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| | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,146 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,146 | I have a 1954 Chevy 3100 1/2 ton Panel truck with LT215/85R16 tires.
How many pounds of air pressure should I put in the tires ? | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | jorb,
My same-size truck radials on 6.50x16" wheels are inflated between 40-45psi. I fiddle with the exact pressure to optimized wandering (minimize) vs smooth steering/turning (maximize).
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | I run 45 on my Suburban with the same tires. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,146 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,146 | Tim,
I'm pretty sure I have the same size wheels.
They were getting low, I looked on the tire and it said max psi was 65 lb.
So I put 60 lb. in them.
I hope they don't blow-up they look checked / cracking.
I'll have to lower the psi in them a little as per your recommendation.
Anybody know where to purchase a set of LT215/85R16 ?
Thank Ya Kindly,
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | | | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,146 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,146 | Are those Goodyear tires in the Tire rack link the same you use on your 1954 Chevrolet Suburban ? | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | I'm running BF Goodrich T/A Commercial on my Suburban and I'm happy with them. I have run them for years on my F250, my 20 foot flatbed trailer and a 37 foot travel trailer. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | No, I have them on the 3104 1954 Hydra-Matic pickup that I am trying to restore.
I have Cooper LT radials of the same size on my Suburban (tires are 12+ years old). I do not know if they are still available from Cooper. | | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,186 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,186 | The way to do it is to weigh the truck (both axles) and then search the web for a load/inflation table (any brand will do - it's the same for the identical size). That will give you the minimum pressure for the load on each tire. That's your starting point and will give you the softest ride. You may want to bump the pressure up from there a bit if it feels too squishy. Matching the pressure to the load will give you the best wear also. You could also do the chalk test. Make a chalk mark across the tread and go for a drive. If the center wears off and leaves the edges of the mark intact, you're running too high. Same for low - the edges worn and center intact. On edit - here's Toyo's Load inflation table Look on page 23 for your size.
Last edited by klhansen; 09/20/2016 4:13 AM.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | |
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