What is Proper Tire Inflation ??

[Lotus54]

On my 2006, I have the original Benz stickers and two Airstream specific stickers.
Different numbers.

Originally Posted by K9CarCrate

I'm wondering if the tire pressure labels on the Sprinter are based on when the chassis-only is delivered to Airstream factory prior to adding all the Airstream coach stuff.

[Lotus54]

(2005 Sprinter, 2006 Airstream)
The Airstream stickers:



And the MB sticker

[CapriRacer]

Originally Posted by K9CarCrate

I'm wondering if the tire pressure labels on the Sprinter are based on when the chassis-only is delivered to Airstream factory prior to adding all the Airstream coach stuff. I've been interested in this subject, but have never gotten a straight answer. All I know from my personal driving experience is that 61psi wears the tires down and unevenly. I run them higher and slightly vary the psi based on current temperature, season, and driving conditions I will encounter with my driving plan for the day. The base PSI I work off of is 75psi. I'm over 70K in highway miles on my 2014 AI.

Lotus 54 has some very interesting photos of vehicle tire placards - and they contradict what I think the way the system works:

Both the chassis manufacturer and the completed vehicle manufacturer (in this case Mercedes and Airstream, respectively) are required by law to provide a vehicle tire placard - the finishing manufacturer (Airstream) having the over-riding placard.

The chassis manufacturer sets the GAWR's (Gross Axle Weight Ratings) based on what they designed the vehicle to do. Tire size/ pressure are then set based on that.

So, in theory, a bare chassis shouldn't be different than a completed vehicle as the GAWR's should be the same - except, perhaps, for situations where the completed vehicle's tire pressures are adjusted for handling purposes - and that appears to be the case in Lotus54's photos - the GAWR's do not line up with the inflation pressure.

[RICKBETTY]

Originally Posted by K9CarCrate

I'm wondering if the tire pressure labels on the Sprinter are based on when the chassis-only is delivered to Airstream factory prior to adding all the Airstream coach stuff. I've been interested in this subject, but have never gotten a straight answer. All I know from my personal driving experience is that 61psi wears the tires down and unevenly. I run them higher and slightly vary the psi based on current temperature, season, and driving conditions I will encounter with my driving plan for the day. The base PSI I work off of is 75psi. I'm over 70K in highway miles on my 2014 AI.

I did ask that question, and according to engineer, 61psi, is based on max capacity of the sprinter van.. 11,030lbs.

[unifreck]

Remember you are discussing 2 different vehicles. Through 2006 Sprinters were 2 rear wheels only, the newer Sprinters are equipped with 4 rear tires. AEW

[Lotus54]

Yes, important to remeber.

My older T1N is a 2500, new ones are quite a bit different and a 3500

I was just posting to show the differences in MB numbers and airstream numbers. Same Gross weight.

Mark