Truck Tire Pressure towing tractor

[Stubee]

I’ve run P-series tires on this truck since it rolled off the lot almost exactly 9 years ago. The Michelin’s are the exact P255-R70 18 size it came with, though a different brand. The Michelin’s before the current set were also LTX M&S, but I believe they were a wider profile, like 275s because Discount Tire didn’t have the original size in the LTX and I’m not sure anybody did back then. They assured me they’d be fine and my research indicated that was the case. When they wore out I could finally get the original size it came with, one year ago.

I rotate my tires, check inflation etc but was not happy with tire mileage on any brand with the Tundra. My 1997 T-100 ran 65K on a set of BFG AT/KOs, and they had enough tread on them then that I sold them to a private party, so I was shocked to see my OEM Duelers go about 22K. I went to the LTX because a friend had great results with them, and while I finally exceeded 50K miles I was really surprised by the delamination I got last year. The guy at Discount had never seen anything like it.

The towing is exactly this and no more other than about 20 miles per year with a 17 foot Lund: I tow that tractor and trailer 810 miles from MI to NW ONT each September, then back. I also tow it about 25 miles RT once while in Canada, and that’s the only part that’s on unimproved roads. That’s it.

I’ve researched it a lot since my question and think I’ll bump these up to 40-44 F/R for this trip then take then back down to a bit above the door label like I’ve done for years. I do know the Tundra weighs about a million pounds so it’ll likely not give my mileage like my T-100, or all the F-100/150s I’ve owned. The Tundra the scale with me, tank of gas and a bed full of yard debris etc clocks in at a svelte 6600#.

 

[newbury]

you want the tire to wear evenly across the surface. the easiest way to do this is with chalk. when unloaded fill the tire up to a point where you know the tire has too much air in it. draw a line with the chalk across the tread. drive several yards, look at the chalk. let out some air, again drive several yards, repeat until all the chalk disappears. this will give you the full width contact patch. repeat the test with the loaded trailer.

Or use water. Basically wet the tire(s) in question and roll them like a fingerprint on a flat surface that will show the track.
One way would be to find an empty parking lot with puddles. Back into the puddle (so you don't get the front wheels wet) drive out a bit, check the patch.

 

[Egon]

Loaded or towing run at the max pressure on the tire sidewall.

 

[3930dave]

I致e run P-series tires on this truck since it rolled off the lot almost exactly 9 years ago. The Michelin痴 are the exact P255-R70 18 size it came with, though a different brand. The Michelin痴 before the current set were also LTX M&S, but I believe they were a wider profile, like 275s because Discount Tire didn稚 have the original size in the LTX and I知 not sure anybody did back then. They assured me they壇 be fine and my research indicated that was the case. When they wore out I could finally get the original size it came with, one year ago.

I rotate my tires, check inflation etc but was not happy with tire mileage on any brand with the Tundra. My 1997 T-100 ran 65K on a set of BFG AT/KOs, and they had enough tread on them then that I sold them to a private party, so I was shocked to see my OEM Duelers go about 22K. I went to the LTX because a friend had great results with them, and while I finally exceeded 50K miles I was really surprised by the delamination I got last year. The guy at Discount had never seen anything like it.

The towing is exactly this and no more other than about 20 miles per year with a 17 foot Lund: I tow that tractor and trailer 810 miles from MI to NWT each September, then back. I also tow it about 25 miles RT once while in Canada, and that痴 the only part that痴 on unimproved roads. That痴 it.

I致e researched it a lot since my question and think I値l bump these up to 40-44 F/R for this trip then take then back down to a bit above the door label like I致e done for years. I do know the Tundra weighs about a million pounds so it値l likely not give my mileage like my T-100, or all the F-100/150s I致e owned. The Tundra the scale with me, tank of gas and a bed full of yard debris etc clocks in at a svelte 6600#.

I've seen some rubber deterioration on Michelins that I wouldn't expect. To be fair, it's not just an Michelin issue...... need a whole other thread on rubber compound quality today.....

You're not running coast to coast regularly, so not worth the bother..... best good weather mileage tire is going to be something like a pure highway-rib one..... Summer use only up here, and problematic on boat ramps, useless off-road.

Class B RVs are hard on tires - plenty of weight vs. vehicle size. I've seen lifespan improvements going to something like a Bridgestone Duravis for that application.

Kinda funny hearing about reduced mileage on Japanese trucks (for an old guy like me.....); my neighbour says the same thing about his Armada vs. old Tahoe. Good power, moving weight.... gotta burn fuel.....

Rgds, D.

 

[LD48750]

I致e run P-series tires on this truck since it rolled off the lot almost exactly 9 years ago. The Michelin痴 are the exact P255-R70 18 size it came with, though a different brand. The Michelin痴 before the current set were also LTX M&S, but I believe they were a wider profile, like 275s because Discount Tire didn稚 have the original size in the LTX and I知 not sure anybody did back then. They assured me they壇 be fine and my research indicated that was the case. When they wore out I could finally get the original size it came with, one year ago.

I rotate my tires, check inflation etc but was not happy with tire mileage on any brand with the Tundra. My 1997 T-100 ran 65K on a set of BFG AT/KOs, and they had enough tread on them then that I sold them to a private party, so I was shocked to see my OEM Duelers go about 22K. I went to the LTX because a friend had great results with them, and while I finally exceeded 50K miles I was really surprised by the delamination I got last year. The guy at Discount had never seen anything like it.

The towing is exactly this and no more other than about 20 miles per year with a 17 foot Lund: I tow that tractor and trailer 810 miles from MI to NW ONT each September, then back. I also tow it about 25 miles RT once while in Canada, and that痴 the only part that痴 on unimproved roads. That痴 it.

I致e researched it a lot since my question and think I値l bump these up to 40-44 F/R for this trip then take then back down to a bit above the door label like I致e done for years. I do know the Tundra weighs about a million pounds so it値l likely not give my mileage like my T-100, or all the F-100/150s I致e owned. The Tundra the scale with me, tank of gas and a bed full of yard debris etc clocks in at a svelte 6600#.

Have you considered checking the alignment of the rear axle?
It wouldn't be the first vehicle put into service not built quite right.

 

[AnotherBueller]

I run BFG AT/KOs of my F350 SRW 4x4 load range E, and I usually get around 65K + every set. The tread life difference could be just the difference between brands. I haven't run Duellers since the '80s, I don't recall getting good tread life when I switched to the original BFG ATs when they first came out.

 

[Stubee]

Thanks for all the input. I had a good ride up with the tractor in tow on the P series inflated up a bit, did 655 miles the first day. At camp my attention was pulled to the countless snow loaded poplar, tag alder and accursed willow over my miles of trails so I forgot about my tires for a bit and was glad my chainsaw is a good one as it’s tough to push over hundreds of little trees with my bush hog in back; tight spaces. I’ll keep an eye on these tires and post updates if I outlive ‘em.