Rough Ride after deflating tires to recommended door PSI

[Shoran12]

Had a question for you all you didn’t mind. So I have recently picked up a slightly used 22 Ranger 4x4 in which the owner had put only on 1700 miles since February and for the first week the truck rode very smooth. Once I got time and remembered, I thought I should check tire pressures. I noticed tire pressure around 38-39 psi while door sticker suggests 30 cold. I brought pressure down to 30 and now I can really feel almost all road imperfections (cracks, really any road that isn’t completely smooth). I don’t think anything else would be causing this unless I’m just now noticing this and it’s something else. I’m going to try to inflate tires back to where they were and test again tomorrow but wanted to hear you thoughts on why this might be. I figured the truck would ride better being at the recommended door pressures. These are the stock all terrain tires as well. I have only ever driven trucks so I know what most trucks should ride like but for whatever reason this truck seems to ride very rough and by that I mean feeling slight imperfections in the road (through the floor, pedal, and into my seat just like if you were constantly driving on a cracked up road) all while still having a fairly spongy suspension. It’s a rather interesting sensation. The roughness/road vibrations go away on perfectly freshly laid smooth roads. Around 50 mph and up things smooth out again regardless or road condition and I no longer feel the road so to speak. Anyway, wanted to see if anyone had thoughts on this. Maybe it’s perfectly normal for these trucks or something. Thanks.

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[BS67]

My stock Bridgestones I run 33-34psi. The ride is much better than what the door sticker says which is 30psi. I also get more even wear on the tires at that 33-34. With 30psi note some wear on the edges.

 

[Bob902]

For me, I don't like the ride at 30 psi. I usually have mine set between 32-34 psi. Seems to be the sweet spot for me.

 

[Trigganometry]

Best way to really know your dialed in PSI is a chalk test. Change pressures and observe wear off. Somewhere is a sweet spot

 

[Bob902]

My stock Bridgestones I run 33-34psi. The ride is much better than what the door sticker says which is 30psi. I also get more even wear on the tires at that 33-34. With 30psi note some wear on the edges.

great minds think alike?

 

[BS67]

great minds think alike?

Kinda scary isn't it????? LOL

 

[Bob902]

Kinda scary isn't it????? LOL

Absolutely!!!!!!!!

 

[AzScorpion]

32 psi here too. Any lower and I also feel every crack in the road. I've tried just about every psi up to 36 and found 32 was perfect. Plus I always rotate them every 5,000 miles.

 

[maxbottomtime]

I assume FX4s are lower PSI recommended. I think mine (4x4 non FX4) was 34-35PSI recommended?

Regardless, 40PSI is almost certainly stiffer than 30. I'd expect ride to improve.

 

[Shoran12]

My stock Bridgestones I run 33-34psi. The ride is much better than what the door sticker says which is 30psi. I also get more even wear on the tires at that 33-34. With 30psi note some wear on the edges.

Appreciate it. Do you notice the road much more with it at 30? Feeling every damn imperfection which seems weird at the lower pressure. Tires get up to 32-33 once driven and we’re up to 34 yesterday but still felt it. It’s been going from 15 to 60 here each day in Tennessee so it’s hard to dial in tire pressures lol.

 

[Shoran12]

I assume FX4s are lower PSI recommended. I think mine (4x4 non FX4) was 34-35PSI recommended?

Regardless, 40PSI is almost certainly stiffer than 30. I'd expect ride to improve.

Mines a non Fx4 but sticker shows 30. Wondering if the original owner had also kept it high so tires sat high for 9 months and that where they want to ride? Just seems odd to me unless I’m just overly sensitive to the road vibrations in this truck. It doesn’t seem to be any of the TSBs as far as I can tell.

 

[BS67]

Appreciate it. Do you notice the road much more with it at 30? Feeling every damn imperfection which seems weird at the lower pressure. Tires get up to 32-33 once driven and we’re up to 34 yesterday but still felt it. It’s been going from 15 to 60 here each day in Tennessee so it’s hard to dial in tire pressures lol.

The Ranger has a great ride at 30 here. However, I'm looking for that max miles out of the tires and that's where I got the 33-34psi. I check tire pressure every couple weeks as we shift alot with the temps this time of year. 5° up to 40° in 1 day. I figure at 5° and sitting at 33.......might go up to around 36 with a temp of 40°. I'd rather be high on psi than low.

 

[Shoran12]

32 psi here too. Any lower and I also feel every crack in the road. I've tried just about every psi up to 36 and found 32 was perfect. Plus I always rotate them every 5,000 miles.

Well guess I’m glad I’m not the only one. I’ll bump her back up tomorrow. I had it at 32 the other day and still felt rough but my guess is that these tires probably came over inflated from the dealer and the original owner ran them like that since February. Just a guess. I’m hoping that when I get some good weathertech or huskyliners that may also dampen any floor vibrations if the tires are rough.

 

[maxbottomtime]

Mines a non Fx4 but sticker shows 30. Wondering if the original owner had also kept it high so tires sat high for 9 months and that where they want to ride? Just seems odd to me unless I’m just overly sensitive to the road vibrations in this truck. It doesn’t seem to be any of the TSBs as far as I can tell.

What tires and wheels?

 

[AzScorpion]

Well guess I’m glad I’m not the only one. I’ll bump her back up tomorrow. I had it at 32 the other day and still felt rough but my guess is that these tires probably came over inflated from the dealer and the original owner ran them like that since February. Just a guess. I’m hoping that when I get some good weathertech or huskyliners that may also dampen any floor vibrations if the tires are rough.

I changed my tires out soon after I bought mine, I'm running Nitto Ridge Grapplers now. Hopefully that solves your issue but it is a good idea like Rick said to do a chalk test to make sure they wear even.

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