tire pressure question

OP here. I did chat online with Michelen. They would not give me an answer to the psi for towing, liability issue I am sure.

They did do a look up and said to get the same max load capacity as my original P tires I would need to inflate to 55psi.

BillyW wrote:
Here's answer #11. When I ran BFG AT E rated tires on my F150, they seemed to perform best at about 40 PSI for non towing and 50 PSI for towing my 6000 lb trailer.

X2

This sounds about right!!

I tow a 11,000# 5er and only inflate my 265/70-16 E to between 70 and 75 psi carrying 5,500# on the rear axle. Full inflation of the tires would carry 6,830#

riven1950 wrote:
Just put Michelen lt tires on my 2013 f150 4x4 cc. Max pressure is 80 psi. E rated.

My question is what would be a good pressure to run when not towing or hauling? What do you folks do?

Door jamb calls for 35 psi, based on original P rated tires, same size. ( 275/65/18 )

Seems 80psi is too much and 35psi is too little for normal driving.

Also, is full 80 psi what you folks do for towing? Should front and back be different?

Towing a TT about 6000-6200lbs loaded with wd hitch/ sway.

thanks, bought tires at Ford dealer and they are not much help.

Use the weight/inflation chart for your tires. Add 5 psi to your actual weights.

Solo 50 front and 35 rear would be a good starting point.

Here's answer #11. When I ran BFG AT E rated tires on my F150, they seemed to perform best at about 40 PSI for non towing and 50 PSI for towing my 6000 lb trailer.

riven1950 wrote:
Just put Michelen lt tires on my 2013 f150 4x4 cc. Max pressure is 80 psi. E rated.

My question is what would be a good pressure to run when not towing or hauling? What do you folks do?

Ask ten folks and you will most likely get 11 different answers... ;)

This is a never ending topic with no real consensus...

My vote is to run them as high as you can stand (ride quality wise)

On my Sub LT265/75R16E's at 80 PSI on my Suburban because of the way
like to drive both empty, loaded and towing

On my Silverado 33/12.5R15LT load range C's, run sidewall max of 35 PSI
because that it the max rating...would like to run higher, but that
it the rating for those tires

Door jamb calls for 35 psi, based on original P rated tires, same size. ( 275/65/18 )

Seems 80psi is too much and 35psi is too little for normal driving.

Door label is for the OEM tire. A lower class tire to what you have
installed. So only applies to that lower class and that size tire
listed

Also, if you changed size and the rim width...these also factor into
the right PSI for the conditions

Also, is full 80 psi what you folks do for towing? Should front and back be different?

Towing a TT about 6000-6200lbs loaded with wd hitch/ sway.

thanks, bought tires at Ford dealer and they are not much help.

They have a liability issue on any NON-OEM tire listed on the door
label. So of course 'most' won't touch this topic

Tire pressure is not just for weight carry, but to keep the tire shape
during all of it's duties at max rated load. If below max rated load,
then slightly less pressure is needed

There are several way to help determine the PSI for the load.

The chalk method and the masking tape method. I use water/puddle
most times...and how the tire is wearing, but admit to not being much
of the herd type in anything to do automotive...drive much, much harder
than most and demand much, much higher performance levels than most

Be aware that your stock rims are probably rated for 50PSI maximum. While I have not personally witnessed it, I would be concerned that the stress of running 30PSI over maximum, plus exceeding the weight capacity of the same rims might cause a rim failure.

That said, I normally run 45-50PSI in my tires on the truck in my signature. Otherwise I would be coughing up vertebrae when the truck is empty.

Most tire manufacturers publish inflation charts based on the actual load for a specific tire. Putting load range E tires on a 1/2 ton truck, your best bet is to weigh the truck (both as you would drive it daily and with your RV hitched up) and find the inflation pressures for the various loads on Michelin's inflation charts for that tire. With LR E tires on my 3/4 ton diesel, the door sticker says 65 front and 75 rear. Since my fifth wheel puts the maximum load on the rear axle and tires when hitched up, I inflate the rear tires to the maximum stated on the tire (80 PSI). The dealer you bought the tires from may be able to help you figure things out, too. In any case, I doubt that the full 80 PSI would be appropriate for the loads on a 1/2 ton truck.

Rob