Brently,
I have NO weights on mine either front or back,
no problems so far with over 25,000 miles on the raptor.
A regular tire machine will work,
the only hard part is getting the old metz off,
after that, it's gravy.
I don't know your body weight, but I weigh 175 in summer 185 in winter,
I run 28 in mine.
The wife is a little heavier and runs 30 in hers.
You can't make a good comparison till you find the "sweet spot" for your weight.
I was a novice when I started out on it,and started out at 32 PSI,
it rode like a wheel barrow on steroids,
I hated it and was sure I screwed up.
Dropped it down to 30 and it was a lot better,
dropped it on back to 28 and she rode like a Cadillac .
After you put it on, and find the sweet spot,
give yourself about 50-100 miles to get use to it
cause it does take a little getting use to,
but once you're use to it, you'll see how good that Raptor handles on the road
in all kinds of weather, surfaces, and circumstances.
Good luck and Congrats.
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