When you play football, go bowling or hike the mountain trails throughout the area, you wear special shoes. Your diesel truck also needs specialized footwear to get the most performance from your GMC-Chevy Duramax, Dodge-Cummins or Ford-Powerstroke engine. Fall is the ideal season to pay closer attention to your tires; road conditions can change in an instant from dry and cool to slick with rain or sleet. Whether your truck hauls big loads to Twin Falls, pulls a trailer for work or just takes you around Boise, the right tires help you get where you want to go.
The information stamped on the sidewall of every tire is more than a random series of numbers and letters; it's a code that tells you and your diesel engine repair specialist a wealth of information about the tire. You'll often see the letters "LT" on your truck's tires. These letters stand for "light truck" and differentiate the tires from the thinner, lighter ones that go on cars or the specialized, heavy-duty equipment that belongs on agricultural diesel vehicles and big rigs. The tires on your trailer or boat hitch get the designation "ST" for "special trailer." Following these letters are a series of numbers that describe the tire's proportions - its height to width ratio, rim diameter and radial designation.
For your truck, one of the most important pieces of information comes after this series of letters and numbers. The M+S or M+T designations refer to the tire's suitability for different conditions. The code may look arcane, but it's straightforward: "M" stands for mud, "S" for snow and "T" for terrain, so a tire with M+S stamped on it is optimized for performance in mud and snow. Tires rated for rough terrain or muddy conditions have treads that let them grab the ground more securely. For the wild weather Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell diesel owners can expect in fall and winter, these ratings are crucial.
The loads your truck moves rest on your tires, and depending on what you haul, those pounds quickly add up to tons. Factory truck tires typically have an E rating for load capacity, which means these 10-ply tires can carry up to 3,000 pounds per tire. Later letters mean more load capacity, so if you expect to haul heavy loads or to move lighter ones frequently, choose E or better ratings. If you aren't sure about your truck's load capacity, err on the side of more rugged tires. Tires with higher load capacities can always haul light loads, but the reverse isn't true.
Your tires also affect your truck's fuel consumption and overall performance. Under-inflation gives tires a softer, road-gripping feel, but they cost you in fuel efficiency. At the other end of the spectrum, over-inflation improves mileage but at the price of handling and comfort. For optimum performance and safety, follow the manufacturer's recommendations for tire pressure. Rotating tires regularly prevents worn spots and weaknesses from shortening the life of your tires. The same diesel engine repair shop that changes your air filter and keeps your common rail injectors in good shape can also handle your tires, so set aside extra time on your next visit for tire rotation.
For complete diesel maintenance in Boise, including your truck's tires, contact a diesel engine repair shop rather than a general garage.
One of the reasons that you run fuel efficiency is that it's clean and every gallon takes you further when doing hard work. But it's possible to make improvements to your rig to get even better MPG. Look at adding an aftermarket turbocharger; alongside a well-tuned engine, you can expect an extra five gallons per mile along with increased power. A methanol injection system, usually running about $600, can help you claim another 1 to 3 MPG. Another simple way to improve fuel efficiency is by adding more exhaust points (the so-called smoke stacks) to help your engine breathe. You'll have to run the numbers, but these simple improvements can help take your Chevy much further on a smaller diesel budget. Every hot rod enthusiast knows that converting hot air to cooler air is the number one priority to maximizing your engine's performance. So why does it feel like every out-of-the-dealership set up is designed to restrict airflow to the engine and choke out performance? Replacing your air filters and air intake system is an easy way to fix the problem. Take your performance to the next level by investing in a cold air intake system. Here again, upgrades to your exhaust system also play a role in getting your Chevy to perform better. Fix weak spots with performance chips and gauges Performance chip technology has changed how diesel truck owners interact with and manage their trucks. These simple systems, usually featuring easy to use programming interfaces and simple LED screens, can help you calibrate a range of systems for maximum performance. This is the simplest way to eliminate bad performance and get your Chevy to do whatever you need. Features let you optimize for performance or fuel economy, by doing things like setting speed limits, shift points, and more. More sophisticated gauges also help you keep an eye on what's going on under the hood. The more you customize your set up, the more stress that's on your Chevy's engine. Custom gauges help you to identify and react to problems before they occur, by relaying information you don't get from warning lamps and by letting you customize gauge size for better visibility. Some of these upgrades are simple and can be completed in a few minutes. Others require hauling out your tools and getting your hands dirty. But they're all well worth it. If you're looking for a truck that can pull any road, cover any distance, and make it easier to get your job done in record time, you'll love what these simple changes will do for your Chevy. Rate this Article3 Ways to Improve the Performance of Your Chevy Diesel TruckRating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)Benjamin Smith has published 5 articles. Article submitted on September 06, 2013. Word count: 516