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Tire pressure?

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jatrax

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Tire pressure?
« on: April 05, 2017, 08:46:40 pm »
I had the chance to get my rig weighed on all four corners this weekend.  I am now trying to figure what the recommended tire pressure should be.   I have always just inflated to what the sticker on the door post said but it seems with RV's that is not always the case.

So my weights are:
Left Front: 2,450         Right Front: 2,300
Left Rear:  4,025         Left Rear:    4,300

This with two passengers, some but not all gear and a full fresh water tank, and empty waste tanks.

So what pressure do I use for these tires?  The sticker says 75psi front and 80psi rear.  But if you go to the Michelin site they say for 2,440# use 70psi on single tires and for the rear with duals and a weight of 4,300# use 65psi.  Tires are LT225/75r16.

I am also a little concerned about the big difference in weight east-west especially on the rear where the right side weighs 275# more than the left.  I've no idea if that is a problem, and since I'm not a 'car guy' I could use some help.

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fandj

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Re: Tire pressure?
« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2017, 07:31:06 am »
I have typically errored on the side of maximizing allowable load thus increasing the factor of safety particularly when a failure manifests itself as a sudden structural failure i.e. blowout.  The tire charts do allow for decreasing pressure based on the static weight of the PC and probably would result in improved ride.  I use the 75 psi front and 80 psi back recommended on the PC door sticker as it provides for some increase in load carrying ability that may occur due to dynamic loads.  Right or wrong i believe the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation are based on solid engineering principles that consider several factors some of which are load carrying ability, drivability, ride, etc.

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TomHanlon

Re: Tire pressure?
« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2017, 09:57:54 am »
I think Phoenix puts the same tire pressure in every rig regardless of model, size or options. On the other hand Michelin goes by vehicle weight. I always follow the tire manufacture plus 5 lbs for good luck. Always staying at or below the highest suggested psi I see.

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jatrax

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Re: Tire pressure?
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2017, 11:10:00 am »
Thanks Tom, that makes sense.  Per my chart 5# extra would be roughly 100# load extra per tire.  So that would allow for perhaps 500# dynamic load over the weighed number.  Which also agrees roughly with the full weight of the waste tanks.  So using Michelin recommended pressure plus 5# would cover me with full tanks.  And with any incidentals we add along the way.

Leaving on a trip next week and I go right by the scale so if they are closed I will stop and weigh myself again with everything packed.

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PawPaw

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Re: Tire pressure?
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2017, 10:12:55 pm »
I think Phoenix puts the same tire pressure in every rig regardless of model, size or options. On the other hand Michelin goes by vehicle weight. I always follow the tire manufacture plus 5 lbs for good luck. Always staying at or below the highest suggested psi I see.

I always take what the tire manufacturer specs say per weight and add 5 lbs for my 2552 PC.

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Bill G

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Re: Tire pressure?
« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2017, 10:39:28 pm »
So John,

Using your stated weights and comments above, are you running 75psi front & 70psi rear? Getting rig weighted and adjusting air pressure is on the to do list before we head to Florida next weekend. Thanks for the research!
Bill G.

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jatrax

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Re: Tire pressure?
« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2017, 11:51:57 pm »
Bill,

I used 75psi front and 80psi rear on the trip home.  Now that I have actual weights I am going to adjust to 70psi all around as that seems to be the best compromise.  Unless the weight is significantly different when I re-weigh next week.

 We are heading to the coast next Wednesday and go by the state scale on the way.  If they are closed I plan on weighing again, but this time with all gear loaded.  Just to double check.

But with the front at 4750 or 2375 each tire that is between 65 and 70 so I'll go with 70psi.
On the rear I have a total of 8,325 or 4,165 each side which is between 60 and 65.  Which seems low so I'm going with 70psi.  Might try the 65psi to see if the ride changes.

Unless someone tells me different. (WH)

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Bruce

Re: Tire pressure?
« Reply #7 on: April 07, 2017, 02:33:21 pm »
Soon after we took delivery of our 2552 we had Henderson's Line-Up in Grants Pass, OR do their "Road Performance Assessment" on the rig while on our first big trip.  We were very pleased with their work.
They suggested 70 psi on the front tires and 80 psi on the rears, and that has worked well for us.
Here is the link to Henderson's:
http://www.hendersonslineup.com/motorhome-rpa

Happy trails,
Bruce and Sharon

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dickreid1

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Re: Tire pressure?
« Reply #8 on: April 07, 2017, 08:48:55 pm »
You wondered about the extra 275# east/west. With your 45 gallon water tank full, that is 45 x 8 = 360#.  Maybe that is part of the difference.

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Tire pressure?
« Reply #9 on: April 08, 2017, 09:36:01 am »
jatrax,

We have different PC models, you with a 2552 and me with an old 2350 so keep that in-mind.  Yet I think much can be applicable.

Our 2350 is of the earlier design where the fresh water tank is butted across the rear wall.....the worst for weight distribution, and because the water sloshes side-to-side, it affects handling.  Amplifying the situation is our 158" wheel base.  We successfully addressed the handling issues with aftermarket suspension upgrades, but the tire pressure remains a gray topic.

The PC sticker on our driver door frame states 65psi front, and 60psi rear(65/60).  After weighing our rig loaded up on a big trip, the Michelin charts recommends the same psi.  So at least we have that consistency.

My concern is the when I put the recommended 65/60psi, it looks like there is not enough air in the tires.  They look under-inflated with significant bulges where the tires meet the road, the rear tires worse than the front.  I have to add 10 additional psi 75/70 before the tires look right, but doing so roughens the ride terribly.  So like others here, I too have added just 5psi to the specifications 70/65 as a compromise.  Sometimes I run 65/65 depending on what we bring along.

I think you are doing great having only a 275 pound difference between one rear corner and the other.  I don't know what our corners weigh for I weighed just the axles, but I anticipate a significant difference given the placement of our fresh water tank and outdoor storage compartment.  One thing you don't want to do is have varying tire pressures within an axle.  Take the worst case rear corner and make the other rear corner psi match it.

When you figure it out, be sure to educate me :) for every we leave home, I feel I didn't get it right yet again.
« Last Edit: April 08, 2017, 09:49:57 am by ron.dittmer »
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