CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

what air pressure to run?

xpndbl3

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jul 30, 2005
Posts
510
Reaction score
0
Location
orland park, IL
My truck has a 6" lift, 315/75R16s, they're Pathfinder all terrains basically. Been running them near max pressure for trailering my car and 1600 pound trailer, but for regular street driving what pressure should I run? 25, 30 ??

88 suburban 3/4 ton.
 
I run between 35-38 psi on mine for street driving. The last set of tires i had went 50K miles and even tire wear.
 
Since most of the time I have basically no load in the vehicle, I run 28 front, 25 rear in my 35x12.50-15s. If I plan to carry a bunch of stuff or tow a heavy trailer, I'll bump it up to tire max for the duration of the trip.

There was some guy who actually verified the best tire pressure by inflating to a certain point, driving for a while and then getting out and checking the temperature across the tread. His final determination was 28psi on a 35" tire.
 
I run 30 in the front, 25 on the back of my SSR's. I love it when I say that to someone and they try to argue that you have to run what is printed on the side of the tire. Sorry Im not running 65psi (good ole E rating tires) on an unloaded truck.
 
Pathfinders were on my truck when I bought it . They chunked easily . Went with Sport Kings made by BFG , and no chunking . I have actual BFG's now .

Anyway , I run 35 psi street now that I have 35's . I was aired down to 28-32 on the 33's . More sidewall makes a better ride . I usually air down to 20 when I play , but I am going to go lower from now on .
 
The recommended tire pressure should be listed on the VIN plate on the B-pillar or glove box. This is the manufacturer's recommended pressure for the truck. Its a good place to start.

The tires have their own rated max pressure. My DD is a Ford. I run them a little higher than door sticker. Max pressure is too hard of a ride. Recommended VIN pressure is too soft for my liking.

My K5 - I'm just happy they have air.

I keep them around 30.
 
AZ79K5Project said:
The recommended tire pressure should be listed on the VIN plate on the B-pillar or glove box. This is the manufacturer's recommended pressure for the truck. Its a good place to start.

That pressure only applies if you have the same size tire as listed on the placard. If you have bigger aftermarket tires, your pressure will change.

Even so, Ford is notorious for recommending tire pressures that are too low in order to make the ride softer to please the yuppies. That was one of the biggest causes for the whole Firestone fiasco. The recommended pressure was WAY too low and it made the tires heat up too much.
 
This is what I said in a previous post just like this one.

Forget the sticker in the door jamb, you threw that out the window when you took the stock tires off. The rating on the sidewall is for MAX load applied. You don't have that much weight on them. What I've always done, which is a tad easier if the tires are new cause you can watch the nipples, is just make sure you're getting a flat contact patch. Every truck is going to be different because we all weigh in different. The actual tire is going to make a difference too. 20psi is probably pretty close. Just watch how the tires are wearing. If the are wearing a more in the middle, take a little out. If they are wearing more on the sides of the tread, put a little in.

In my old Toy, '95 ext. cab, sas, 35's, I ran 20psi because the truck didn't weigh enough to push the tire down for a good contact patch at anything higher. I ran this everywhere, city, highway, whatever. If I had a real heavy load that I was taking for a decent distance, I would air them up accordingly.

In the Blazer, with 350/465/205 on 36's, it weighs a little more to help "sqaush" them down and I think I have them at 22psi, but I haven't done a lot of driving to determine where they need to be. It may go up or down a couple psi.

edit: flat spotting isn't going to hurt anything, they'll smooth out in a few minutes of driving.
 
And this was added on....

87GMC said:
I agree with this, but take is a step futher. The tires temperature will tell you if it is running evenly across the tread. Go drive down a straight stretch of road for a while. When you stop, use a temp gun across the tread. Note the temps-outside/middle/inside. If it's hotter in the middle, for example-(125/140/125), take out some air. If it's is hotter on the edges,(140/125/140) add some air. Adjust them until they are as close as possible. One thing to watch for, if one edge is hotter than the other, (145/135/125) air pressure won't fix it. Possible your toe in is off, and the tires are scrubbing the outer edge, (or inner edge if they are toed out) or the camber is causing it and unless you're running IFS there's not much you can do.
Hope this makes sense.
 
Paul run about 27 on the front and 25 on the rear. They will wear better that way.

As for the original poster,

It depends on your wheels. I would say somewhere around 37-40psi if you have a 10" rim and 28-35psi if you have 8" wheels.
 
guess i'll be dropping down the pressure a little bit since running 40/50 right now is rough on the body bouncing everywhere in my seat. Going to try 32-35 amd see how that works out for me.
 
shouldn't you mark the tires with chalk and drive around the block and check the contact and adjust air presser to get full contact
 
Top Bottom