I'm getting ready to take the family on a 1500 mile round trip to FL pulling the TT and checked the tread depth on the Dodge. Towards the outsides of the tires they're 3/32 and the centers are @ 6/32. This is pretty much true for all 4 tires (I have @ 40,000 on'em). I'm pretty disappointed with the life but I guess you get what you pay for. Anyway, if I was going by myself the tread wouldn't even bother me, but at what depth do I need to replace these tires.

 

You should not be unsatisfied. If you do some research on this sight there are alot of people getting only 20,000-30,000 miles off thier tires. As far as the tread is concerned there are wear indicators in the tread. They should have 2 types, the 50% wear and the time to change mark. When 2 adjacent wear indicators have been reached then it is time to change the tire.

 

1500 miles, towing, with the family, I'd get tires. If you're going back with the same tire, bump the air a couple pounds. Since the edges are wearing ahead of the center this indicates low air pressure.

 

I'll re-check my wear marks and see what I have. I get paranoid with towing during the summer with my family in the truck and so so tires.

If I went back with 285D's, are they spongy and squirrily? I have 265E's now and have been happy with the way they ride but would like a little bigger tire.

 

what air pressures are you running? i would not be worried about a 1500 mile trip with that much rubber on the tires with the right air pressure.... i plan to make a 2500 m trip with less, i have around 65,0000 on my tires

 

70 Front 60 Rear Unloaded
75 Front 75 Rear Loaded

 

E rated tires are supposed to be 80 psi. It is a ruffer ride but you get optimum tire wear. (Just my $.02.) And rotate every 8k mi.

 

80 psi is the maximum pressure to achieve the maximum stated load rating. All tire pressures are subjective to the individual truck and loads carried. To achieve maximum tire life and even tread wear across the tire, I have to run 75 front and 30 in the rears.

 

3/32 is the legal limit here. If it were me I would bump the pressure up 7psi or so and head out

 

If you want to find the optimum tire pressure just take a piece of chalk and draw a line across the tire and then move the vehicle about 25 - 50 feet and then look at the chalk line. If the chalk is gone from the center of the tire then you have to much air, if the chalk is gone from the outside you need more air, if the whole chalk line is gone then it's just right,

 

Good idea. Thanks.

 

Thats a good method but you have to move the truck by hand, if you drive it the weight transfer from acclerating and stopping throws the results. Even if your careful