BFG Now gives the recommended PSI for retrofitting on Tacoma

Hello All,

I know there is always the big PSI debate. I for one ALWAYS go with the tire's rating for the GVWR of the truck at what PSI the tire requires. I noticed now BFG puts the recommendation to 41psi on their page. See below where it states "Requires pressure increase to 41PSI"

 

1,954 lbs inflated load rate for LT's.
2,149 lbs inflated load rate for P and euro metric.
Easy-peasy.
The BFG site is actually correct; color me surprised.

About inflating to GVWR...
If you're inflating to GVWR(5,600 lbs), that's 1,400 inflated load rate per tire.
LT load chart does not go below 35 PSI @ 1,765 lbs inflated load rate(for a LT265/65/17).
How are calculating that?
Even if you extrapolated a value per PSI from the 35-40 PSI range that would put you at 25 PSI for this size LT tire. You really shouldn't be extrapolating anything below 30 PSI as the charts are non-linear; who knows what inflated load rate is below that.
If I extrapolated your stock tire(P265/65/17/110) to 1,400 lbs, it would be 20 PSI.

 

I agree. That would be low for sure. But, I was glad to see they updated the page to have a correct tire pressure for the load range etc. You used to have to email them and they calculated it out. However, their original email they sent me I think came out to 45psi, but the new recommendation is 41. Either way, that seems right to me for the load range and how it sits. I do have the C rated on mine and not E rated.

 

My truck would ride like complete crap if I jacked the PSI up to 41 pounds. It's borderline too harsh at 36.

 

Also this assumes sufficient pressure to meet GVWR. How many of you have the cab fully loaded and bed loaded while towing on a daily basis?

I've struggled with this.

I don't know, I followed the Jeep guys lead that run load Es on their Jeeps that weigh the same as the Tacoma (~4,500#) with similar GVWR. They swear by 28-30lb.

I did the chalk test and the front's land right at 28psi and rears at 26psi for an even chalk footprint.

 

It's not about PSI; it's about what inflated load weight you are inflating to. PSI is just a means to achieve that.
It's different for different size tires.
What size tire do you have?
I'm betting it has more volume than a LT265/65/17.

 

C,D,E...would all take the same pressure in a given size.

 

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 285/70R17

 

Definitely, more voluminous...

@ 36 PSI your tire has an inflated weight rating of 2,147 lbs.

You could go to 33 PSI for 1,979 lbs inflated load weight.

 

I should just chalk test them, but I somehow never seem to get around to it.

 

Same. 35" E rated Falken M/Ts.
I add pressure F/R when I'm towing the camper and run 28-30 when I am not. For multiple days of mixed driving, pavement, trail, two tracks, etc... I will sometimes just leave the tires at 20-22 until I'm ready to hit the highway to head home.

 

It's all good...

IMO, the chalk test, as practiced by 99% of the people who use it, doesn't take into account dynamic factors. Factors engineers have already taken into account...see recommended PSI; or rather inflated load weight of 2,149 lbs for P/euro metric and 1,954 lbs for LTs.

 

Hahaha. Engineers don't factor in guys with mid size 4000lb trucks mounting 10-ply E rated tires designed for up to 3,000#+ each. Most e-rated tire psi vs. load graphs I've seen cutoff on the low end well before the Tacoma's GVWR.

What dynamic factors don't I take into account by carefully administering the chalk test? Temperature rise of the tread? I've done that too. Handling? Handles fine.

Now, why there are so few 285 options in LT/C Rated on the market, there's the real question.

 

I keep my KO2's @ about 32-34 and they ride and feel great. 30k on them
now and tons of tread left and I am NOT ez on them.

 

?? Are you running it with axles fixed directly to the frame? I’ve always ran all of my KO’s on all of my trucks at around 43 psi or so, and the ride is fine on pavement.

 

Nope, but I do have 32's and a 2.5" King lift. Anything over 36 psi is harsh. 43 psi would be torture. To each their own.

 

41 psi in an E-range tire on a taco?

Thats gonna be a rough ride..

 

Glad @splitbolt showed up here, he's the math whiz on this. I tried to do the calculation myself but had the wrong starting point, he helped me figure it out. I'm running 37 psi on my E-rated 265/75R16 KO2's. Those 265/65R17's would likely have slightly less volume, so it kind of makes sense that they would require slightly higher pressure.

 

+1. I tried 40 psi with 34 in tires for a week to see how much better gas mileage would be. Didn’t change and it was unbearable to drive, even with my cdc dials set to soft

 

Mine are smaller than yours- (31.6”) that would make a difference as well. But seriously, 5100’s set to 1.5” and e-rated KO2’s at 43psi is fine for me on pavement, saves gas too. I do air down on long dirt roads.