Tire Pressure

Jet-X · July 16, 2002

My 2WD '02 Silverado has 265-70-16 (I think) General tires. The door sticker has the tire pressure staggered with the front at 30 psi and the rear at 35 psi. The dealer inflated them to 35 all the way around. Just curious what everyone else is using and if this is accurate? I don't want to replace tires prematurely.

melbertbloosfan · July 16, 2002

I have been running 33psi or so in my 255/70/16 generals. Split the difference, I figure. Ride is comfortable, mpg around 18, have hauled 700lbs with little tire bulge. 35psi would give you (slightly) better MPGs at the cost of more back end bounce (which is plentiful enough with the "hd suspension" package). When i used to sell tires for a livin', I saw many light duty trucks with cupped-out rear tires from overinflation coupled with infrequent haulling.

To be honest, I was leery of these generals, but so far they aren't too bad. Just my $.02

2000LTZ71 · July 16, 2002

It's always been my understanding that you would want more tire pressure up front to carry the load of the engine while in the back you have an empty truck bed that doesn't carry much weight so you would need less tire pressure. Am I way off or does that sound reasonalble?

carguru · July 16, 2002

The staggered pressure on the sticker is really for if you hauled stuff a lot. It increases the pressure on the rear so you don't get uneven wear. I ran 35 psi on all on the Generals I had on my '99. The tires wore pretty evenly over the 25k miles I put on the truck. Just make sure you rotate and balance the tires. If you were like me, I tended to wear the corners on the front ones a bit more. The Generals they put on are actually a decent tire. Much better than the F'stones they put on the 4x4.

carguru · July 16, 2002

It's always been my understanding that you would want more tire pressure up front to carry the load of the engine while in the back you have an empty truck bed that doesn't carry much weight so you would need less tire pressure. Am I way off or does that sound reasonalble?

They do this too so that the truck will understeer a bit more if driven hard into a corner. Higher pressure will give you less grip.

Markeaux · July 16, 2002

I would go along with the door sticker except when not hauling/towing reduce the rear to 32. Don't you find 35 all around to be jittery, expecially on washboard surfaces?

I have had two new Chev vehicles (01 Tahoe, 98 Z28) delivered with 5-10lbs over in all tires - man that makes some rough riding and bad handling! I have heard GM ships them this way, but then the dealer make-ready is supposed to drop them back down as per the door placard.

I have even seen new vehicles on the lot with 10lbs over, and I have heard many ppl complain that they test-drove a model and "it rode too rough" and I just know that the problem was too much tire pressure.

After getting my new 98 Z28 a few years ago, I took it to Mr Goodwrench a few times and incredibly they always pumped the tire pressures back up to 10lbs over that recommended on the door placard. That made for some extremely rough riding and easy sliding. That is really sad because if it were someone less knowledgeable, like my wife, sister, mother or whoever, they would simply think it was a "bad car" and be unhappy with it and tell everybody how "bad" it is. Anyway, I'll stop ranting on this, it just pushes one of my hot buttons.

GreenRado · July 16, 2002

Hum, interesting takes posted on tire inflation. My general experience is that the manuf. likes to spec a too soft inflation pressure on the door placard (to suit my needs anyway) so it will ride better.

I'd look at your type of driving, hauling, towing, etc, and decide. But also look at the max tire inflation pressure listed on the tire. My LT bridgestones call for 50 psi max, so I run them 44 up front and 40 back, unless I'll be hauling/towing, then bump the backs up to 42-44. Just make sure you leave enough room near the top, so when the tire is up to operating temps for the loads/temps/speeds you'll be travelling that the psi don't exceed the max rating.

I tend to try to find that happy medium where the inflation psi in front allows for the tires to wear slightly more on the outside (for better ride), and opposite on the backs, so when rotated, it balances out and the wear is even, across the tread, over the life of the tire (someone in an earlier post mentioned this too ) . Still need to keep in mind the safe inflation levels, both low and high if you do this. This works well on my Alero, but limited success on the rado.

Jpshostr · July 16, 2002

Now you people are going to think we're nuts, but we aren't even close to those pressures. The rears have 75 in them, with the fronts at 60. Have been running pressures of this amount for years now.

