Tire pressure question

[ckhd]

I know that you are supposed to run what Chevy recommends for tire pressure... but does the same still apply when you get tires that are completely different than stock? Like 265 60R 18??

[Huck]

rule of thumb---32 to 35 for normal driving. hauling or trailering, go with close to the tire manufacturers max printed on the tire wall. remember to lower if not towing or hauling as too much pressure is almost as bad as too little. weather affects pressure as well-----hot will bost 4-6lbs while cold will reduce similar. Never exceed the tire manufacturers max---very dangerous. Huck

[Huck]

rule of thumb---32 to 35 for normal driving. hauling or trailering, go with close to the tire manufacturers max printed on the tire wall. remember to lower if not towing or hauling as too much pressure is almost as bad as too little. weather affects pressure as well-----hot will bost 4-6lbs while cold will reduce similar. Never exceed the tire manufacturers max---very dangerous. Huck

[Longhorn Man]

When doing a report in high school, a few of the big names in tires told me basicly the same thing...it all depends on the weight of the vehicle, the width of the rim, and the style of tire.
The best thing to do, is to inflate to X pounds. A good base line is the "recomended pressure" from the manufacturer of said vehicle.
Then, drive with normal load, down the freeway, and pull over after 5 or so miles. (in a safe area) and check the temp of the thread across the whole tread. If you do not have access to a durometer, youe hand will do...just not as acurate. If the center is warmer than the edges, inflate more. If the center is cooler, you need to add air.
I have found that normally (again...in MY observations) a tire that is not overloaded and on a rim of proper width, the max psi by the tire manufacturer is normally pretty darn close.
If you are doing a road corse, then a slalom coarse with some cones is the best way to test and tune. After each run, look for scuffing on the side walls for an underinflated tires, however, and over inflated tire is kinda hard to see in this kind of testing.

[Long Knight]

If the center is warmer than the edges, inflate more. If the center is cooler, you need to add air.

Add air not matter what! LOL I am going out on a limb here to think that longhornmail meant if the center is warmer let some air out. I actually had to read that a couple of times to catch it!

Also, check the temp after a burnout...just don't get mad when your friends laugh at you!

[Longhorn Man]

lol...thanks for the correction.

[Low69CST]

I've got 255/50/16's on my s-10. I keep them at 38 for normal driving, if I really wanna have fun on the back roads, I push them up to 45. Rides rough, but when you turn the wheel it goes big time.

[Gee_Emm]

How bout on my 3/4 ton, the tires say to put them at 60

Should I run them at that? I have been.

[ZOOMY]

If the tire is getting hot, ADD AIR !!!! They get hot because of flexing of the sidewall & tread. Some people call it "squat". More air equals less squat equals less heat. If they get too hot they'll delaminate. Ask any big rig trucker. Same for cars etc. ala ford/Firestone.

[70 CST 4X4]

I had a tire delaminate after failing to air up when I loaded the truck heavy. Too much flex in side wall and lost a tire with 15000 miles on it. Learned the hard way. Expensive tire, expensive lesson.