Recommended Tire Pressure When Towing
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2023
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Recommended Tire Pressure When Towing
I have a 2023 F-350. I learned how to set up a truck to tow and how to tow from my father-in-law. He always put 80 psig cold in all four tires on his Super Duty. After towing with a F-150, I learned that the tire pressure on the door sticker was set by Ford to give the best performance and also handle the max payload. No need to max out the tire air pressure. With that being said, I am thinking I should follow the door sticker and put 60 psig front / 80 psig rear cold. Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.
Last edited by dp23; Jun 21, 2023 at 07:57 AM.
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Tuned
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Yep, thats what my sticker says and what I run them at. I was just curious if I should increase the front to 80 psig when towing? I feel like that used to be common practice.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
The tire manufacturers load inflation table chart will show the required pressure for your tire at various weights. A trip to the CAT scales will tell you what your axle weights are both unloaded and when hitched up and towing, inflating to just the required pressure for the actual load vs the GAWR should give a little better ride compared to the door sticker pressures. You don’t need or want 80 PSI in the fronts.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Wyoming
I run about 55 PSI in the front and 75 psi in the rear when towing. 60/80 on the sticker. My trailer's weight is well below what the truck is rated for. Tire wear is even across the tread.
Laughing Gas
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Towing what? A fifth wheel or a lawn trailer? Up to about 1,000 lbs of tongue weight, I use 65 cold and 60 front.
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Tuned
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Yeah, what they said ^^^^^^^
I keep mine at the sticker pressures plus a couple of PSI. Mine's a dually though so the rear PSI starts lower than the sidewall max pressure. I feel bad for the front tires as that end is pretty heavy, but it works well and feels right. I think the only thing that going to 80PSI in the front would get you (besides a terrible ride and that chipped tooth mentioned above) would be less scrubbing while steering in tight places, and more wandering on the highway as tongue weight offloads the front axle.
Keep the tires rotated regularly and you'll do fine with door sticker pressures.
I keep mine at the sticker pressures plus a couple of PSI. Mine's a dually though so the rear PSI starts lower than the sidewall max pressure. I feel bad for the front tires as that end is pretty heavy, but it works well and feels right. I think the only thing that going to 80PSI in the front would get you (besides a terrible ride and that chipped tooth mentioned above) would be less scrubbing while steering in tight places, and more wandering on the highway as tongue weight offloads the front axle.
Keep the tires rotated regularly and you'll do fine with door sticker pressures.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2011
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A travel trailer weighing about 8k. Really, my specific question was the front tire pressure. Sounds like my understanding is correct. 60 psig cold in the front allows max front GAWR. There is no need to go up in pressure above the factory sticker to tow a max load. I know people who always put 80 in all 4 when they tow. The ride with 60 front / 80 rear seems fine to me.
I have towed my 7.5k travel trailer close to 15k miles with that setup. PSI in the rear gets to about 77/78 when towing.
When I towed an F250 on my test tow I noticed the PSI increased to 85/86, so a 13-14 rise. I was maxing our the rear suspension to get more tongue weight, so I increased PSI to 80. Over 800 miles, the PSI stayed at 84/85 and the truck handled great.
I have a 2021 F350. The front PSI stays at the placard at all times.
So the rear PSI just depends on the load. I run about 1000 lbs in the bed and cab, plus 900 on the tongue and 72 rear PSI works good. If anything my wear shows that my tires were overinflated.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: SW VA
Empty, I run my tires at 50F and 45R. When I tow my skidsteer, I bump up the rear to 55-ish and leave the front alone (11k total weight).
I'm towing a 4600lb boom lift this weekend and I left my tires at empty pressures. 80psi is a bit much for an 8k travel trailer (800-1k tongue weight) IMO.
I'm towing a 4600lb boom lift this weekend and I left my tires at empty pressures. 80psi is a bit much for an 8k travel trailer (800-1k tongue weight) IMO.
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2023
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Empty, I run my tires at 50F and 45R. When I tow my skidsteer, I bump up the rear to 55-ish and leave the front alone (11k total weight).
I'm towing a 4600lb boom lift this weekend and I left my tires at empty pressures. 80psi is a bit much for an 8k travel trailer (800-1k tongue weight) IMO.
I'm towing a 4600lb boom lift this weekend and I left my tires at empty pressures. 80psi is a bit much for an 8k travel trailer (800-1k tongue weight) IMO.
I am sure you’re right that I am running them higher than I need to. I have heard guys reference tire load tables. I didn’t know where to find them. Someone messaged me and said they are petty standard are among manufacturers, so I don’t have to find load tables for my exact manufacturer and tire. Does that sound correct?
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
I am sure you’re right that I am running them higher than I need to. I have heard guys reference tire load tables. I didn’t know where to find them. Someone messaged me and said they are petty standard are among manufacturers, so I don’t have to find load tables for my exact manufacturer and tire. Does that sound correct?