Our truck is a work truck and hauls and tows heavy loads (rated weight or over) frequently, and the Generals we have say max load at max pressure (which is 80). Now I don't notice any problems with unloaded ride at all, but of course I'm realistic here (unlike many in the general public), I don't expect a 3/4 ton truck to ride anything like a car, nor do I want it to. I know many pump up their tires everytime they load it heavy, let it out when they are done. If we did that, nothing would get done! Have noticed no additional tire wear, they actually last a bit longer (the terrain our tires see really rip them up, we get 30-35K out of a tire) than when we ran with 40psi on a set for a while.

SilveradoWV · July 17, 2002

I have the 245/75/16 Firestone Steeltexs and think they area a good tire overall, I had them on my '95 Silverado and after they wore out I bought another set just like them and i am glad they came on my new Rado!! The sticker on the door says 50 so thats what I run in them. I do tow and haul some too so I like them running at 50 well I guess its more than that HOT! My dealer has all of the tires deflated 5-10 so that the test drives will be nice and smooth!! So the first thing I had to do was put air in the tires when I got it! Firestone is the only tires that I have had good luck with, and once I buy a tire I have bad luck with I never go back to that brand. I know it could have just been that style but I still dont take any chances! I had Generals and got so many gravel punctures I had to ditch them before they were wore out, Same with Goodyears! If I made it without getting holes in the goodyears the tread would just tear off instead of wearing down, they seemed way too soft!!! So I am happy with what I have at 50psi!

carguru · July 17, 2002

If I rembember right, the Steeltex and the Generals on the 2500 are LT tires. The 255/70/16 on the 2wd 1500 are P tires. Running anywhere near that pressure on the P tires will blow them wide open. I believe max pressure on those are somewhere in the 40 psi range. I checked on some info about the tire pressure. 35 psi was what was recommended on the door sticker in '99 for the 255/70. If the door sticker recommends 30/35 now, it has changed since then. IMHO, 30 seems a bit on the low side. The tire would have a bit more heat buildup with the lower pressure (more sidewall flex), but better grip. Of course, the sticker is a recommended pressure for what the manufacturer believes is going to suit most people in terms of ride quality, handling, and wear. You may have to experiment a bit to find what is right for you.

Jpshostr · July 17, 2002

So those half tons only come with P tires? Thats a crock, being as its called a truck I assumed it would get truck tires. Guess I just got to assuming things again, oh well, I'll be doing it again plenty in the future.

Dihappy · July 17, 2002

Some of you may remember the controversial thread i posted on tire pressure with the graph and all.

It all depends on the Max PSI and Load of your particular tire, as well as the weight your tires are under for your particular ride.

I continue to run 31PSI front and 23PSI rear on my Xterrains.

I weighed my truck front and rear, graphed it out, then determined the PSI for my truck.

After checking Hot/Cold readings and adjusting for no more than a 4PSI difference, i arrived at my current settings.

My truck rides much smoother, with no loss of handling, and my Xterrains still look brand new.

A chalk test will also get you in the ballpark.

PS-I hate exceeding my bandwidth

carguru · July 17, 2002

So those half tons only come with P tires? Thats a crock, being as its called a truck I assumed it would get truck tires. Guess I just got to assuming things again, oh well, I'll be doing it again plenty in the future.

Unfortunately the 1/2 tons all come with P tires. I would rather have the LT tires, but the reasons behind this are those people that complain that the tires ride too harsh or they cost too much and the beancounters for the auto manufacturers nickel and dime everything on the vehicles.

WEFs99 · July 17, 2002

Mine stay at 35 all around. When the fronts are close to 30 they squeel on corners.

SilveradoWV · July 17, 2002

So those half tons only come with P tires? Thats a crock, being as its called a truck I assumed it would get truck tires. Guess I just got to assuming things again, oh well, I'll be doing it again plenty in the future.

Unfortunately the 1/2 tons all come with P tires. I would rather have the LT tires, but the reasons behind this are those people that complain that the tires ride too harsh or they cost too much and the beancounters for the auto manufacturers nickel and dime everything on the vehicles.

My 1/2 ton Base 4x4 has LTs and most of the rest I have seen has LTs instead of P's! I guess the 2wd's have P's, if mine did, I would trash them asap due to the loads I tow and haul! I cant ever remember the door label suggesting the MAX pressure as they do on my truck! I am just wondering since the Firestone incidents, which seem to happen because of Low pressures (which people and munufactureres like because of ride quality) that GM has suggested the MAX now!