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Tire Pressure Confusion: Sidewall or Door Panel?

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Old Nov 11, 2010 | 10:35 AM
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Tire Pressure Confusion: Sidewall or Door Panel?

Just bought set of LT265/75R16E 123/120Q BFG Commercial T/A's.

SIDEWALL says: Max load 3415lbs = 80psi cold

DOOR PANEL says (recommended for 245/75R/16) several things:
--Front 4410lb = 50psi cold
--Rear 6084lb = 80psi cold


So, since I don't have the "recommended size" (per door panel), what should my pressure be for the tires I've just bought?

NOTE: I rarely carry a load, other than the camper shell and a 40-gal aux tank (300lbs full) in the bed. S.Texas temp today is upper 70's. Naturally much warmer in summer...

Happy Vet's Day yall!
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Old Nov 11, 2010 | 12:32 PM
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I run my Michelins @ 60 psi all around, year round. Same size, usually around 800# in bed avg.

Good wear and feel.
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Old Nov 11, 2010 | 12:39 PM
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I am the same as SIXSLUG!! 60PSI on all fours will net a small mpg increase also.
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Old Nov 11, 2010 | 01:15 PM
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on the 2004 that put an additional sticker that says 40 for the rear and 50 for the front unloaded.
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Old Nov 11, 2010 | 05:40 PM
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If you want to get "scientific" about it paint or chalk a line across both your front and rear tires and go for short drive on dry pavement.
If the line is worn off in the middle you have too much pressure, worn or the sides too little.

Unloaded I run 65 front, 55 rear.
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Old Nov 11, 2010 | 07:14 PM
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had the tires mounted installed today at SAM's. They put 65psi in all four. ...but I like the "scientific" test idea so I may give it try this weekend. Thanks yall! -d
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Old Nov 11, 2010 | 09:18 PM
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My Yokohamas wander all over the place to the point of being dangerous at 80#. At 65# they are wonderful - drive straight, nice smooth ride, never take much weight to balance, wear little and evenly.
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Old Nov 11, 2010 | 10:23 PM
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i have done the crayon/chalk test earlier this year. with what you see in my sig i found somewhere close to 55 front and 35 rear (unloaded)to work well. the ride is nice like this too.

they are still awaiting the first rotation, so we'll see how they wear at these pressures after they have been rotated a couple times . . .

i used to run 65 all around with toyo OC AT 295.75.16's. this was the max tire press and it netted me some premature wear in the middle quite quickly. for the fuel economy savings i don't think it was worth it . . . i now pay more attention to my wear patterns!
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Old Nov 12, 2010 | 01:56 AM
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Originally Posted by danalex
Just bought set of LT265/75R16E 123/120Q BFG Commercial T/A's.

SIDEWALL says: Max load 3415lbs = 80psi cold

DOOR PANEL says (recommended for 245/75R/16) several things:
--Front 4410lb = 50psi cold
--Rear 6084lb = 80psi cold


So, since I don't have the "recommended size" (per door panel), what should my pressure be for the tires I've just bought?

NOTE: I rarely carry a load, other than the camper shell and a 40-gal aux tank (300lbs full) in the bed. S.Texas temp today is upper 70's. Naturally much warmer in summer...

Happy Vet's Day yall!
The pressure on the sidewall is max inflation pressure. Thats not the recommended pressure for that tire, since that tire will go on anything from a Ford Ranger to a 1-ton diesel, spanning a weight range of 3500lbs to 10k lbs. The door jamb rating would be closer to what you want. Use that as a starting point. But the rear pressures are for loaded states. Unloaded, decrease.

I've been running 65 all around on my 12v, and the wear has been remarkably even, considering I have 70k km on them and have rotated them twice. On my dually, I run 70-80 in the front, and 40-45 in the rear. Good wear on those as well. Still lots of tread on the back.
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Old Nov 12, 2010 | 06:11 AM
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From: steamboatsprings
60 to 65 is how mine wear best,i add air if im loaded.
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Old Nov 12, 2010 | 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by infidel
If you want to get "scientific" about it paint or chalk a line across both your front and rear tires and go for short drive on dry pavement.
If the line is worn off in the middle you have too much pressure, worn or the sides too little.

Unloaded I run 65 front, 55 rear.
For the chalk test, is 1-2 miles driving sufficient or further? Hwy speeds or will 35-40mph show same results?
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Old Nov 12, 2010 | 05:58 PM
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A couple of miles is plenty.
Speed doesn't matter.
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Old Nov 12, 2010 | 11:10 PM
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the answer here is really pretty simple. You go with the tire specifications of the tires that are on the ground.
The originals are history.
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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 09:10 AM
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though the tires are not the original. in the older dodges there was a recomended tire pressure rating leaflet in with the owners manual.

this leaflet covered min and max tire pressures with load ratings through all cab sizes and bed lengths.

if it is required ill find a way to post it here
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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by WestTN
the answer here is really pretty simple. You go with the tire specifications of the tires that are on the ground.
The originals are history.
So you're saying, that even though my dually recommends 60 front/65 rear, I should run 80psi all around because thats what the tire says? Over inflate an even wider tire?
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