Quesion on tire pressure for tow vehicle

[Renthorin]

So Monday I bought a new Chevy Express Cargo van. 2500HD with the 6 liter and all the tow goodies.

Never had a tow vehicle before and the tires say max 80 psi.

I usually run my car tires right up to the max. Do I do that with the van tires too, even when not towing?

What do ye recommend?


Will

 

[novaderrik]

what does the owner's manual say?

 

[Renthorin]

it says to "keep tires properly inflated"....

 

[TurboDave]

Especially when towing! Mine were rated at 65 max. and that's where I run them when towing. Keeps the heat buildup to a minimum.

 

[Renthorin]

but if not towing???? can I run them at 80?

I don't see why not but wonder if anyone has and had bad problems

 

[carlsbadGN]

I run high pressure tires on my truck and fill them to 75 lbs when towing. You can keep them at or near max pressure without a load but you'll get a bouncy or uncomfortable ride. Try about 50lbs without a load.

 

[TURBOTWIN2]

There will be a label somewhere on the van for recommended tire pressure, sometimes on one of the VIN stickers, sometimes on the glove box door.
Load range E tires (80 lbs.), I would run 80 lbs. on the rear tires and maybe 60 on the front when towing.
Low tire pressure with a load builds a tremendous amount of heat, as said before. Ever had to change a flat with a trailer attached to the vehicle? It's not fun and don't ask me how I know.:biggrin:

 

[TexasT]

I run mine at eighty all the time. Rides kinda ruff but it is a truck.

 

[turboc87gn]

I have two express 2500 vans that i use for expediteing and i tow a 24 foot enclosed with the 07 6.0 van ..Run your tires at full pressure loaded or not the express vans have front end probs that have never really been addressed by gm..If you heat the brakes up or let the tires wear you will get a violent shake in the steering wheel that will scare the $hit out of you and you can change all ur suspension and brake components it will still do it (ask me how i know) im gonna try drilled slotted rotors next..rotate your tires often and check the wheel alignment often too.. they like to eat up front tires if you dont..i use amsoil or castrol synthetic oil and motorkote i change my oil every 20,000 miles (yup u read it right)what i noticed about motorkote is 2 weeks after i put it in my temp gauge dropped two notches lower..i check other drivers trucks when in the tr stops and im runnin cooler from adding motorkote ..neway the trucks a 2500 its gonna ride hard irregardless and the suspension dont even move till you got 1000 lbs of better in the back...If you want a cushier ride get the michelin ltx tires they have a softer sidewall and last a lot longer than the poopy bridgestone vsteels that come on it..The van tows beautifully i pulled the enclosed all the way to pomona california from mich with a van full of furniture etc and a honda pilot in the trailer it pulled no prob..it got a lil warm pullin up the tall mountains but not hot..theres also a auxillary power on the underhood fuse box thats not hooked up that runs to the trailer plug..also the brake controler wiring is under the dash..To give you an idea of how much time i spend in this van its an 07 i bought new and it has 275,000 miles on it my other on is an 06 with 250,000 on the 4.8 i replaced water pumps on both vans under warranty one a 30,000 miles the other at 70,000,both vans tailshafts started leaking,the rearend carrier bearings went on the 6.0 van i think it was a fluke noone ive talked to has had that prob..I also just replaced my tranny a month ago but it was my own fault i ignored the hard shifting and check engine light cause i was off for two weeks due to havin a new baby and was broke so i tried to go make some $$$ before i took it in well the torque converter clutch went bad and caused it to overheat and the seal popped out the back and cooked it i ended up replacin the seal in an autozone pk lot and drivin home from ky to mi in second gear at 50 mph sorry to jack the thread but i figured you could use the info...:biggrin:

 

[turboc87gn]

I have two express 2500 vans that i use for expediteing and i tow a 24 foot enclosed with the 07 6.0 van ..Run your tires at full pressure loaded or not the express vans have front end probs that have never really been addressed by gm..If you heat the brakes up or let the tires wear you will get a violent shake in the steering wheel that will scare the $hit out of you and you can change all ur suspension and brake components it will still do it (ask me how i know) im gonna try drilled slotted rotors next..rotate your tires often and check the wheel alignment often too.. they like to eat up front tires if you dont..i use amsoil or castrol synthetic oil and motorkote i change my oil every 20,000 miles (yup u read it right)what i noticed about motorkote is 2 weeks after i put it in my temp gauge dropped two notches lower..i check other drivers trucks when in the tr stops and im runnin cooler from adding motorkote ..neway the trucks a 2500 its gonna ride hard irregardless and the suspension dont even move till you got 1000 lbs of better in the back...If you want a cushier ride get the michelin ltx tires they have a softer sidewall and last a lot longer than the poopy bridgestone vsteels that come on it..The van tows beautifully i pulled the enclosed all the way to pomona california from mich with a van full of furniture etc and a honda pilot in the trailer it pulled no prob..it got a lil warm pullin up the tall mountains but not hot..theres also a auxillary power on the underhood fuse box thats not hooked up that runs to the trailer plug..also the brake controler wiring is under the dash..To give you an idea of how much time i spend in this van its an 07 i bought new and it has 275,000 miles on it my other on is an 06 with 250,000 on the 4.8 i replaced water pumps on both vans under warranty one a 30,000 miles the other at 70,000,both vans tailshafts started leaking,the rearend carrier bearings went on the 6.0 van i think it was a fluke noone ive talked to has had that prob..I also just replaced my tranny a month ago but it was my own fault i ignored the hard shifting and check engine light cause i was off for two weeks due to havin a new baby and was broke so i tried to go make some $$$ before i took it in well the torque converter clutch went bad and caused it to overheat and the seal popped out the back and cooked it i ended up replacin the seal in an autozone pk lot and drivin home from ky to mi in second gear at 50 mph sorry to jack the thread but i figured you could use the info...:biggrin:

