Tire pressure?

[8-Ball]

Hi All- Any tire people out there? Just purchased P265 65R17 BF Goodrich Radial Long Trail TA tires for my 05 Durango. Shop put the minimal tire pressure in them (35 psi). Tires are rated up to 44 (psi). They looked almost half flat at 35 psi, so I bumped up pressure to 42-43 psi. I think they will wear quicker at lower psi and not perform as well-thats why I bumped up psi to low 40s. Is this good, or bad? Got 3 different answers from the shop, so looking for some guidance. Thx! 8-Ball.

[MuleShack]

I asked that question about my truck last year thinking that higher pressure would give better mileage.

I actually think that they wear faster with higher pressure also.

The answer i recieved was to look on the side panel of the drivers door and look at the sticker for recommened tire PSI.

[8-Ball]

Thx Mule...other thoughts appreciated as well...

[BobT]

If the shop exercised due diligence they didn't just put in "minimum pressure," they put in the manufacturer's recommended pressure per the door panel label.

[Jack Peterson]

If they're rated for 44psi, run them at 40. What you put in them is fine. Older people that come into the shop always want their tires at 35psi for a "smoother ride," but otherwise I always run 40psi in tires that are rated for 44. My suburban's Michelin tires are only rated for 35psi, and they always look like they're flat. They are wearing perfect though. If you have too much air, the tire will wear in the middle more. 42-43 is perfect for your situation.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I go by the PSI listed on the door jamb. And that is for COLD tires. Keep in mind that a warm tire will give you a noticably higher reading.

[Scott K]

As said, inflate them to what the sticker on the door says.

[Jeremy airjer W]

If they're rated for 44psi, run them at 40. What you put in them is fine. Older people that come into the shop always want their tires at 35psi for a "smoother ride," but otherwise I always run 40psi in tires that are rated for 44. My suburban's Michelin tires are only rated for 35psi, and they always look like they're flat. They are wearing perfect though. If you have too much air, the tire will wear in the middle more. 42-43 is perfect for your situation.

The above advice is incorrect and can be verified incorrect by browsing every tire manufacturers websites tire care section!

They should be inflated to the door jamb not the tire. This will give the best traction, tire wear, and fuel economy. Higher pressures will wear the center reads out faster, lower pressures will wear the out treads out faster. This is especially important with newer vehicles equipped with TPMS sensors.

[8-Ball]

Thx all- I will go to the door jamb and take a look...8-Ball.

[JeffB]

What they gave you is good info, but I'll add a little more. Another thing to remember especially this time if year is that for every 10 degrees change in temperature you gain or lose one lb of pressure. You also lose about one lb of pressure in your tires every 30-60 days just from natural air loss even out of a good tire. So lets say you set your pressure to 35 lbs on one of these beatiful 70 degree fall days. In a couple months when it hits -20 degrees you would probably be down to 25 lbs pressure. I like the tire pressure monitorring systems on the new vehicles just for giving you the reminder.

[BobT]

For this reason it is always good to check pressure regularly. I like to check monthly. I learned the hard way that aluminum rims (common these days) tend to break beads easier in colder temperatures. Nothing like having a flat tire in -20 degree weather at 6:00am on the way to work wearing dress clothes (office job) only to find out there was nothing wrong with the tire itself.

[Jeremy airjer W]

You wouldn't believe the amount of tire repairs we do on the first cold snap! And as you said Bob a lot of them there is nothing wrong other than they where low to begin with, went lower as the temps dropped, and finally low enough with the snap than the beads could no longer seal and down she goes!

Fall is also the worst time for "can I get somebody to check the air in my tires"! Followed by what where they at. followed by all of them!? Followed by OMG are you kidding. Followed by do you think they are leaking.

Speaking of TPMS lights, mine should be coming on in the next 30 days or so!

[8-Ball]

Well the "sticker" inside door jam is unlegible, cant read it. I will call a Dodge dealer I guess.

[Big Buck Buster]

If you read the fine print on the side of the tire, it will also state to go by the vehicle manufacture recommended pressure.

[8-Ball]

Yep I know.. it says 35-44 which is a wide range.. i just want to get the most out of them as they werent cheap.

[BobT]

Also, if you read the entire print, it states the maximum pressure per the load. Most vehicles are not loading the tires to maximum and therefore filling to maximum pressure is actually over-inflating.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I'm 99% positive the tire shop had the right tire pressure set in them at 35 psi.

[Ralph Wiggum]

It'll be in the manual, too, if you've got that.

[LightningBG]

My SUV (Envoy) uses the same size tire, recommended for my vehicle is 35.

[8-Ball]

Lightning..Is that what u run them at? Shoot it looks half flat (to me) at 35 psi...

[LightningBG]

Yeah, I run them at the 35, they look a little low sometimes when I look at it, but they ride nice, don't roll over on corners and are wearing excellently. (just bought them last December, have about 30K miles on them since and the tread looks/feel like the day they were put on.

[LightningBG]

And I've never rotated them once, which i know is bad, but I've had too many times when I rotate my tires and all of the sudden I have a shimmy or they start wearing funny or whatever. They are wearing (or not wearing) perfectly even, no shimmy, no pull, nothing. I'm gonna ride these things just the way they are forever and see how they hold up (unless I start noticing heavy uneven wear from the front vs back)

[Big Buck Buster]

Lightning..Is that what u run them at? Shoot it looks half flat (to me) at 35 psi...

Keep in mind that these are not bias ply tires. Radial tires look like they have low inflation, while a bias ply will have a straighter looking sidewall.

You will be just fine with the 35psi inflation in them. I have had some Durango's come into the shop that had the 44psi that is on the sidewall of the tire with premature wear on the centers.

[MuleShack]

Lightning..Is that what u run them at? Shoot it looks half flat (to me) at 35 psi...

Yea, some tires are different than others. I have a 3/4 ton and OE tires were the bf goodrich rugged trails, they were rated load range E, but at the recomended psi of 65 they still looked like they were "low" on air in the front. The last tires I switched to a bridgestone dueller and they dont squat as bad but they wear faster at the same psi.

Going back to the rugged trails this fall or maybe michelin again.

[8-Ball]

Thx for info Lightning.. jury is still out for me. Still havent decided whats best but it seems like guys on here are siding more w/less pressure than what I put in them-low 40s... maybe I will drop her down a few more psi then.