proper air inflation...my tires don't list it

[thebannister8]

i have 5 ply tires and the info on the wall says not to excede 40psi when seating the bead and that the max load rate is 60psi at max load single 2440 lbs and 60psi at max load double 1800 lbs...that's the psi with a load i imagine and i have no idea if with a load due to pressure if psi rises...any idea where i ought to run my tires unloaded and what is the single/double stuff and why is single more...i'm stumped...thanks........

[fordman]

single rear tires vs dual rear tires. porbably about 32 i would guess that is about standard.

[Alvin in AZ]

Back when I was in high school there was a Popular Science article about "proper" tire pressure.
Whenever I see/hear the word "proper" I think of my grandma and her table manner lessons
and/or snooty rich people. YMMV on that. ;)

Anyway, I haven't seen or heard of the information presented there since! :/
The article was all about -the tire's foot print-. :)
There were lots of photos, some of which were looking up at tires on glass that had water being
sprayed on the area so all you could see was the tire's foot print, clear as anything. :)

You can tell how much air a tire needs for the situation its in, by getting down -low- and looking
at the length of the tire's foot print. There has been a few times where the tire looked to me
like it needed all the pressure the tire itself had stamped on as the "maximum pressure". Were
all front-tires on the little front-wheel-drive cars, when they first came out on the market.

Longer foot print for dirt roads, medium for paved streets and shorter for high speed highway
use, was one of the points made in the article. Heck you can't expect the factory to tell you
after you've changed away from the factory tire and/or wheel size. ;) You gotta use your head.

Alvin in AZ
ps- I think it's a cryin' shame this information isn't more common but then this method requires
a value judgment from us stupid people "they" won't trust with our own friggin safety sooooo...
Welcome to the "brave" new world? :/
pps- Don't mind me, I'm just another dumb libertarian with a bad attitude. :/

[Alvin in AZ]

what is the single/double stuff and why is single more...i'm stumped...

The single tire rating is what they feel as tho the tire can handle. Easy enough huh? :)
So you double that amout when you got duels? LOL :)
What if one tire just happens to be carrying most of the load because of the road's surface? ;)

Alvin in AZ

[sideoilerfe]

The tire says 60 PSI, inflate it to there, period. If you want a softer ride and more traction on slippery surfaces, air it down some. Common sense really. If you have a 16.5, do NOT air it down at all or the tire will be unseated from the bead.