What tire PSI should I run?

^ this will only work if the alignment is spot on.

 

Okay,

Step 1, check that your tires are all at the pressure you assunme to be correct.

For my Dynapros, they all are at 37 psi. I have (by feel) determined 36-40 psi to be a good range for these 44 psi max. tires on my lightly loaded to unloaded 4 door Tacoma.

Step 2, with big sidewalk chalk, make a one inch bar across the tread.

Step 3, drive for approx. 100 feet and then see how the chalk wears off.

If it wears mostly in the center, too much air. If more wears on the outsides, then too little air. If wears is even across the tire, you are gold!

Right Rear Before and After:





Right Front Before and After:





Left Front Before and After:





Left Rear Before and After:






There you go.... looks pretty even, yes? Maybe just a hair high? What do you think?

FYI, these tires have 16,000 miles on them. Hankook Dynapro ATm 265/75-16.

 

Yep, a tad high, but close. The biggest mistake people make with E tires is believing they need more pressure than any other tire. They don't. They just have a greater capacity. They run ridiculous pressures and then complain about the harsh ride. My truck is around 5,000lbs with weight front and back within 100lbs. I run 36 for daily driving, 40 on the highway. If I'm carrying a load I bump the back to 45. I won't run anything but E tires on my truck.

 

Right... I started these at the Rugged Trail's recommended 29/32... and they felt 'squishy' driving, turning, etc. Right away I raised them and tried the 36-40 psi range (they have a max. rating of 44 psi)... I think I will drop to 35 psi and run it for a bit, or re-do the chalk test at 35.

 

29-32. Overinflated-reduced traction.

 

29/32 is what the Rugged Fails were recommended (they were a 35 psi max. tire)... I ran mine at that.

The Hankooks are a 44 psi max tire, and when I tried them at 32, they were squishy feeling, not normal. At 36-40 they feel great, as did the Rugged Fails did at 32.

 

Just to add on an excellent pictorial on the subject. I would recommend doing this test on warm tires since that is how you would want the tire to be at it's optimum inflation. Of course we check our pressure when cold so if you are testing a tire at 35 psi cold and you then drive 5 miles or so then do the chalk test. If it shows you need to adjust then do so when the tires are cold again. Drive it till warm and test again. Sucks and takes longer but once you know your true base pressure you should be good to go. I've always thought a few pounds either way is not noticeable but with the Taco I can tell a very noticeable difference with as little as 3 psi. Of course all of this is only useful for us truly anal owners.

 

For sure!

I did the chalk test yesterday afternoon, it was about 75º here in Oceanside, about 4 miles in from the beach and I drove about 2 miles before measuring the tire pressure. It was 37 psi for the test, and (I just checked) this morning, undriven, the pressure is 34 psi.

 

I run 42/39 front/rear on the highway with mine. I keep it there until I go wheeling. Then I run 12/12. And when I do retrievals and need more traction, I run 22/20.

 

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35 PSI - Front & Back works best for my needs on OEM sized 265-70-16 tires.

As soon as theres OEM BFGs wear out ... I will be back with Michelin LTX-AT2s or MS2s in a heartbeat.
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I just spoke to Lance at Tire Rack and he told me they recommend that their customers go by the label that is on the door panel regardless if you have different tires than what originally came on the truck. Not much help.

 

He's just covering the liabilities.

 

My $0.02:

I run anywhere between 32 and 35 psi on all four corners depending on the situation. For long FWY drives, I run them at 35 psi (cold). If I am going anywhere off-highway, I run them at 32 psi. Have not had a problem to date and the tires are wearing even across the thread.

 

[Original Tires Max Load Rating] * [Sticker's Recommended P.S.I.] / [Original Tires Max P.S.I.] * [New Tires Max P.S.I.] / [New Tires Max Load Rating].

 

I have Goodyear Duramax and they wearing well at 32. I only run max on trailers.

 

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FWIW ... I have had LTX-AT2s and now have LTX-MS2s and the perfect year around PSI for my limited loads, driving style and weather is ... 33 PSI ... Front & Rear ...
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I was curious about this as well. Thanks!

 

I just wet down my driveway in one spot and drive thru it slowing and look a wet tire marks. easy to read whether you are getting full tread or not and raise or lower tire pressure. if I am not hauling, I run more air pressure in the front than in the rear.