Tire Pressure Warning!!

fakerley · April 16, 2004

I went to have my 1st oil change on my 2004 Z-71, 1500 Crew Cab yesterday at the local Jiffy lube. As part of their service they check your tire pressure. They told me that ALL my 17" tires were at 45 to 50 PSI and that they are not to excede 35 PSI. If any of you have just purchased a new 04 Silverado you might want to check your pressure on yours.

I would be interested if anyone else has their pressure too high. I checked the tires and the badge on the drivers door and sure enough the pressure rating says 35 PSI (When there cold) If this problem is on alot of their vehicles, then the factory needs to be aware.

Frank

seadoons · April 16, 2004

Were your tires cold or hot? If you were at a jiffy lube they were probably hot, and the tire pressure increases with heat. They say 35PSI cold so when the tires heat up, they won't go above the actual amount they can hold (I don't know what the hot tire press. is.) Check them tomorrow morning when they have been sitting there all night and haven't moved for 8 hours...I bet you will find that they are under 35PSI when cold now b/c they let air out.

DMAX Daddy · April 16, 2004

My door panel says 35, but the side of the tires says 45 max. I still prefer to keep them at 45 because mine bulge way to much at 35.

fakerley · April 16, 2004

Were your tires cold or hot? If you were at a jiffy lube they were probably hot, and the tire pressure increases with heat. They say 35PSI cold so when the tires heat up, they won't go above the actual amount they can hold (I don't know what the hot tire press. is.) Check them tomorrow morning when they have been sitting there all night and haven't moved for 8 hours...I bet you will find that they are under 35PSI when cold now b/c they let air out.

Yea I was thinking of that. I'll check them when their for sure cold.

Wingnut · April 16, 2004

Also be sure not to trust d@mn near anything that comes out of the mouth of a Jiffy-Lube employee.

I'm glad that you checked your sticker and tires, instead of just taking his work for it.

PewterC3 · April 16, 2004

My C3 had the same thing when it was new. Max pressure for the tire is listed at 35psi and some of them had 60psi in them!

fakerley · April 16, 2004

I dont take anyting for granted when it comes to my vehicles. I just checked the max pressure on the tires and the max is 40 PSI. One of my tires were as high as 48 PSI yesterday. I never like them at the minimum or at the maximum.

Some of the idiots over on FULLSIZE trucks.com are saying I'm making a mountian out of an ant hill. It's not that I was overly concerned it's just that there is a min. and max for a reason.

I'd like to smack that punk that replied like that. He can do what the hell he wants with his vehicle but keep his punk a$$ mouth shut when it comes to mine

Frank

Wingnut · April 16, 2004

It's better over here anyway man.

GMCTech · April 16, 2004

The tire pressures are set at the dealership as part of the PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection).

The tires are supposed to be set to the door label. This is a suggested level, and only indicates what GM designed their vehicle around.

The tires really can be set to whatever you want, just don't exceed the tire's max. pressures.

Hope this helps.

Markeaux · April 17, 2004

The tire pressures are frequently NOT set at factory recommended levels by the make-ready department at GM dealerships. I had 3 new vehicles delivered in the last 10years with right around 45lbs all around when it should have been 30-32.

I have heard and read that FOR SHIPMENT the factory will put in around 45lbs all around. I have also measured 45 on most all of the vechicles on a dealer lot EVEN THE DEMOS. This was for everything from Z28's to LeSabres to Tahoes, Grand Prix's and more. You know some unsuspecting/unkowing test-driver could easily dismiss a whole model line just because of a too harsh ride simply due to overfilled tires.

And even when bringing in the Z28 in for oil changes one GM service center would always pump up my tires up to 45 when I already had them properly set to 30 resulting in unbelievable ride harshness - of course I noticed it right away. I pity the poor unkowing vehicle owner that has such things done to them and they never realize it.

fakerley · April 17, 2004

It's better over here anyway man.

I agree! If you look at some of the posts over there you can see that instead of trying to be helpful some of the posters are punk a$$ youngsters who are generally up past their bedtime. Don't get me wrong about younger folks, I value their opinions like any other. In fact, they are up to speed on whats hot and whats not more than old farts like me.

Frank

Ben · April 17, 2004

Tires will take an over pressure situtation much better than underinflation.

Heat is the main killer of tires. Bending is the main source of heat for a tire. Bending of both sidewalls and tread (squirm).

Tire pressure should be taken stone cold or after sitting for couple hours. A low pressure tire can heat up to gain over 10 psi.

Dropping pressure "back" down to normal when it's hot is hurting the tire and risking blowout.

Construction and type of tire are main determining factors in how much pressure. Better constructed tires, like LT rated, have much higher than lower performance tires, like "P" rated. Not speed performance, but weight performance.

Careful on door sticker info. Only applies if same size and type tire as listed on that sticker. If changed, then new ball game.

If the folks over at another forum ridiculing, then THEY are the idiots, as tire pressure is one of the most important items to check. Anyone remember the Ford Explorer roll over? Mostly blamed Firestone, which was partialy to blame...but MAIN BLAME belongs to FORD, as they are the idiots that changed the door sticker from 35 psi to 26 psi for "ride quality" improvements...once folks started flipping and dieing, they changed that to "better control roll over tendencies"...piece of !$!#!

Add that any one pressure in not necessarily best for all, even same tire & size. Rim width will also play and the amount of sidewall bendback is of what that is.

Here's picture of my Michelin LTX-AT LT265/75R16 C's on Alcoa Classic 16x10's. Notice a normally 10.5 inch wide tire is almost 12 inch wide...meaning almost no sidewall bend back, which means higher performance braking and cornering.

piratebaseball · April 17, 2004

my tires from the factory say 44 psi max so I usually try to run around 40 psi in them. Its not what the factory recommends but it gives me better gas milage which is good since I travel the interstate alot right now traveling back and forth from college.

Quadrasteer · April 18, 2004

Went over to fullsizetrucks.com & only got JC Whitney??

dukbludvl · April 18, 2004

Just a word of caution about Jiffy Lube -- I wouldn't take my vehicles there if I were you. I know this is just one example, but a few years back, they topped off the power steering fluid in my mom's car. The thing is, she didn't have power steering on that car. Anyway, she was driving down the street later that day and the car caught fire and the fire department had to come. I've always done my own oil changes ever since I got my Yukon. I wouldn't trust Jiffy Lube with anything I paid for.