Hi folks -- I made an "interesting" discovery today on my brand new 2015 Ford F-450 pickup when I tried to install TPMS sensors.I have the TM-507RV/SE unit from Truck System Technologies. When I put the sensors on the front tires, the low pressure alarm went off as soon as the sensors synched up with the display unit.My brand new front tires which are labeled for 110psi were only inflated to 85 psi on one side, and 84 psi on the other.Also, the rear valve stems were pointed into the space between the dual rear wheels where I think it would take a hobbit to reach them to air them up.Needless to say I will be making a call on the dealership ASAP, but I wanted to check in with the folks here on the tire inflation -- I'm sure the dealership will try to tell me some BS about underinflating the tires for the ride or something, so I was hoping to get some wisdom from the folks here before I go in to discuss this with them.Any thoughts?Thanks & Best Regards,Mitch

mitchmitchell1616 wrote:Hi folks -- I made an "interesting" discovery today on my brand new 2015 Ford F-450 pickup when I tried to install TPMS sensors.I have the TM-507RV/SE unit from Truck System Technologies. When I put the sensors on the front tires, the low pressure alarm went off as soon as the sensors synched up with the display unit.My brand new front tires which are labeled for 110psi were only inflated to 85 psi on one side, and 84 psi on the other.Also, the rear valve stems were pointed into the space between the dual rear wheels where I think it would take a hobbit to reach them to air them up.Needless to say I will be making a call on the dealership ASAP, but I wanted to check in with the folks here on the tire inflation -- I'm sure the dealership will try to tell me some BS about underinflating the tires for the ride or something, so I was hoping to get some wisdom from the folks here before I go in to discuss this with them.Any thoughts?Thanks & Best Regards,Mitchthere is a chart you can get that shows tires rating at different pressures.I always aired down my tires when not towing or carrying load.They are rated at certain capacity at MAXIMUM 110 psi.Not necessary to keep them there when emptyOf course I had no TPMS to deal with..:h:h

Check the sticker on the door post for proper inflation. 85 psi could be correct. I know on my truck the tires are rated for a max of 80 psi but the sticker calls for 60 psi on the front tires and 80 on the rear for max capacity. :)

Check the door sticker and consult your owners manual. Calibrate the tire sensors to match pressures recommended on the door sticker and owners manual. You should be set to go.

Have you reprogrammed your TST monitor for the pressures stated on the door plaque, not the max side wall rating. On ours, the fronts (tires rated for 80psi) door jamb and weight load requires only 65 psi. My TST monitor is set for 65 psi front axles. It will alarm at -10% or about 59 psi. low or +20%, about 78psi for a high.As for the rear duals, you will need metal valve extenders, various shapes and length to get to the outside of the rim. I'm sure others will chime in as to the various options. Without the extensions and with the screw on TST sensors, you can check and ad air with a dual head air guage/filler.Ken

I think your getting good recommendations here Mitch. The tire pressure should be set to the pressure listed inside the door sill. Also there are long/reverse air knozzle that can be used to access the valve stem.I must say I'm impressed with the factory TPMS and back in Sept. when driving home from a fishing trip my center display flashed a low tire pressure warning. So I pull over at my earliest opportunity and sure enough there's a screw in my front passenger tire and the air is literly blowing out.

Installing TPMS sensors on my brand new F-450 truck

28 Replies

mitchmitchell16
Explorer
Nov 18, 2014
They are not the passthrough sensors. In fact I have ordered a special version of the crossfire pressure equalization devices to work with these sensors
Beaker
Explorer
Nov 18, 2014
Well, the TPMS sure has turned out to be worth it, one of the dually tires has gone down in the cold a lot more than the other three so I will be watching it. Couldn't tell by looking but about 20# difference is sure to cause problems for tire wear at least.

Are they pass thru sensors?
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Nov 18, 2014
mitchmitchell1616 wrote:
Well, the TPMS sure has turned out to be worth it, one of the dually tires has gone down in the cold a lot more than the other three so I will be watching it. Couldn't tell by looking but about 20# difference is sure to cause problems for tire wear at least.
Good that it worked for you. My 2015 Silverado dually doesn't offer the system either though it is standard on the single rear wheel version...Don't let those tires fool you. Pull out your tire gauge and check them. Never saw anybody yet that could check the pressure by looking at a tire, unless it was 1/2 flat...

B.O.
mitchmitchell16
Explorer
Nov 18, 2014
Well, the TPMS sure has turned out to be worth it, one of the dually tires has gone down in the cold a lot more than the other three so I will be watching it. Couldn't tell by looking but about 20# difference is sure to cause problems for tire wear at least.
The_Mad_Norsky
Explorer
Nov 13, 2014
chevor wrote:
Tires don't last as long at lower pressures. Keeping the sidewall as stiff as possible results in longer life and better fuel economy. Upgrade your shocks if you want a softer ride.

Think I can add to this, just a little.

