Cargo can tire pressure

[Hamman77]

I drive a 2011 E250. Rear tire pressure is suppose to be 80#. Fronts are 60#. At these pressures,when empty, theses pressures result in a hard ride. With the rear end bouncing over pot holes and highway crack repairs. I think of reducing at least the rear's by 5/10 pounds. Those of you drive CV's, what's your comments?

 

[mjmsprt40]

Got an air pump? They sell them at auto-parts stores, if comfortable ride is important you might want to invest in one.

Having the tires at the rated pressure is important when you're loaded. You'll find that out the hard way the first time an under-inflated tire gives up while under load. However, I seem to remember that cars often had a lesser pressure when the vehicle wasn't loaded, and a higher pressure when the vehicle was at or near its capacity.

Personally, I run my tires at rated pressure-- which, in my case is 55 in front, 80 in the rear. I don't like messing with those tiny air pumps you get from the auto-parts stores.

 

[danthewolf00]

60 to 65 front
70 to 75 rear unless it's a heavy load then 80

 

[Hamman77]

Thanks, I'll leave fronts at 60#, and try rears at 75#. Don't carry max loads much, usually 400-800#.

 

[Hamman77]

What's ur definition of heavy load.. 1500# plus?..thanks

 

[danthewolf00]

2500# is hvy to me lol and my max is 3000# anything over that is unsafe because the tires max load is I think 3200#
Going over your tires max weight can cause a blow out and we all know it always happens when going down hill and then your butt grows a set of hands and your mind is racing as fast as your going down hill.

 

[Hamman77]

Yeah, 2500# would be heavy for me too! Took fronts to 60# and left rears to 72#. Why 72, you ask, that's where the pressure landed after I bleed pressure off. We'll see how the ride is after next load.

 

[Hamman77]

After I had 2 new rear tires and LT front tire replaced( had a nail in it but where hole was it couldn't be patch) I noticed that the steering felt like I no weight on front end even when empty. Can't figure out what's wrong. Talk about " pucker power"

 

[danthewolf00]

How old are the shocks/struts?

 

[Hamman77]

Don't know. Van has 245k plus on it. Not my van. Kinda want to ask owner when shock/ struts, plugs, rear diff...etc was done. I replaced air filter soon after I started driving. Filter looked like it hadn't been changed for years!! Funny thing is with old rears on and the old LT front tire on I had no steering "challenges". More grip more problems? Got any ideas?

 

[danthewolf00]

What brand tire and model? Because no 2 brands act the same heck no 2 models ride the same.
when I ask for model I mean mud and snow or highway or snow tires. And if your shocks/struts are bad you might get a crappy ride. I use michlien mud and snow ltx 2

 

[Hamman77]

Primewell, (Valera HT) Firestone Tire Center's cheapest tire. Side wall doesn't say what it is. Looks like M/S. Like I've said before the steers act as if I'm overloaded on the rear end and the front has little contact with the road. I think the problem is that cheap tire on front has no grip.

 

[Turtle]

"Never skimp on tires or batteries."

Words of wisdom from my grandfather.

 

[Hamman77]

Yup! Grandpa was right. Let's see, low price or high quality; low price wins! Guess I'll have get used to it. Come on spring....

 

[Turtle]

Yup! Grandpa was right. Let's see, low price or high quality; low price wins! Guess I'll have get used to it. Come on spring....

The thing about high end tires is, they're not really just a consumable that you use up and throw away. They're actually an asset that ends up paying for themselves, due to the reduced rolling resistance that's engineered into them. They wear longer and reduce fuel consumption. As long as you keep them properly inflated by vigilance and maybe (recommended) nitrogen they will save you more in fuel than they cost. Also, obviously, and by keeping them rotated, and the suspension and steering in good mechanical condition so as not to destroy the tires.

Not only did I get just stoopid mileage on my last set of Michelins (236,532 miles), they paid for themselves probably by two times in fuel savings.

 

[Hamman77]

You are right. One needs to buy products that pay for themselves.
Since I don't own the van, I install what the owner is willing to buy. Now that I'm certain it's that new tire on Lt front, I can better prepare how it acts.

 

[Turtle]

Don't own the van. You're stuck.

 

[Hamman77]

Had a uneventful ride from south- central MO to Terre Haute In tonite. During Sat's pre trip, I found both steer's air pressure below recommend pressure. In fact Lt steer was 5# lower that the Rt one. Brought both steers to 60#. Now it rides the way it used to. Hope that was the problem. Yeah it sucks I'm not the owner; don't have the headache of having the bills!! Are you O/O?

 

[Turtle]

Yeah, I own my Sprinter.

 

[Hamman77]

Any problems? Talked to Sprinter owners who have front tires wearing quicker than normal or serpentine belt idler pulleys going south. Where you a leased driver b4 you became an OO?