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Proper tire pressure???

Old Jun 7, 2009 | 01:26 PM
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Default Proper tire pressure???

I have a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500, 4x4, V8, 5.9L, Gas

I upgraded my wheel to 17" (instead of factory 16").
The tires on it are Toyo Open Country AT 265/70R17 E (10 ply).

My question is . . . what should be the proper tire air pressure for my truck summer and winter? I live in Boston, MA.

According to Toyo tires they recommend 55 PSI front, and 70 PSI rear. Seems very high to me.

On the truck door, the spec reads COLD 65 PSI front, COLD 80 PSI rear. However, this spec is for for original 16" rims not the 17" which I have. What about warm PSI????

Any idea to all you RAM gurus????
 
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Old Jun 7, 2009 | 02:29 PM
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Probably around 40, 45psi.

Either get some chalk and draw a line across the tire tread, and see where it wairs off. If it wairs evenly you're fine. If it wears in the middle you need to lower your pressure, if it wears on the outsides you need more pressure.

If you don't have chalk you could drive through a puddle and see what you're tread marks look like.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2009 | 02:30 PM
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Your best bet is going to be to stay within +- 5-10 PSI of what the door recommends. Most tire manufacturers have adopted that inflating to the door jam specs is the proper method. Most will not do warranty work on the tire if it is apparent that the tires have been either over inflated or under inflated.

Personally, I don't think there is going to be much difference between a 16" rim and a 17" rim.
So I say go by the door jam. Mine states 50 psi cold in both the front and the rears. I tend to run anywhere between 50-70 depending on what I have in the bed. If I am going to be hauling a massive load, I will bump the tire pressure up to keep the tire from flattening out.
Hope that helps.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2009 | 04:35 PM
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Go by what the door says.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2009 | 04:51 PM
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i go by what the tire reads for proper inflation
what the door reads, is for the tires from the factory, and that is all well and good, if you have the same spec tires, but you don't
 
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Old Jun 7, 2009 | 09:11 PM
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Thats the max psi of what they can handle.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2009 | 09:35 PM
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Generally, the door label is only relevant to the tires that came on the truck from the factory. If you have switched tires from the original specs (rim size, load rating, size), then go by what's on the tire. I run 60 up front and 55 in the back when unloaded. Putting more in the rear with no load in the bed will make for a very bouncy ride. There's always going to be a bit of a trade off with tire pressures. A little higher will lower rolling resistance and raise fuel mileage, but at the expense of more wear on the center tread. A little lower will give you better traction, but with a hit to gas mileage and tread shoulder wear.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2009 | 10:32 PM
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i run mine at 44 psi, what the tires are rated for
i cant wait to get some Cooper ST tires, D load rating and 65 psi rating
 
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Old Jun 7, 2009 | 10:32 PM
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Thanks guys, very helpful. I will go by what's on the tire and put less on the rear since I don't tow often. Thanks.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2009 | 10:35 PM
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just don't put too much less in the rear, that can cause the tires to overheat and fail
 
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