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occupant
Member
Posts: 95
Loc: Wichita Falls, TX
Reg: 07-11-03
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08-08-12 07:58 AM - Post#2257067
Truck is:
2000 Suburban 1500LS, 2WD, 5.3L, tow pkg, 3.73 gears, etc
Original tires according to the door sticker were P245/75R16
Tires when I got the truck 7K ago were LT265/75R16 (yes 75, not 70 series) Goodyear Tracker 2's
When I pass those roadside speed camera signs (20, 25, 35, 55, 65, 70 I saw on our vacation in ten states) the speedo is dead on. I know the LT265 is taller than the P245 so I'm assuming the non-stock tire size corrected a factory miscalculation (about 3%). So when we decided to buy tires, we found an incredible deal on a set of LT265/75R16 Michelin LTX MS/2 at a Sears in St. Louis. Figured we have Sears at home in Texas, it's a good buy, was under $1000 tax and all. But I have a problem with tire pressure.
The door sticker says it should be at 35psi all around on those passenger car tires. That would be for a tire with a maximum pressure of 44psi in that size and construction. The LT tires on it (both the ones when we got it and the ones now) have a max pressure of 80psi. When I got the truck the tires were set at 51psi front and 60psi rear.
Sears set it to 35psi all around. I immediately increased this to 51F/60R after leaving the mall. Should I set the pressure higher? I don't think 35psi is right at all. The tires do NOT look right. I recall on a 1984 3/4 ton Suburban I owned that 65psi was recommended in the rear for all but the most severe duty and 80psi for towing and heavy hauling. I can't remember the front rating but the towing/hauling was 65psi, the other number was much lower, maybe 45psi?
I am comfortable with the way the truck rides at 51 front, 60 rear. But I want to get the MAXIMUM miles out of these tires. I did just spend $980 on them compared to Hankooks or BFG's which would have been $650-$700 a set installed. I got LTX's because my mother in law runs them on her 2000 Silverado and got 140K out of the first set and is 40K into a second set and they look like new still.
Oh, typical use of this truck is carrying seven members of my family around town (30% use about 900lbs total) or just carrying me and some light cargo (50% use, 250-350lbs total) or going on long trips around the country with lots of luggage and the whole family) 20% use, 1000-1200lbs total). So it's not like I'll be towing or hauling many heavy cargoes, so I don't think 80 all around is appropriate.
Alan Moore - Wichita Falls, TX
2000 Chevy Suburban LS 4x2, white, 5.3L/4L60E, 179K
2000 Dodge Durango Sport 4x2, gray, 318/44RE, 224K
1995 Olds Cutlass Ciera SL, white, 3.1L/4T60E, 98K
1976 Ford Gran Torino sedan, white, 351C/FMX, 93K |
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Bad Bowtie
Senior Member
Posts: 4248
Age: 40
Loc: TX
Reg: 07-04-03
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 08-08-12 10:38 AM - Post#2257142
In response to occupant
Call Sears and ask them, then call Michellin and ask them too..
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Alan_W
Senior Member
Posts: 420
Loc: Little Rock, AR
Reg: 10-15-02
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08-08-12 12:17 PM - Post#2257179
In response to occupant
A general rule of thumb is to generally run about 80% of maximum listed pressure on the tire, which for an max 80psi tire would be 64psi. I think what you are running is in that range.
I'd go by how the tire visiably looks & profiles and by how it feels and steers. Even though your SUV 'Burb is heavier in back than a pickup, most of the weight is still on the front tires, so is most of the wear, so I would run the fronts at least equal to the rear or higher in psi.
2000 GMC Sierra SLE 3Dr. X-cab
2WD/5.3/auto/3.73 |
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occupant
Member
Posts: 95
Loc: Wichita Falls, TX
Reg: 07-11-03
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08-08-12 12:48 PM - Post#2257186
In response to Alan_W
I called Michelin and they said to contact GM. Chevy dealer said to run whats on the sticker. Forget that. Sears said to bump it up from 35 to 45, see how it rides, then try 50, 55, 60 and they don't recommend going over 60 unless towing. I think 60 all around will work since I'm already at 51/60 and have been. It rides fine to me, WAY better than the Tracker 2's that were at the wear bars on the outer tread and barely over it in the middle. 60 all around should be plenty I think. 35 was DEFINITELY not enough and probably would cause serious outer edge wear in short order.
Alan Moore - Wichita Falls, TX
2000 Chevy Suburban LS 4x2, white, 5.3L/4L60E, 179K
2000 Dodge Durango Sport 4x2, gray, 318/44RE, 224K
1995 Olds Cutlass Ciera SL, white, 3.1L/4T60E, 98K
1976 Ford Gran Torino sedan, white, 351C/FMX, 93K |
Edited by occupant on 08-08-12 12:52 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Smitty_Chevy
Contributor
Posts: 791
Age: 63
Loc: Atlanta & Yazoo, MS
Reg: 10-29-08
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08-28-12 12:21 PM - Post#2264058
In response to occupant
I run with 35 psi in my LT265/70R17 Michelin LTX MS tires. They've been wearing evenly over the past 3 years that I've had them on. I really can't imagine putting 60 psi in them. That much pressure would make the truck feel like it had steel wagon wheels on it not to mention beating the passengers to death.
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elcamino
Valued Contributor
Posts: 4812
Loc: Lake Superior-Michigan US...
Reg: 03-30-00
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08-28-12 07:06 PM - Post#2264211
In response to occupant
Tires might be rated to 80psi but can the OEM passenger car wheels take that pressure?
Mike
2009 Cadillac CTS4 AWD Performance Sedan
2012 GMC Sierra AWD Denali 6.2L |
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JaVeRo
Member
Posts: 280
Loc: East Texas
Reg: 02-02-06
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08-28-12 07:54 PM - Post#2264227
In response to elcamino
I have heard that the best method is to get on a smooth parking lot, (concrete or hotmix asphalt, not sealcoat), make a chalk line across the tires, drive forward for several revolutions and then check the chalk line.
If it is wearing on the edges more then add air. If it is wearing in the middle then let some air out. I think this is a poor man's way of simulating the tread contact on a glass surface that tire manufacturers use.
I have never actually done this, I just add air until I can tell by the ride that I have too much air, then back off it a little. I keep 56psi in the 1500 company truck I drive now. It has a camper shell and about 500 lb of equipment at all times. I kept 50 in the suburban I had before. No way I would recommend less than 50 on all four in a suburban.
James
2003 S10 Blazer 4wd (wife's)
2001 S10 Crew Cab (wife's mail truck)
1996 K1500 (mine)
1979 GMC 3/4 ton 2wd 4spd with a "Gilley's" bumper sticker, my first brand new truck.
2006 K1500 Company Truck
2006 K2500 NV4500 4.10's |
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redvett01
Senior Member
Posts: 1131
Loc: Grayling, MI
Reg: 10-23-03
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08-29-12 03:01 PM - Post#2264493
In response to JaVeRo
The vehicle stills weighs the same so you need to stay with the sticker in the door jamb and check your tire pattern with chalk.
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