Hey all! I am curious as to what everyone is running for tire pressures. I came off an F-150 with BFG's on it and could run 35 psi when empty for a nice ride, and then ran 'em up near 50 psi when towing my 28' travel trailer. So what does everyone run in their tires when empty vs. towing? Please note what tires you have and what kind of experimenting you have done.

I have the Load Range E Firestone Steeltex LT265/75/16 All Terrain tires and noticed the recommended pressure is 55 psi front and 70 psi rear (max is 80 psi at full load). I checked the pressure and sure enough the dealer set them at exactly those pressures. I can't really complain about the ride right now (empty), but I am getting ready to tow my travel trailer for the first time this weekend and wonder if I even need to adjust the pressures (my trailer only weighs 5800#'s loaded). Any and all input is appreicated!!

 

I run 45 empty 60 and 80 full load.

 

I have d rated bfgs (285's) but I run the recommended 55 up front and 50 rear. For towing I pump the rears up to max (65 psi). I tow a gooseneck stock trailer; 16,000lbs fully loaded.

 

I have the same tires. I have been running @55 front and back. When I lowered the rear tires I did notice a difference in ride improvment.
I have only been towing @ 2000 lbs so I have not aired them back up yet.

 

>I have the Load Range E Firestone Steeltex LT265/75/16 All
>Terrain tires and noticed the recommended pressure is 55 psi
>front and 70 psi rear (max is 80 psi at full load).

WOW! That's a lot of air for an empty bed! I, too, have "E" Firestones on my Excursion and run 60psi all the way around.

 

I always keep the maximum pressure that is stated on the tire. My BFG 33X12.50X16.50 are rated at 50 psi cold. That is what I keep them at, loaded or unloaded.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 21-May-02 AT 05:37 PM (EST)]I have Good Year/Kelly, Wild Spirit Radial MPT M+S LT235/85R16 Load range "E"
on my Super Duty V10 The dealer I got the tires from told me to run only 80lb, all the way around. But I have 70 in them now, and that makes for a better ride. I have 4800 miles on them now, so they are fairly new. What about that 55lb stuff on the front? I got a lot of $$ in them and want them to last.
Gary E K
garyekuy(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=4988&.jpg :-X23

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 21-May-02 AT 05:46 PM (EST)] Ken,how does 60lb of air ware? OK?
I want mine to last as long as they can.
Gary E K
garyekuy(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=4988&.jpg

 

Nice Looking Truck...

 

I am so excited that you asked this question
I was going to make a posting of my own about this and I was feeling realyrealyrealyrealyrealy smart And then I come along to say something and all the stuff I got from my tire shop has dissapeared

Ok enough sillyness. Somewere earlier in this section I asked someone why they would put load range D's on an F250. I must now appologize as now I know why.
It seems that there is a chart for tire pressure versus load capacity for all tires.
I run the stock General LT 235\65 16s load E on my dually. With the max pressure 80psi the tires (together) will handle 19,000 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I haul a camper that wieghs just under 3000 lbs wet and full of stuff for two weeks on the road. With this load I need only run 60psi(maybe even 55 once I find my info)in each tire.
A good example of what not do is run 80 psi regardless of load. I had the same camper on a 3/4 ton and wore the middle out of my new tires in 15,000 kms 10,000 miles they were LT235\65 16s load E and max pressure was 80psi, so thats what I ran them at.
The interesting thing is that the 3/4 ton was at its max GVW 8800lbs but the tires weren't and therefore were OVERINFLATED!!!!!!!! Go figure.
So if you want the straight poop on your tires ask your dealer to show you the chart. The chart is based on a speed of 100km per hour and there is a min pressure you can run SAFELY. There are some fairly complicated physics involved when you increase speed, reduce pressure etc. As you can probably guess the tires grow with speed and that changes things a whole bunch.
There maybe something else I should consider too, the chart I was looking at was for TOYOs. Generals maybe different.
For all you dually guys. Do you know why the load rating per tire drops when you dual them?
NOT because they get hot but because the wheels actually try to pull away from each other at speed even though they are bolted together. Cool Huh???????
Anyway I've rambled on enough.

 

OH!! Ask your tire guy for a tred gauge and get yourself a good air pressure gauge (maybe the tire guy will throw them in with purchase)

 

I haven't figured my 02 out yet.But on my 96,350,SRW,4x4 235-85-16 tires I have had good luck running 65psi.I increase the rear pressure when loaded down and add 10 psi to the rear when towing heavy loads long distances.

 

Looks like I'm a minority one this one. I run them at 80psi front and back.(loaded or not) The truck handles much better that way. When I first got the truck it swayed around the road, until I put 80 in.
Then my "company car" I run 120psi.

 

Wolfmanagh how do your tires wear and what kind of mileage do you get out of a set??

 

I run the pressures recommended on the door placard (55/80). Never know when I'm going to hitch up the trailer & go!

Oh yeah- I have Interco TrXus 285/75R16E mud-terrains.