Guys,

This is my first F250 (owned a few F150's before). Anyway, I have a 2011 F250 Lariat 4x4 with the standard Lariat 18inch wheels and Continental tires. The side of the tire says a maximum air pressure of 80 PSI.

This morning when I got in the truck to drive to work, I got the low tire pressure alarm. Nothing to worry about as this was the first really cool morning here in Austin, TX since I bough the truck. So I checked the tire pressures and they ranged from 55 to 58 PSI.

Now my question..... What PSI should I put back in the tires? I figured I don't want to run 80 PSI for my normal everyday driving..... I was thinking about 62 to 64 PSI.

Any thoughts or advice?

-gascan

 

62 seems to be the consensus of where you can get down to before the warning comes on.

 

Ok, that is useful info.... My real question is (I guess I should have been more specific), what is best pressure for these tires for optimal wear and fuel mileage?

-gascan

 

Not sure on Wear / But Milage - the max (80psi) will make it roll better - ->> better milage...

Did you get Diesel or the gasser?

 

I got the diesel. (My first diesel as well....) So far I like it.

Thanks.

 

Cool - you'll like it - I got the 6.2 but the trucks are great..

 

My tire pressure alarm went off when 1 of my tires fell below 55psi. The sticker inside the door says to fill the Continetals to 65 psi when cold. I put 60psi in when the tires were cold and so far I have gotten no more alarms. Fuel mileage went from 16.2 up to 16.7 mpg in the city.

 

As with any tire, if you run them too hard ( with a load on) they will wear the centers of the tread. Too soft and you wear the outer edges. So you find your self in a trade off. Tire wear, vs fuel mpg. Higher pressure in tires = better rolling which = better mpg but also = faster tire wear.

I personally like about 60psi when the truck is empty. I found at 70 psi I got a little wander on the highways when I hit the ruts that the semi's have worn into the paement. The truck would kinda drift and follow them. A little softer tire and that problem went away.

Because I tow almost daily. I usually keep the back tires at 70psi. If I know I'm loading the GN horse trailer up real heavy for a trip, I'll bump them up to the max of 80 for that trip and them let some air out when I get home.

 

Thank you, very good advice!!!

 

I usually go with Max psi on the sidewall minus 5 lbs measured cold. This gives me good mileage and good tread wear.

On the other hand, you cannot go wrong with the factory recommendation on the door pillar. That psi is designed to give the best ride while having a safe psi in the tire. Mileage and wear are not the factory considerations.

jammer

 

Okay so how much will it cost me to get some of the TPSM's set for 65 instead of the 80. It sucks that I have to run a minimum of 65 to keep the alarm from going off. The Mich 20's ride much better at 60 unloaded and still have an excellent tread contact patch.