Why the decrease in HD tire pressures?

jejb · Oct 25, 2022

My door jam sticker on my 18 Ram 2500 CTD, like all the 3/4tons I've owned over the years, said 80psi in the rear E rated tires. On my 22, it says 60psi. I'm still tempted to run them more in the 70psi range, just for peace of mind. But was wondering why the 25% drop? I'd guess they must have determined that for the rated 10K max rating on a 2500, that was all that was needed? Did they change that on the 3500's also?

While we're talking about tires, it came with the Firestone Transforce ones. I've read that not everyone likes them. I was hoping to run them until they needed replacement, but don't want to if they're junk. I live in Arkansas, so we don't have my snow to deal with.

bbqguy · Oct 25, 2022

I ditched the 20” Firestones right off and swapped for 18” BFG. Couldn’t be happier.
I set my tires according to load for a much better ride. Fronts I run 50psi and rears 45psi. I have a 2500 diesel crew cab. MSO showed empty weight of 7500 lbs. I added 500 for me, tools, and fluids. Only problem is you will be looking at low tire light since Ram can’t make a decent way to change pressure in system w/o Obd tool. Stupid!!!!!!

chri5k · Oct 25, 2022

My experience with the Transforce tires is they became dangerously squirrelly when wet. Even light acceleration would cause a fish tail in wet weather. Not just from a stop but getting on the highway as well. This started at about 20,000miles.

Ricktara · Oct 25, 2022

I have the 20 inch transformer on my 2019 2500 bighorn. I have no complaints.

Ricktara · Oct 25, 2022

I meant transforce

JayLeonard · Oct 25, 2022

I've got 24K miles on the stock Transforce AT tires. I think they are fine for my driving. I have them at 65 psi. Having an empty pickup truck spinning rear tires on wet pavement is what they do.

dhay13 · Oct 25, 2022

28,000 on my Transforce. While I'm not likely to buy them again, I have no bad complaints. They aren't the best in wet grass or snow but that's why I have 4wd. Wet roads have not been an issue for me.

jejb · Oct 25, 2022

Thanks folks. I should have mentioned mine are 18's. If I get 20K-25K out of them before swapping to my favorite truck tires, Michelin LTX's, I'll be happy.

jejb · Oct 25, 2022

bbqguy said:
I ditched the 20” Firestones right off and swapped for 18” BFG. Couldn’t be happier.
I set my tires according to load for a much better ride. Fronts I run 50psi and rears 45psi. I have a 2500 diesel crew cab. MSO showed empty weight of 7500 lbs. I added 500 for me, tools, and fluids. Only problem is you will be looking at low tire light since Ram can’t make a decent way to change pressure in system w/o Obd tool. Stupid!!!!!!

Agreed, that is pretty dumb, especially since I was able to set the target pressure for the Ram trailer TPMS's.

Riccochet · Oct 25, 2022

numbers on the door sticker are for when operating at max load. Since the tires are rated way higher than what the truck is there's no need to run them at 70-80 psi.

I run mine 55 front and rear all the time.

06 Dodge · Oct 25, 2022

I'm running 60 psi in all 4 as listed on door jamb, I did not like the feel at 50 or 55 psi front, 50 psi rear, I did notice the air pressure increased 5-9 psi this summer on these Firestone AT tires, for towing depending on tow weight 70-80 psi..

68PowerWagon · Oct 26, 2022

I feel 80psi is way too much! I have run mine at 50-60psi since I bought my 2500 in 2016. Never had an issue with tires & I tow fairly heavy (13,500) 5th wheel. Tires don't bulge at all when I am hooked up. With the tires lower like that, & the coils springs, I think it is the best riding HD out there. I feel it even felt a little better than some 1500's that I have test driven.

Wadejesu · Oct 26, 2022

How does lowering pressure affect the TPMS ?

jejb · Oct 27, 2022

That depends on how much you lower it and what it set for. If it's set for 60 and you are more and 5 or 10psi away from that in either direction, it will throw up the TPMS warning screen every time you start the truck. You can move past it, but it would get annoying after a while.

BossHogg · Oct 27, 2022

jejb said:
My door jam sticker on my 18 Ram 2500 CTD, like all the 3/4tons I've owned over the years, said 80psi in the rear E rated tires. On my 22, it says 60psi.

My 2015 3500 calls for 60 psi in the front, and 80 psi in the rear. When I questioned why (local dealer diesel tech) he told me the tire pressure is recommended when at payload. I've since lowered the rear to 60 psi unless I have the fifth wheel on her back.

Riccochet · Oct 27, 2022

Exactly, the door sticker is the recommended pressure to run in order to meet max payload.

For instance the Transforce HT's on my 2500 are rated for 3,460 lbs at 80 PSI. That's 14,560 lbs of load capacity for the tires, but my truck is only rated for 10,000 gvwr. Absolutely zero need to run my tires at 80 psi ever as I'll never come close to maxing out the tires load capacity. My door sticker say 60 front and 65 rear which would get me to max payload and 10,000 gvwr with those tires. Unloaded, at those pressures, it rides like it's on solid tires. Just too stiff, feel every bump.

Your tires are part of your suspension. Over inflated and all you are doing is transferring the road bumps directly in to your ass.

runamuck · Oct 27, 2022

seems odd. the door tag on my 1500 calls for 34# but the oem tires that came on the truck have a max of 51# so at max payload the tires would only be inflated to 67%. I dont go by that when towing because most tire failures are from under inflation so I go with 40# - 42# when towing and usually 36# when not. works well for my situation.

Riccochet · Oct 27, 2022

runamuck said:
seems odd. the door tag on my 1500 calls for 34# but the oem tires that came on the truck have a max of 51# so at max payload the tires would only be inflated to 67%. I dont go by that when towing because most tire failures are from under inflation so I go with 40# - 42# when towing and usually 36# when not. works well for my situation.

You could look up the inflation table for your tires. Chances are at 34# the load capacity of all 4 tires combined will still exceed your truck's gvwr.

Summit1 · Oct 27, 2022

After seeing complaints about the Firestone Transforce tires, but lacking important details, I wonder which Transforce tires are causing problems.

My 2017 2500 had the Transforce AT tires from the factory and I swapped them out at ~25,000 miles and just over two years) because they became unstable on wet roads. The tire shop guy (where I bought the Cooper Discoverer AT3/XLT's also sells Firestone and other brands) told me the revised Transforce AT should be better than the OEM tires... it was renamed "Transforce AT2" and carried a different tread pattern and compound. When the time comes for my next set of tires, I may consider those AT2's.

jejb · Oct 27, 2022

Riccochet said:
Exactly, the door sticker is the recommended pressure to run in order to meet max payload.

For instance the Transforce HT's on my 2500 are rated for 3,460 lbs at 80 PSI. That's 14,560 lbs of load capacity for the tires, but my truck is only rated for 10,000 gvwr. Absolutely zero need to run my tires at 80 psi ever as I'll never come close to maxing out the tires load capacity. My door sticker say 60 front and 65 rear which would get me to max payload and 10,000 gvwr with those tires. Unloaded, at those pressures, it rides like it's on solid tires. Just too stiff, feel every bump.

Your tires are part of your suspension. Over inflated and all you are doing is transferring the road bumps directly in to your ass.

My 18 2500 had air suspension, so it rode very well even with them at 80 and unloaded. My 22 also has the air suspension. I would air down to 70 in my old truck when not towing. 60 just seems low, but I'm sure it's fine. I'm thinking I'll 60 when not towing or just towing the bass boat, and air up to 70 when towing my bigger trailer.

Why the decrease in HD tire pressures?

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