Tire pressure...
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 272
Likes: 3
Tire pressure...
I have a 2003 F250, 4x4, with stock replacement tires, P265/75/R16, I believe. The tires say 80 psi, cold. I've always kept them around 65 or 70 psi.
I'm curious to know what others have their pressure at and if there is any advantage/disadvantage in less/more air.
I'm curious to know what others have their pressure at and if there is any advantage/disadvantage in less/more air.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 6
Assuming alignment and balance is all good...
Take a temperature scanner, and measure the tires temperature at the inside, outside and center of the tread after a run of about 30 min (for your normal drive).
Tire pressure should be set so the temperature is close to identical at all 3 locations.
This procedure will get you slightly different pressures on each tire, depending on the load of the tire at that particular location.
It will vary according to load and speed.
So the pressure right for 40mph around town is different from the 80mph highway speed pressure.
But the method is tried and true.
I started at 80, dropped front to 55psi, and rear to 70 for better ride. But then I am carrying 800lbs only.
Take a temperature scanner, and measure the tires temperature at the inside, outside and center of the tread after a run of about 30 min (for your normal drive).
Tire pressure should be set so the temperature is close to identical at all 3 locations.
This procedure will get you slightly different pressures on each tire, depending on the load of the tire at that particular location.
It will vary according to load and speed.
So the pressure right for 40mph around town is different from the 80mph highway speed pressure.
But the method is tried and true.
I started at 80, dropped front to 55psi, and rear to 70 for better ride. But then I am carrying 800lbs only.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
65 for me. I bump the rears up to 75 or 80 if I am towing heavy. Sometimes 75 in the front, depends on the load.
I usually get over 50K on a set of tires. 90% highway driving with trailers. Good even wear, rotate every 10K.
I usually get over 50K on a set of tires. 90% highway driving with trailers. Good even wear, rotate every 10K.
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,339
Likes: 350
From: Breckenridge, TX
I chalk test the rears, and normally run at about 10psi under the sidewall max unloaded. Fronts I leave pumped up, especially with the diesel sitting on top of them.
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Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
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From: Pa
There is no way I could run the air pressures on my fuel door when I had the stock tires on my truck. The fuel door say 50psi fronts and 80psi rears. If I would run that empty the truck would get no traction and be a real bear to handle.
Your best bet is to setup the rear tires to wear even at you given load. The 285s on my truck have a max of 65 psi and I run about around 44-48 in the rears and 58-60 in the fronts empty. If I don't air down the rears I get uneven wear and poor traction even with yearly rotations. When I'm loaded though the rears get pumped up to 65 and the fronts will get lowered to 50-55. When you load the back of the truck up with a trailer and junk in the bed it can take weight off the fronts and cause touchy steering if the fronts are over inflated. What I'm saying is its really a trial and aerror process that depends on your tires and the weight thats on each axle.
Your best bet is to setup the rear tires to wear even at you given load. The 285s on my truck have a max of 65 psi and I run about around 44-48 in the rears and 58-60 in the fronts empty. If I don't air down the rears I get uneven wear and poor traction even with yearly rotations. When I'm loaded though the rears get pumped up to 65 and the fronts will get lowered to 50-55. When you load the back of the truck up with a trailer and junk in the bed it can take weight off the fronts and cause touchy steering if the fronts are over inflated. What I'm saying is its really a trial and aerror process that depends on your tires and the weight thats on each axle.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,624
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From: OR and UT
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