What is optimal tire pressure for a '97 Ram 3500 2wd Ex Cab Dually? I drive the truck everyday, 1/3 city and 2/3 highway, and occaisionally tow an old car here and there, but nothing heavy. I have brand new Cooper Discoverer ATR 235/85/16's on the stock wheels. I just want the best ride, best mileage, and best wear. I hear alot of opinions, just looking for a real answer.

Thanks and sorry for being new to 6 tires

 

Anybody???

 

It's usually on the sidewall of the tire.

 

I run 40psi in the back and have had good luck so far. Even wear, the ride is decent for being a 1-ton. Winter time, I use 1000 lbs. in the back and leave the pressure as is. Softens the ride a lot, and tires still wear good. Running higher will get you better mileage, but will be a harsher ride and will run the middle out of your tires. 80 psi in the rear is just too high unless you're hauling all the time, IMO.

 

I've always tried to adjust the air pressure to get the most miles from a tire. On the truck in my sig, I run 75psi in the front and 32psi in the rear. Duallies are funny. When I made the move from a SRW to the DRW I had to adjust what I knew. Since there's 4 tires on the rear instead of the 2 I was used to, I actually had to cut my inflation pressures almost in half to get the tires to "wear square".

 

The pressure on the sidewall of the tire is the maximum pressure, and load, that the tire manufacturer has specified (by law) for that particular tire. You usually don't want to inflate the tire to this pressure.

The pressure specified on the door-jam label is the tire pressure you should have when you carry a full load, up to the truck's GVWR.

On your owner's manual pouch, there should be a pamphlet called "Tire Inflation Pressures," take a look in yours, you should have it. In this pamphlet Dodge has specifications for tire pressures under a "light load," and under a "full load." A "light load" is defined as two passengers plus 200 lbs of cargo.

If you only carry a "light load," Dodge says that you should have the following pressures for your truck and tire size:

Front: 50psi cold
Rear: 40psi cold

If you plan to carry a "full load," then you should inflate to:

Font: 65psi cold
Rear: 50psi cold

I got these numbers from my 2001, but they should be the same for your 97.

 

Do they only put on D-rated tires on the 01's? My 98 calls for 65 front, and 60 rear, but it comes stock with 215/85 D-rated tires. Looks goofy with those little tires on it.

 

Nope. In '01, all the 2500s come with either the 245/75 or 265/75, and the 3500s have the 235/85, all of them are rated E. That's probably why they specify less pressure.