and chill out.
Tire Pressure
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 14,069
Likes: 17
From: Melbourne, Ky
Art, as your signature says, "I've been wrong before, I'll be wrong again. Just wait and see." It's just not this time. You are right on with checking tire pressure and the proper foot print. I never go by what is stated on the door jams for tire pressure. It's how the tire sits on the pavement that determines how much air presure you should use, as long as you don't go past the tire manufactures ratings. I don't know about the 17 inch tires, but on the 16" tires, the 265's with an E rating is only about 300 lbs more than a 285 with a D rating. The 285's look better on the F250's, and there really isn't much lost as for the tire capacity. If you are using it for a work truck, or do a lot of hauling and towing, than you might want to consider going with the E rated tire.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,743
Likes: 3
From: Peoria, IL
The best way to figure out the proper tire pressure for your tires is to weigh your truck with the normal load and use a tire inflation table that matches your tires. Here is a .pdf file that shows some of the tire inflation tables.
http://www.rma.org/getfile.cfm?ID=606&type=publication
The tire pressure that Ford and other manufacturers put on the door jamb is the tire pressure that should be run at the maximum GVW of that vehicle. This is overinflated for most people. They do this to cover their butt, because they don't trust people to properly adjust the tire inflation for different loads.
The chalk test is a pretty good tool if you don't have acess to scales or a tire inflation table, but it really only works with new tires. If a tire has been run over or underinflated for a while before you try to do the chalk test the tread will already have worn in an improper manner which will throw off the results.
http://www.rma.org/getfile.cfm?ID=606&type=publication
The tire pressure that Ford and other manufacturers put on the door jamb is the tire pressure that should be run at the maximum GVW of that vehicle. This is overinflated for most people. They do this to cover their butt, because they don't trust people to properly adjust the tire inflation for different loads.
The chalk test is a pretty good tool if you don't have acess to scales or a tire inflation table, but it really only works with new tires. If a tire has been run over or underinflated for a while before you try to do the chalk test the tread will already have worn in an improper manner which will throw off the results.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
From: NW NJ
Originally Posted by Beer
The tire pressure that Ford and other manufacturers put on the door jamb is the tire pressure that should be run at the maximum GVW of that vehicle. This is overinflated for most people.
Thanks for the great link to that Rubber Manuf. Assoc. manual. I've been waiting for a copy of one from the manufacturer, they're taking their sweet old time.
BTW ... I think I've read people saying here that they couldn't find 285's on 16" wheels in load range E; well, Goodyear makes them for sure.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
Likes: 48
From: Lyndonville, Vermont
Since no one really gave pressures I will. I run 55 in front and 45 approx in rear all summer empty. With that being said I have loaded it to the hill and have gone say 20 miles at 35 mph. I work my truck and it rides great. the only time I put 70 psi in them is when I carry 6000lbs of winter sand in it and my plow up front. I think running more than 60 / 50 is gonna beat you up and isn't smart. 55 would even be fine for a diesel up front. I have 200lbs or more extra up front anyways..highway driving loaded you need more air.. Listen to an old man...
Dick
Dick
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 0
From: Utah County, UT
There is a time-honored test of tread contact, using chalk draw some lines across the tread. Then, on a flat piece of asphalt/cement, roll back and forth a few times.
If the chalk wears off evenly across the tread, you have good contact.
Filling the tire to the max without being at full load will cause the center of the tread to extend out past the sides and WILL cause the center of the tread to wear away much faster than the outer edges. The chalk test will show the center of the chalk line worn away, but the edges will not. That's with a brand-new tire - if you're running at max for a long time, you've already worn the tread flat and it's a non-issue.
It also helps in stopping and starting, especially in wet situations to keep as much of the tread in contact with the road.
If the chalk wears off evenly across the tread, you have good contact.
Filling the tire to the max without being at full load will cause the center of the tread to extend out past the sides and WILL cause the center of the tread to wear away much faster than the outer edges. The chalk test will show the center of the chalk line worn away, but the edges will not. That's with a brand-new tire - if you're running at max for a long time, you've already worn the tread flat and it's a non-issue.
It also helps in stopping and starting, especially in wet situations to keep as much of the tread in contact with the road.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 14,069
Likes: 17
From: Melbourne, Ky
What tire size are you running? Is your truck a diesel? Diesels are about 600lbs heavier on the front end, so you might want to run a little more on the front if that's the case.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 84
From: Wake Forest, NC
FWIW, I've historically run my tires at 50 all around. 50 is recommended for the front IIRC, and I'm not always loaded so it is fine for the back. My tires usually wear well, and if I run at max pressure on the roads around here unloaded it is brutal.
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
I have a 03 diesel supercab shortbox. I run 40 lbs, all around. So far I have about 70k on my tires, and the tread is half worn. I run 285's d plys, 17 inch instead of the stock 16 inch. I dont haul much, and the most I tow around is my boat, and a empty tri axle equipment trailer from time to time.
I used to work at a tire shop, and have ran all kinds of pressures on all sorts of different tires, and for different uses for each tire/truck. It really does depend on the make, model, ratings of the tire, and what you use the truck for.
For me, right now, 8 ply tires, at 40 psi on my 3/4 ton diesel work great. Im getting the maximum longevity, and maximum comfort for how I use the truck.
I used to work at a tire shop, and have ran all kinds of pressures on all sorts of different tires, and for different uses for each tire/truck. It really does depend on the make, model, ratings of the tire, and what you use the truck for.
For me, right now, 8 ply tires, at 40 psi on my 3/4 ton diesel work great. Im getting the maximum longevity, and maximum comfort for how I use the truck.