What tire pressure works for you?

[edpdx]

Have looked all over for the correct answer. There are many variations because the variables are many:

What tire brand are you running?
What tire size are you running?
Are you running with a lift?
Are you running with a load?

OK lets get a benchmark for what seems to be the most common:
Stock 8" rims. Running 31x10.5/R15 Goodyear Silent Armour seems to be the stock norm- from what I have seen. Without a fully loaded cargo on-board.

I don't think I can even add "or equivalent" because tires of the same size can vary greatly from model-to-model.

So In a Nutshell... What does (or should) the stencil over YOUR wheel wells read?

 

[rnd-motorsports]

The best answer you can give anybody driving on the road in this question and being in buisness and looking out for my behind would be see the sidewall of the tires you are running and go with there recomendations. CASE CLOSED! Now as for off road. Conditions you are in and type of tread would come into play and wiegth of truck! your driving style everybody will be dif.

 

[edpdx]

Ron,
Case Closed? I don't know about your tires; buty mine give a MAX. Tire Pressure only. They don't give a recommendation as to what the tire should be inflated to for a vehicle they don't (or couldn't possibly) know the tire is going to end up on. If it was as simple as that man I would not be asking here.

Besides, if you own one of these vehicles, you are probably not the kind of drive-between-the-lines guy that would simply inflate to a pressure based on someone else's say-so. I certainly can't just go with what is painted on the wheel well when I have seen so many different numbers on other M1009s.

So, pretty please, with sugar on it, what pressure do you like?

 

[rnd-motorsports]

Tire pressure varies with conditions: speed, weight, temperature, surface type etc. So any pressure you set will be a little bit of a comprimise amongst all these. Same for the factory tires, they just don't tell you that. You are correct the sidewall is the max for the tire but a real good presure to start at I should of said it that way to start with go with about 5 psi under that.

Your goal is to ensure that there is pretty much even pressure and road contact across the width of the contact patch( tread). If grossly overinflated,or mounted on a narrow rim the tire will balloon and only contact the road surface in the center. If grossly underinflated,or mounted on a wide rim just the opposite will happen and it will only contact at the outside edges.I like to say the rim should be about 2 or 2.5 inchs smaller max then the tire tread so on a 10.50 tire the rim should be no less then 8 inches etc. start at a presure you feel will work drive about say 5 miles on a paved road then check the tire tread surface you will see the contact area if it looks even across the tread you are good and you have your presure. if not add or subtract to find what the tires you have like I would say about 30 to 35 psi for the 31/1050/15 on a 8 inch rim would be a good start!

 

[kassim503]

I like 40 psi on the 31/ 10.5" junky futura tires, they seem to be a little soggy for tires.

Also, its usually carrying a 150 lb toolbox in the back

 

[edpdx]

i WAS WONERING THIS MYSELF... ABOUT THE EXTRA WEIGHT WE SEEM TO CARRY IN THESE RIGS. i HAVE (OOOPS) a hefty tool box a full spare, a Hi-lift jack and a swing-out bumper mount carrier. When I go out.

When I head for the hills, I add 4-5 MFCs of Diesel and another 5-10 gallons of water+ gear.

So, it looks like tring out between 35-40 lbs for daily use and increasing this with a full load on the freeway and maybe dropping a few lbs when I get to the hills- unless I am bringing home a buck

 

[dragonwagon]

Well this is a loaded question , as many answers as there will be replies .

Whats marked on a tire is NOT the recommend for your vehicle .

Mythbusters did some testing on this regarding MPG . For a standard full size auto from 35 psi up gained little to nothing .

1st see if the vehicle has a recommended pressure front and rear often different . Look at the civilian version , weight must be close i suspect , they will have a tag on the door jam probable .

another thing , the face of the tire should be sitting on the road . To much air you will ride on the center of the tread . How to check this !

Air up , mark across the face with chalk . In a very short ways you can look at the tire and see if the chalk is scuffed off . Riding on the center , let the air down some . Find where your tire is setting flat in this method .

Pickups normally state tire pressure for max load , run an F 250 empty you can do with a lot less air . My F 250 is a service truck 90 % of the time its empty . Run it at the suggested rear air preasure and you will wear the center out of the tire .

Off road , trial and error . stiff heavy ply tire less , soft compond tire will need a little more .

 

[Bob H]

Have looked all over for the correct answer. There are many variations because the variables are many:

What tire brand are you running?
What tire size are you running?
Are you running with a lift?
Are you running with a load?

OK lets get a benchmark for what seems to be the most common:
Stock 8" rims. Running 31x10.5/R15 Goodyear Silent Armour seems to be the stock norm- from what I have seen. Without a fully loaded cargo on-board.

I don't think I can even add "or equivalent" because tires of the same size can vary greatly from model-to-model.

So In a Nutshell... What does (or should) the stencil over YOUR wheel wells read?

The-10 manual for your vehicle will list the recommended pressures.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

No M1009 here but my '89 K5 with the 6.2L probably weighs more than a M1009 due to them being stripped models basically. I run 30 front and rear and did the same when I had 31's on it. 30 was the factory recommendation for 80's K5's with 31's.

rnd, you're making some VERY general statements. My tires have a max pressure of like 90psi. Should I be driving around at 85psi?

 

[rnd-motorsports]

AJMBLAZER the tire with the 90 psi on the side wall will be load E I would bet. Thats why its hard to say or give a presure. Tire's very so much, load range and all and you bring up a good point you run that tire marked for 90 psi at 30 or 35 psi and it will run hot and not last long and also run on the edge of the tread the sidewall will fail for sure . You all remember a few years ago ford had the firestone problem they blamed the firestone tires and turns out ford recomended and run less air then firestone recomended the tire be run at had several failures the manufactures put the presure on the tire its designed to run at or max yes its not ideal for all or everything its put on but a good starting point dragonwagon stated a perfect way to find a useable presure with the chalk on the tread you get even contact with the proper rim width and you should be good. there is just way to many varables to give a presure for a specific tire and truck

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Actually I've run load range D or E tires under fullsize Chevy's and Dodges for years now at around 30-35psi just fine. In fact, factory recommendation on those trucks was 35psi even. Works fine.

I've said my piece.