tyre pressures

pommie vic · Member

tyre pressures

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

There will be maximum load and pressure information moulded into the tyres. It is possible to arrive at an appropriate pressure using that if you know the ACTUAL weight on each axle.

Cheers,
Peter

pommie vic · Member

yes I saw those but dont know wieghts .Just thought there maybe a quick way to find out.Will possibly go a little under maximums and see how that goes ,Cheers

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

That could be very wrong and wrong front to back relatively could affect the handling quite badly and effect tyre wear badly too.
It is a small effort to get it right.

Cheers,
Peter

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Tyre pressures ... nearly draws as much diverse comment and advice as an electrical problem, WDH or grey water.

I would begin by firstly asking -

how long have you had the Transit;
what pressures was the previous owner running;
what pressures are in the tyres at the moment;
how long have these tyres been on the Transit;
are these tyres wearing evenly;
how does the Transit handle and ride with these pressures at the moment;
are they a 'radial' Highway pattern/construction or a LT construction ('radial' 'car' construction may not be suitable for the Transit at all.);
what are the maximum pressures stamped on the tyres;
I see you don't know the weight of the Transit or the axle weights - but can you find out;
have you been able to find any other 1978 Transit (camper or not) and ask the owner what they run.

With the knowledge of the items above it would make it easier to give some idea of a possible pressure.

Without knowing the weight of the Transit and/or the axle weights I would perhaps suggest starting at about 80% of the maximum stamped on the tyres. I would then take it for a run and see how it rides and handles. If that is OK then I would leave them at that for about a tank-full of fuel or so and see if there is any adverse wear indicated.

From that point it would be adjust up or down until you find a pressure that rides well, handles well and wear seems to be even.

I would suggest that the tyre should not 'bag' very much - but if they are LT tyres they may not 'bag' very much anyway.

Cheers - John

pommie vic · Member

Thank you John we,ve had vehicle a while and its been a work in progress,was purchased off elderly lady who didnt drive it.Will follow your advice and try limiting pressure to about 70.75 per cent max on tyre walls .Then suck it and see Cheers

StewG · Senior Member

Check out axle weights on one of the automatic weigh bridges. In Victoria there is one on the way to Seymour from Melbourne and another between Melbourne and Ballarat. There are probably plenty more that I don't know about. It is just a matter of loading up the vehicle or rig, thinking of a good excuse for a day trip (or longer), and driving on the scales front axle only then both and recording the weights displayed.

pommie vic · Member

good idea Im in Tassie but could indeed find a weigh bridge thanks