Now the 19.5 inch tires may be a whole different ball game. But as far as duallys, diesels, keep those front tires aired up good. They are always carrying a lot of weight.

I've had 17 inch tires on both my last two duallys, and to my regret, I failed to properly inflate the front tires to enough air pressure on my previous vehicle, 2011 Ford F 350. Tires started to cup badly and worn badly on each edge.

I was running them at around 55 PSI, right where they were at when I bought the truck. But that was not enough. 75 PSI worked much better, much improved tire wear.

Gotta go air up the fronts on my new truck now. 18 degrees outside and no fun, but surely want no cupping or side wear on this vehicle. The TPMS on my Ram says they are down to about 61 PSI in this cold weather, and I can tell by looking they need to be re-inflated.
v10superduty
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
chevor wrote:
Tires don't last as long at lower pressures. Keeping the sidewall as stiff as possible results in longer life and better fuel economy. Upgrade your shocks if you want a softer ride.

Sorry but I don't agree.
I no longer have the truck but recall I ran rears around 95 - 105 psi with trailer.
I think I put rears down to about 45 while the trailer was stationary.
Fronts were adjusted minimally.
The difference in ride was huge. No way different shocks could soften it like that and I never hurt tires one bit.
this was a two wheel drive Gas F250 with "zero" in the box except aluminum tool box with bout 75 lbs in it.
If I left 100 lbs on our roads up here with no weight I would be getting air.:W:W

I don't disagree with your comment of better mileage and longer tire life but there are tradeoffs
chevor
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
Tires don't last as long at lower pressures. Keeping the sidewall as stiff as possible results in longer life and better fuel economy. Upgrade your shocks if you want a softer ride.
mitchmitchell16
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
Hey, no I did not take any of the posts here personally - I hope I have a good idea of how much I don't know but that's why I'm here asking questions.
v10superduty
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
Hey Mitch...
Sounds like you lucked into a great truck at a great deal!!

I can tell your an intelligent fellow by choices you have made...:B
So I know you didn't take my comments as jabs at you. :W
I sold vehicles for many years and also RVs for bout 5 yrs. (RVs right alongside the vehicles) so I have experienced the emotional (instead of researched) decisions many made. DUMB way to do it.

Back to your original post...
When I ordered my truck way back in 1999 it came with 245/16 D tires. I order upgraded to 265/16E which was what was on F350.
I would do a tow down to Texas or Florida with my bout 11000 lb. loaded fiver and would inflate to max rating as stamped on tire on rear and front a bit under. Once arrived there or back home in spring, would air down to what gave a decent ride even though may be below door suggestion PSI. My truck was daily driver so I really had to do this for comfort.

As long as you don't underinflate will not hurt tires. Hope your TPM has some self settings so you can do this to some degree? if tow vehicle only not necessary I suppose.
Good luck on your RVing future and sounds like you will have good equipment to do it in...... :B:B
mitchmitchell16
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
v10superduty wrote:

I think we forget sometimes that folks with sufficient funds can walk in and drive away that day in a diesel powered class A motorhome.

It doesn't necessarily take sufficient funds, just a willingness to sign your life away will do it!
v10superduty wrote:

May have never owned even a tent prior and only drove a Civic before.

Well, I am upgrading from a Prius, does that count? :-)
v10superduty wrote:

"Hey honey look....theres a toilet back here..."

Now, that hurts! I *did* go to the Dallas RV show and find where the toilets were...
v10superduty wrote:

Probably easier to buy it and ask questions than to come on here and ask
"What brand of truck should I buy?"

Ok, I *knew* not to do that ;-)
v10superduty wrote:

You will figure it out, but don't go and yell at the dealer. That won't help and may expose somebodies lack of knowledge.. :W :W :W

I'm afraid that ship has probably sailed, I'm sure they know I am a newbie at this.

I'm actually about 3 months behind where I intended to be when we bought the truck. We went to each of GMC, Chevy, Dodge, and Ford to look at and drive trucks. I had read here about being sure to buy big and since we ultimately want a 5th wheel toy hauler, I researched the ratings before deciding what 'level' of truck to get.

We figured we'd probably have to order a truck to get what we wanted, since those big ones were mostly fleet vehicles on the dealers lots, but when we went to the Ford dealership they had one in a beautiful color (Bronze Fire) that had everything we wanted and included a top of the line Reese 5th wheel hitch. The person that had ordered it walked on the deal so they were eager to sell it. We allowed them to 'convince' us to buy it so I got a great new truck for a lot less money.

However, I am not towing anything with it for the next few months until our trailer arrives so I have time to research all the information I need to keep us safe. We decided not to get the 5th wheel right out of the gate so we are getting a light Jayco Jay Feather Ultra Lite X213 which is only about 5000 lbs. That will give us a chance to learn the ropes without hauling a 20000 lbs 5th wheel around for a few years.

We are both comfortable driving the truck since we had a suburban many years ago.

Mitch