Tire Pressure

[Michael621]

Hey all,

I have always followed the tire pressure sticker on the door jamb when airing up, but the stated pressure seems excessive (60 front/70 rear) for cruising around with an empty truck? This is my first 2500HD, so not sure...

I've got stock 20" Goodyear Wrangler Trail Runner LT275/65R20

What are you guys airing up to with this tire?

Thanks for any input.

M

[Thankful]

I believe the pressure recommendations are for when towing.  My tires are currently at 55 front and 60 rear.

[redwngr]

Every tire has a 'load vs inflation' pressure table. 

(if you change to a different tire size, it probably has a different recommended pressure for the trucks axle weights.

 

The door sticker will have the pressure for when the truck is loaded and has tire size/load rating it was born with.

 

Empty, the load is probably higher on the fronts than on the rears.

Axle weights from a scale is a good idea.

 

https://tirepressure.com/lt275-65r20-tire-pressure

 

Tire Size	35 psi	40 psi	45 psi	50 psi	55 psi	60 psi	65 psi	70 psi	75 psi	80 psi	95 psi
LT275/65R20 Single Tire	2080 lbs	2280 lbs	2475 lbs	2680 lbs	2850 lbs	3030 lbs	3195 lbs	3375 lbs	3540 lbs	3750 lbs (E) 126
LT275/65R20 Dual Tires	1895 lbs	2075 lbs	2250 lbs	2470 lbs	2595 lbs	2755 lbs	2910 lbs	3070 lbs	3220 lbs	3415 lbs (E) 123

 

 

Edited November 14, 2021 by redwngr

[swathdiver]

4 hours ago, Michael621 said:

Hey all,

I have always followed the tire pressure sticker on the door jamb when airing up, but the stated pressure seems excessive (60 front/70 rear) for cruising around with an empty truck? This is my first 2500HD, so not sure...

I've got stock 20" Goodyear Wrangler Trail Runner LT275/65R20

What are you guys airing up to with this tire?

Thanks for any input.

M

The air pressures are set so that they meet the axle capacities.  For example if the steer axle's GFAWR rating is 3950 pounds, each front tire will have an air pressure to meet or just exceed 1975 pounds.

 

As to whether you can lower this air pressure when not fully loaded, it's very likely but you'll have to be careful/watchful of improper tire wear from then being under-inflated.

Edited November 14, 2021 by swathdiver

[Michael621]

28 minutes ago, swathdiver said:

The air pressures are set so that they meet the axle capacities.  For example if the steer axle's GFAWR rating is 3950 pounds, each front tire will have an air pressure to meet or just exceed 1975 pounds.

 

As to whether you can lower this air pressure when not fully loaded, it's very likely but you'll have to be careful/watchful of improper tire wear from then being under-inflated.

Thank you, (and all) I was wondering if tire wear would be an issue.  I'll just follow the inflation sticker. Not looking for premature tire replacement, that's for sure.

[Kjduvall]

The only reason I set mine at 60/70 psi is to keep the light from coming on the dash. I'd like to stay at 50 all around, and just air up when I need to haul something. Any body no how to lower the tpms threshold so we don't have to look at the orange light on the dash. Wonder if the dealer can do it. 

[swathdiver]

39 minutes ago, Kjduvall said:

The only reason I set mine at 60/70 psi is to keep the light from coming on the dash. I'd like to stay at 50 all around, and just air up when I need to haul something. Any body no how to lower the tpms threshold so we don't have to look at the orange light on the dash. Wonder if the dealer can do it. 

The dealer is not going to do it but if you have your own MDI2 adapter with GDS software on a laptop you can probably do it yourself.  We do it with our old Tech-2s on the previous generations (Tech-2 doesn't work on yours).

[Another JR]

Just to give you an idea of a ballpark empty axle weight if you haven’t weighed your truck, my empty GMC 3500hd SLT CCLB SRW gas, aux battery single alternator, camper springs, with full tank and 220 lb driver has front axle weight of 4440lbs and rear axle weight of 3340 lbs. i have the stock 18” Michelins and I run 55 psi front and 60 psi rear for general driving around including moderate loads of up to a ton or so. I get no tire messages at those pressures. 

[Dunn]

i run em around 53 and just air up when needed.....makes a huge difference in ride quality but yeah i hate seeing the sensor warning on dic all the time......so i guess there is no tuner to change tpms on new trucks, my brother has one for his 2019

[Another JR]

I had said above that I was running the front at 55 and the rear at 60 with no TP warnings, but that wasn’t exactly accurate. My rears actually have been at 63 when cold for the last few weeks, and temps have been dropping slowly here in Seattle. Last night I received a tire pressure warning for the rears, and the indicated pressure was at 62. They both alarmed at the same time while i was driving. So I guess I found out the warning set point for the rear tires on my truck is 62 psi. 

[ShotgunZ71]

2 hours ago, Another JR said:

I had said above that I was running the front at 55 and the rear at 60 with no TP warnings, but that wasn’t exactly accurate. My rears actually have been at 63 when cold for the last few weeks, and temps have been dropping slowly here in Seattle. Last night I received a tire pressure warning for the rears, and the indicated pressure was at 62. They both alarmed at the same time while i was driving. So I guess I found out the warning set point for the rear tires on my truck is 62 psi. 

That would indicate the threshold to be approx 10% lower than recommended. More than 10% and you MAY get a warning light. Someone else may have better info than this, but that seems reasonable.

[Wxman]

2500 here (60/70 on the door).  I have been running 58 front and 55 rear when empty.  No lights.  Tires look great >10k miles.  I air rears up to 70 when towing my travel trailer.  I really don't ever carry a significant load. I do have the 20" wheels and Trailrunner tires.

Edited December 17, 2021 by Wxman

[Another JR]

6 hours ago, ShotgunZ71 said:

That would indicate the threshold to be approx 10% lower than recommended. More than 10% and you MAY get a warning light. Someone else may have better info than this, but that seems reasonable.

Mine’s a 3500 and the recommended rear pressure for maximum load capability is 80 psi. 

[ShotgunZ71]

5 hours ago, Another JR said:

Mine’s a 3500 and the recommended rear pressure for maximum load capability is 80 psi. 

 

I missed that. Makes a difference in the TPMS warnings.

 

12 hours ago, ShotgunZ71 said:

That would indicate the threshold to be approx 10% lower than recommended. More than 10% and you MAY get a warning light. Someone else may have better info than this, but that seems reasonable.

 

The threshold is roughly around 20% for the TPMS warning, in this instance. Seems about the same from what others have said. Thanks to Another JR for catching my error, thinking he had a 2500 with MAX inflation of 70 psi. I should have looked closer at his sig.

[Dunn]

i am at 52-55 psi cold  (depending on the day ) and light is on constantly......it rides better so i just deal with it, sometimes light comes on and sometimes it doesnt @ 55psi