.
Our Silverado 2500 HD calls for a cold tire pressure at 60#front and 70#rear. What is your experience with increasing the pressures when towing Thanks
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The answer to this question will frequently be different depending on vehicle, and trailer.
As an example, when I towed with a GMC 2500 to get the best stability I needed 60psi in the front tires, and 80 psi in the rear tires. However since I got my Ram 2500 with the heavy Cummins engine, I must run 70 or 75psi all the way around to get the stability needed while towing.
It's almost always a trial and error type thing to find the best tire air pressure needed for your setup.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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04-07-2015, 06:43 AM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member
2007 31' Classic
Kansas City
, Missouri
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 300
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I did not alter the TP from what the factory recommended whether towing or not on the original tires on my Silverado 2500HD. They had good tread left at 45,000 miles. I rotated every 5,000, decreasing and increasing TP as they were moved from front to rear but I stuck with the factory recommended TP. On my second set of tires, I've continued this practice and there's no evidence of tread wear after 15,000 miles. Balancing, aligning and rotating have paid off for me in long-lasting tires but I've never changed the TP when towing.
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04-07-2015, 06:53 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2014 31' Classic
2015 23' International
2013 25' FB International
Apache Junction
, Arizona
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,223
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Cross a set of CAT scales at a truck stop when towing and see what your axles are actually supporting. Then one can check the specific tire pressure vs supported load table to see if more pressure would be appropriate.
On our 2012 Ram 2500HD diesel, the rears are suggested to be at 45 psi with no load, but 70 psi when loaded. I looked at my actual numbers and instead of 60/70, I run 70/80 as the truck is heavy when loaded for camping with the trailer attached. It also seems to handle better (for a truck) with the stiffer sidewalls on the fully inflated rear tires. The Kelderman total air bag level ride suspension we installed softens the ride for the attached Airstream.
__________________
WBCCI Life Member 5123, AIR 70341, 4CU, WD9EMC
TV - 2012 Dodge 2500 4x4 Cummins HO, automatic, Centramatics, Kelderman level ride airbag suspension, bed shell
2014 31' Classic w/ twin beds, 50 amp service, 1000 watt solar system, Centramatics, Tuson TPMS, 12" disc brakes, 16" tires & wheels
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04-07-2015, 07:05 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Yes, tire air pressure when towing is often more driven by need of stability, than weight carried, although the weight cannot be discounted.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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04-07-2015, 08:34 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
Princeton
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
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Tire pressure is a function of LOAD and speced to provide proper tire to road surface contact. Over inflation will result in the tries waring along the center of the tire. Under inflation, more common, will result in the tires waring along the outer edges.
One has to decide the predominant use of the vehicle, and set the tire pressure to that use, or constantly change the tire pressure. Vehicle manufacture recommendation, especially on trucks, is just a compromise given the wide range of expected loads.
If you study the tire manufacture inflation charts you will soon see the very wide range of pressure for a given tire based on load. My 225 75 16 Es can be inflated to 80 psi when carrying 2680 lbs however I run them at 45 psi based on my trailer weight.
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles
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04-07-2015, 09:01 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Yes, tire pressure is a function of load, but more pressure may be needed for improved stability, especially in the rear of the TV tires, and the trailer tires.
less than perfect tire wear because of minor pressure imperfection such as 15-25lbs above the required for the load has virtually been eliminated by steel belted radials.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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04-07-2015, 09:19 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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You may have the correct pressure for the weight, but increasing pressure may add to stability and safety. Jim
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04-07-2015, 10:09 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,118
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Our dodge has the same specs. I run them at 60 in the front and 68-70 in the rear when towing. When not towing for a few months I drop them to 60 all around. there is also a sticker that says 60 for the front and 45 for the rear unloaded. We are never fully unloaded with the camper top, bed liner, and a pullout. So far stability had not been a problem. I get about 45,000 to 50,000 on a set of tires.
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04-07-2015, 12:22 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
Princeton
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
Yes, tire pressure is a function of load, but more pressure may be needed for improved stability, especially in the rear of the TV tires, and the trailer tires.
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If stability is the question buy tires that have decent sidewall construction. Increasing the tire pressure to make up for poor construction leaves you riding on reduced road surface contact and will give you problems on wet roads.
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles
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04-07-2015, 03:04 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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I have Michelins on my truck and on my trailer. Don't think there are any better.
And, sorry to tell you this, but the differences I'm talking about in air pressure will not reduce road surface contact, or traction. I think you are arguing the point just because I said it.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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04-08-2015, 05:14 AM
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#12
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4 Rivet Member
2011 30' Flying Cloud
Arvada
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 411
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Thanks for all the feedback. Since we are leaving day after tomorrow for an extended trip out west and this will be out first trip towing with our new (to us) Silverado, I'll leave the tires set at the recommended pressures and see how it goes.
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