Tire pressure with an ATV in the bed

Hi,

I have just fitted 265/70 R17 Michelin Defenders on my truck, replacing worn out 265/65 R17 M/S 2's

How much do I need to increase the tire pressure if I load my Honda 350 ATV?

The atv weights 250kg

I would like to keep them inflated at the higher pressure for the hunting season

I don't drive far to work and Costco inflated it with nitrogen

 

The best scenario comes from a chalk test. It's simple and there's probably a video on YouTube on how to do it. You could air up from there to increase the gas mileage slightly, but the ride and wear will suffer slightly.

 

It's filled with nitrogen, I think I should have it inflated to higher pressure at Costco and then do the chalk test

 

The new tires are load rated 115T compared to the 110T of the old set

I know 115T can carry more but will it mean it would need less extra pressure to cope with the load i.e. a stronger tire carcass?

 

Honestly, set it to the pressure printed on the door label. Toyota has already done the math for you and figured out the ideal tire pressure for your truck. The difference between a 110T and 115T load rating shouldn't affect optimal tire pressure. You can load your truck up to its max load carrying capacity of the truck with the tire pressure set to what it says on the door.

 

Air is already 78% nitrogen. The whole "fill your tires up with pure nitrogen" thing is more or less a snake oil sale. There are minuscule benefits to it, but don't offset the cost of doing it in the first place.

The new load rating can carry a higher load with more air, but that's generally only needed if you're towing or hauling an extreme load.

This is also an option but I prefer the chalk test cause I'm OCD and all tires and all trucks are different.

 

So adding air with my pump or at a gas station won't "ruin" the nitrogen?

 

Not sure if you can ruin nitrogen but it won't ruin anything. The air in your tires just won't be pure nitrogen, but you won't notice any difference.

 

The whole nitrogen thing is nothing but a Costco upsale. As @DustStorm4x4 said the air we breathe is 78% nitrogen already. And even the "pure nitrogen" that comes out of those machines isn't 100%. There is absolutely nothing wrong with filling your tires with regular air...

 

They add it for free, I didn't pay for it

Anyway, I don't drive long enough distances in warm conditions enabling the nitrogen to "work" and "cool down the tires and reduce wear" like they claim

 

Oh I know I have been filling tires with air for thirty years

Nitrogen in tires seems to be superfluous technology like TPMS systems

Not like fuel injection and electronic ignition, I hated dealing with carburetors and contact breaker points