 

[Renthorin]

Cool! thanks for all the info.

I found the tire pressure sticker in the door jam and it says to run the fronts at 50 and the rears at 80 but I didn't see anything that mentioned loaded or not for those settings.

currently the fronts are at 65 and the rears 75. Don't notice much of a ride difference but hey....as mentioned...it is a HD vehicle so it doesn't ride like the mini van

I have about 35 miles of city driving on it and the little computer display says average mpg 16.4 so not too shabby for a beast.

 

[UNGN]

View attachment 78117

The trailer appears to be a little low in front.

You want to make sure the trailer is perfectly level when hitched up and loaded, because that will ensure the trailer tires are loaded evenly and the front or rear set aren't overloaded.

It's amazing how a small shift in trailer angle will take all of the weight off of a set of axles and put it all on the other set.

 

[UNGN]

I used to drive around with 65 psi in my tow vehicles even when I wasn't towing, but in the rain (or even just typical texas oily roads) it was like I was driving a drift car. I could block two full lanes as I hung the back end out at will going down the road.

Now I just shoot for 45 psi.

 

[6APPEAL]

My truck (in sig) runs 55 in the fronts and 50 in the rears (load range E tires) running empty, 65 in fronts and 80 in the rears towing heavy (loaded car trailer, camper, etc.). No change from empty pressures when towing light (stuff like the 4 wheeler trailer, empty car trailer, etc.). I'm always checking my tires wear pattern to determine if pressures are correct. Different tires wear different. Old tires needed 60 in fronts and 50 in rears (again, load range E tires).
John

 

[turboc87gn]

The trailer appears to be a little low in front.

You want to make sure the trailer is perfectly level when hitched up and loaded, because that will ensure the trailer tires are loaded evenly and the front or rear set aren't overloaded.

It's amazing how a small shift in trailer angle will take all of the weight off of a set of axles and put it all on the other set.

Yeah it was low cause i was being lazy and didnt hook up the load levelers or the sway bar i was just goin across town when its on the hwy i hook the bars up and it evens right out:biggrin:

 

[UNGN]

Yeah it was low cause i was being lazy and didnt hook up the load levelers or the sway bar i was just goin across town when its on the hwy i hook the bars up and it evens right out:biggrin:

My dad towed my trailer with his air suspension lincoln navigator that raised and lowered itself. Parked, everything was perfectly level, but on the highway, the truck raised up 2 inches. The Result was 4 ruined trailer tires in 400 miles (2 blow outs and two smoked tires)

 

[fubar2.5]

The pressure on the tire is the MAXIMUM pressure the tire should EVER be including after a fully loaded highway run.
If thats not working for you you need to change specs-ie a different tire or tow vehicle.
I believe the pressure on the manufacturers label is at gvwr

Lots of opinions on here but not based on real facts.

 

[UNGN]

Lots of opinions on here but not based on real facts.

 

[turboc87gn]

The pressure on the tire is the MAXIMUM pressure the tire should EVER be including after a fully loaded highway run.
If thats not working for you you need to change specs-ie a different tire or tow vehicle.
I believe the pressure on the manufacturers label is at gvwr

Lots of opinions on here but not based on real facts.

I posted facts based on my experiences with two identical vehicles...to the one in question one of which i spend 5+days a week in 20+ hrs a day every week.. a guy in a truck stop told me to run max pressure for good tire wear in the front i was running 55 psi i took his advice and my tire wear evened out dramatically.. you can call them not real facts all you want..a hard head makes a soft a%%

 

[turboc87gn]

My dad towed my trailer with his air suspension lincoln navigator that raised and lowered itself. Parked, everything was perfectly level, but on the highway, the truck raised up 2 inches. The Result was 4 ruined trailer tires in 400 miles (2 blow outs and two smoked tires)

Ya well you live in texas its a lil more critical there the temps are way hotter and across town for you is 400 miles lol i went like 30 miles on surface streets no hwy drivin :tongue: You can drive 600 miles and still be in texas lol