I've got a set of GoodYear 20"s on my S'Crew and am having trouble with the tires wearing in the center on the rear. I have heard that wide tires are notorious for that on these trucks, but have still have tried running different pressures over the last 2 years or so with no luck. I've tried using the nameplate pressure, but the tires just look too low. I'm now running 40 in the front and 32 in the rear because it "looks" good. Any other theories?

 

I think you are right. If they are wearing in the center that means the pressure is too high. Just be sure to inflate them more if you tow/haul something heavy.

 

just out of curiosity, what is the max tire pressure for your tires ???

Believe it or not, the max pressure for my BFG AT's is 65lbs ! I'm running 50lbs, and they feel / handle great ! Too new to tell anything about wear. Of course my tires are only 285's... so not that awefully wide.

You know, the more I think about it, I might just lower my rears to 40 lbs.... with so little weight back their anyway. But then even with 50 lbs in the fronts, they still balloon out a little. I hear this is the norm for radials.

Hmmm,
Fish

 

38 psi all the way around and they ride okay for tiny rubberbands, next set will be 22's with a 40-45 series tire

 

I think I have my 40's at 40psi. I've been experimenting with the pressure. When I bought them they were at max pressure, 50 psi. Driving on them sounded like bouncing an overinflated basketball.

 

40 on my 305/40/22 bfg gforces

 

Max pressure on mine is 44 lbs. I used to run them at max pressure because our mechanics at work recommended it. They keep up a fleet of over 200 trucks and run all of theirs at max pressure with no problems. Of course, most of those trucks always have a good load in the bed.

If I were you, I would keep a close eye on your rears. I only got about 20k miles on mine before I had to replace them (ran 'em all the way down to the belts, though!). The fronts still had a lot of tread so I moved them to the rear and put the new tires on the front.

 

Really ? That's very strange. I'm not doubting you, but in all of the vehicles I've owned.... and that's anywhere from light trucks, to Geo Metro's, to a Ford Crown Victoria, my fronts have always worn out considerable faster, which always made complete sense to me, as this is where all of the steering takes place (and I'm a mad man for turns ;-)
Maybe, you did in fact, have too much pressure / not enough load on your rear wheels. You didn't say, but I assume they wore down in the middle of the tread ? .... like from tread bulge ?
Man, I'm fixing to go out and drop my rears to 40 lbs right now !

Peace,
Fish

 

Aside from ride comfort, and treadwear, you have something else to be concerned about ! Potholes !

Let me put it this way, I have 40 series tires on my little car. They are rated for 55 lbs max. I've ran 50 lbs in them from day 1. They are rated as a 30K mile tire, but I now have 34K on them, and I think they will have more than 40K on them by this Fall, at which point I will replace them for the rainy season (here in Nor Cal, it only rains in the Winter.... and almost never snows ;-)

Anyway yes, my tires are pretty stiff, and depending on the pavement, they sometimes make a bit of the bouncing basketball sound too..... However, when I hit a pot hole {or a rail road track, with a tie missing right before the rail... that freaking sucked :-( .....or try to speed out of a parking lot, and not see that dam speed bump... that sucked too.... I'm covered. At least I have been so far. Can't believe I haven't ruined a rim yet. But the bottom line is, I need my shocks to give, before my tires get completely squashed tp the wheel lips.

Just some food for thought for you Screw, or anyone with low profile tires.

Peace,
Fish

 

You have extra load p series tires there. Run them at 36-38. Just like any p series tire, they are going to look low on a pickup. The size is really unimportant for air pressure. It is the load range and max pressure that makes the difference.

 

{hey Rob, not trying to steal your thread... sorry If I am}

I just went out and dropped my rears to 40 lbs. My fronts were down {on this cooler morning} to 47, from 50 on the hot day we filled them.
How does this sound for tires with a max of 65 lbs ?

Fish

 

On yours, they are either a load range D or E with a max of 65. 40 is a bit low for them. I would run those at 45. If you were running at 50 with them, it might be a bit high unless carrying a good size load or towing.

 

No problem Fish Chris. Maybe we can all learn something here.

I'll get double the miles out of my front tires than I did from the rears. And the rears definitely didn't wear due to spinning them. Before I got the Grypon, they wouldn't spin for crap unless the road was wet.

Thanks KingFish51 for the info. I will definitely give 36-38 a try. Should I go a little lower in the rear?

 

You could go as low as 35, but I would not go any lower. Also as soon as you load it up you would have to air up. Might not be worth the hassle to try lower.

 

I'm going to try 38 in the front and 35 in the rear. Thanks!!