Can 1/2 ton aluminum rims take a lt tire

[gunther1369]

I have a 1999 Chevy Silverado 1500 with the factor aluminum rims. It came with p rated 265/75/16 max psi 35, I put LT on with max psi 80. I know it might sound silly but sometimes I over think.
Also what psi should I run on the truck- empty and loaded?

[Chuck_S]

What are the wheels certified for?

-- Chuck

[Big Sky KLX]

Yes your wheels can handle LT tires.

You are not going to be happy with 80 psi in your tires. It is way overkill for your camper. It is going to handle terrible, have zero traction, and ride like it has no suspension.

Even with LT's, I would run 35-40 psi empty and bump it up to 50 psi towing.

80 psi is for towing 5th wheels and goosenecks on 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. That also means you have E rated tires. Depending on manufacturer, these tires can handle up to about 3000 lbs a tire. So you have your tires aired up to handle 6000 lbs of weight, yet your payload is probably 1700 lbs and your camper is maybe 750 lbs of tongue weight.

[WoodLark-SC]

I put LT tires on my Ram 1500. I run 45 lbs unloaded and 50 lbs loaded. I tried 55lbs, but the steering got way too "twitchy".

[acadianbob]

My previous truck, an F150, came from the factory with LT tires; but Load Range C. 50 PSI. I wouldn't mount a Load Range E.

I'd run them down to 35 PSI for unloaded running; 50 PSI loaded.

[Jmkjr72]

i have a 99 suburban with factory al rims 300000 miles and most of them had lt tires that the rears were brought up to 80lbs for towing

[67L48]

I've only ever seen 90+ psi be a concern. That is to say, I've never seen a truck wheel that wasn't rated to at least 85 psi. Maybe they exist, but I've never seen or heard of one.

My 2005 F-150 came with LT tires. Then, I put on P-rated tires, because I wasn't towing back then and they were cheaper. Then, I put on E-rated LT tires, because I started towing.

E-rated tires dropped my mpg from ~15.5 to ~13.0 mpg over the same commute. Those tires also reduced ride quality. My F-150 was never a cadillac, but the E tires stiffened everything up (I ran ~45 psi when not towing). The F-150 with new shocks at all four corners and E-rated tires rides about the same as my new F-350.

[Trawlerphil]

Here's what I got from the Michelin folks: Michelin Tire Pressures
For daily driving with tire size LT275/65R20 tires on your Tundra, we recommend 40 psi front and 45 psi rear. Pressures should be checked when the tires are cold.

Additional psi would be calculated depending on the amount of tongue weight added to the vehicle when towing the trailer. The rear axle would need to be weighed without the trailer attached and with the trailer attached then adjust the psi accordingly. Following is the load/psi chart for tire size LT275/65R20 LRE:

2080 lbs @ 35 psi
2280 lbs @ 40 psi
2475 lbs @ 45 psi
2680 lbs @ 50 psi
2850 lbs @ 55 psi
3030 lbs @ 60 psi
3195 lbs @ 65 psi
3375 lbs @ 70 psi
3540 lbs @ 75 psi
3750 lbs @ 80 psi

I run front and rear at 45PSI when I'm not pulling the 5er.

[Sealyn]

It may take a call to GM to find out what your rims are rated for. I'm sure you can put a LT on but we don't know the load rating of the rim.

[Dirt Sifter]

What Big Sky KLX said. I ran 50 psi on my 2000 Silverado 1500 4x4 just to reduce tire wear. The ride was stiffer than the lighter pressure, but way better than the '78 Ford heavy 3/4 ton it replaced so not a problem.

[deepseadan]

Originally Posted by Trawlerphil

Here's what I got from the Michelin folks: Michelin Tire Pressures
For daily driving with tire size LT275/65R20 tires on your Tundra, we recommend 40 psi front and 45 psi rear. Pressures should be checked when the tires are cold.

Additional psi would be calculated depending on the amount of tongue weight added to the vehicle when towing the trailer. The rear axle would need to be weighed without the trailer attached and with the trailer attached then adjust the psi accordingly. Following is the load/psi chart for tire size LT275/65R20 LRE:

2080 lbs @ 35 psi
2280 lbs @ 40 psi
2475 lbs @ 45 psi
2680 lbs @ 50 psi
2850 lbs @ 55 psi
3030 lbs @ 60 psi
3195 lbs @ 65 psi
3375 lbs @ 70 psi
3540 lbs @ 75 psi
3750 lbs @ 80 psi

I run front and rear at 45PSI when I'm not pulling the 5er.

Are you using a tundra to pull a 5th wheel?

[Maxwell D Pratt]

I would worry more about if the rims are rated for more than the tires that are on them now. Not if they will take a rated above the one that are on the vehicle now. Some of those wheels don’t have a very high load rating as per load they can haul. And as per air pressure I run the pressure recommended by the manufacturer on the tag on The Door. I have load range “E” and run 80 lbs in the tires . Ran the last set 65,000 miles and tire wear was even thru out.

[gunther1369]

thanks for al the info, I had these tiers on my old 1991 2500 and switched them to my new 1/2 ton. I ran 50f/60r, my mechanic put 40 all around when he put them on and said it would be fine for normal driving ill up it to 50/60 for towing