Air Pressure - 275/55R20 Bridgestone Dueller HL Alenza

[JochenWoern]

I know I have asked this question before, but I will just ask it again as I am confused by two (2) complete different opinions by two (2) guys in the business.

What air pressure are you running on your 275/55R20 Bridgestone Dueller HL Alenza's or Good Years?

- The guy in the tire shop tells me that I should run the tires at 33 psi.
- The guy who alligned my truck tells me to run the tires at 40 psi, "of course the tire guy wants you to run at 33 psi so he can sell you a set of tires way faster".

So, most of the times my truck is empty, I drive the kids to school and commute in it to work. Never any heavy loads.

What pressure should I run?????

 

[chauncey0337]

I would find a happy medium. Less air pressure- less mpg's but better traction. More air pressure- better mpg's but stiffer ride. I have the H/L Alenza's at 35 psi.

 

[JochenWoern]

I would find a happy medium. Less air pressure- less mpg's but better traction. More air pressure- better mpg's but stiffer ride. I have the H/L Alenza's at 35 psi.

Thanks Chauncey.

 

[JochenWoern]

Thanks Chauncey.

I have decided on 36 psi.

Just set the pressure for 36 psi on all four (4) wheels, let's see how I like it.

 

[91RS]

You need to run them at 32psi cold, they will wear very evenly at that pressure as long as you keep them rotated every 5k miles and make sure your truck is in alignment. That tire is very susceptible to cupping if you don't keep up with that. 32psi is what GM says to use in this tire by the way (on NBS and NNBS).

 

[swtz71]

I run 32 psi.. I have 275/55/20 coopers

 

[JochenWoern]

You need to run them at 32psi cold, they will wear very evenly at that pressure as long as you keep them rotated every 5k miles and make sure your truck is in alignment. That tire is very susceptible to cupping if you don't keep up with that. 32psi is what GM says to use in this tire by the way (on NBS and NNBS).

Are tires a science anymore? Now I have a 3rd number???!!! Ok, so 32 psi cold.

What is "cupping", what does it mean? Is that when the outer edge wears faster and has some "rough" surface?

- I ALWAYS rotate the tires every 5K miles, ALWAYS.
- Truck was aligned last week so all should be good there.

So the truck sat out in the garage over night, I therefore assume the tires to be "cold". Now I will change the pressure to 32 psi and that should be it?

 

[chauncey0337]

Cupping tires usually indicate bad suspension. The over inflation of tire will cause the center of the tread to wear faster than the outer edge. I still like mine at 35 psi, just personal preference, I guess.
http://www.procarcare.com/includes/content/resourcecenter/encyclopedia/ch25/25readtirewear.html

 

[91RS]

You get so many different numbers because people think they know better than the manufacturer of the vehicle and very few actually do. You'd be surprised how many people still think you have to use the max. pressure rating on the side of the tire all the time when you're actually only supposed to use it when the tire is at it's max. load rating. You're running a stock size tire so there isn't any reason not to use GM's recommended pressure. A few PSI more wouldn't really do much, but 40psi would wear out the center.

Here is a picture of a cupped tire:

 

[sumo]

and will sound like you have off roading tires. To help prevent this rotate, Rotate, ROTATE

 

[JochenWoern]

and will sound like you have off roading tires. To help prevent this rotate, Rotate, ROTATE

Thanks very much 91RS and SUMO.

I have changed the air pressure this morning in the garage after the truck sat overnight, COLD to 32 psi.

I drove roughly 50 miles this afternoon and the ride seems very comfortable, but I did indeed notice approx. 1.0 miles per gallon loss, according to the computer.

As mentioned, the truck was properly aligned last week and I shall rotate, rotate, rotate, ................. every 5K Miles.

---------- Post added at 07:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:55 PM ----------

Cupping tires usually indicate bad suspension. The over inflation of tire will cause the center of the tread to wear faster than the outer edge. I still like mine at 35 psi, just personal preference, I guess.
http://www.procarcare.com/includes/content/resourcecenter/encyclopedia/ch25/25readtirewear.html

Oh, and thank you as well Chauncey. Sorry.

 

[sumo]

Great habit. I rotate every oil change. Thats roughly 7k of i go it by the Dic. Also remeber if you live in colder climates, for every 10 degrees in colder weather you loose about 1 psi of air.