I've read in a couple of places that to improve the ride some people "ignore" the tire pressure recommendation inside the door and inflate their tires, (often just the rear), to the max inscribed upon the wall of the tire itself.I've searched within this site and the search engine isn't super helpful and I've tried google and see lots of yelling about "over-inflation" of tires.It would seem to me that the recommendation on the door is most likely to give the most comfortable ride in an unladen vehicle, (and therefore a sales thing), while "harder" tires might dampen some of the TT TV interactions on the road.I'm towing with an F-150 SCrew, with factory towing where the door indicates 35psi while the tire states max inflation is to 44psi. I've experienced some bouncing on rough roads but a nice towing experience on smooth blacktop. I'm taking a longish trip through four states where only one of which has any reputation for good roads, (MI, IN, IL & WI - you decide).Would I benefit from taking all four tires to 44psi, just the rears to 44 psi or should I, (for safety's sake), leave everything at 35psi per the door and take the pain.

With all the trucks I've owned the door sticker states max pressure's to haul max weight. I've gotten a considerably better ride by lowering the pressure in the rears when not loaded down. So, I'm not sure what you mean by getting a better ride by over inflating them?The max on the door should match the max on the tire (or close) and one thing I can promise is the engineers and manufacturers don't give a hoot about your comfort. They want the truck to stand up to people loading it up the max (and beyond).

The numbers one tag inside the door is for the The inflation chart on your door panel is for the GVWR. If your truck is fully loaded that is the minimum inflation you should use.You can always inflate to the max on the sidewall but that just makes for a harsher ride when empty.

The correct way to do it is to weigh the rig and then use the correct inflation tables for your tire brand. Best is weight on each wheel, but axle weights are adequate.

OK... Just before I slip into bed...Are the correct inflation tables for my make/model of my tire easy to find by, say, googling the letter/number combination on the tire itself or is there a zen method for getting this information?

I look at it this way. Ford did not make my tires, I am listening to the tire companies. Do you remember when Ford had the trouble with Explorers tipping over. They told people to lower the air pressure (so the center of gravity would be lower and the tires softer) and then the tires failed.

Maxing out tire pressures... | Good Sam Community

30 Replies

Gale_Hawkins
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
am1958 wrote:
I've read in a couple of places that to improve the ride some people "ignore" the tire pressure recommendation inside the door and inflate their tires, (often just the rear), to the max inscribed upon the wall of the tire itself.

I've searched within this site and the search engine isn't super helpful and I've tried google and see lots of yelling about "over-inflation" of tires.

It would seem to me that the recommendation on the door is most likely to give the most comfortable ride in an unladen vehicle, (and therefore a sales thing), while "harder" tires might dampen some of the TT TV interactions on the road.

I'm towing with an F-150 SCrew, with factory towing where the door indicates 35psi while the tire states max inflation is to 44psi. I've experienced some bouncing on rough roads but a nice towing experience on smooth blacktop. I'm taking a longish trip through four states where only one of which has any reputation for good roads, (MI, IN, IL & WI - you decide).

Would I benefit from taking all four tires to 44psi, just the rears to 44 psi or should I, (for safety's sake), leave everything at 35psi per the door and take the pain.

We have the same 44 psi max stamped on the tires of the Towncar and did a 3500 mile run last week up to Canada. While it is a car and not towing the ride was fine and it seems to have less squirm than at 35. There are bad roads every where we learned. As other noted there are no safety issues running at stamped PSI. One plus at 44 we learned was at 5pm we came out of a sales call in Minot ND with a low tire that we topped off down the street until we found a tire shop open ($30 to patch from inside). If we had been at 35 I expect we would have been down on the rim instead at 12 PSI. 44 will give more margin of safety in a case like that.
glazier
Explorer II
Jun 30, 2014
IndyCamp wrote:
I always run at max pressure (as printed on the tire) when I am towing.

I prefer a stiffer ride when towing and I don't care about premature wear. What's $1,500 for a new set of tires after 30,000 miles in a hobby as expensive as this one?

That is a very good perspective, I share your thoughts on this. I only use my truck for towing, it takes me 5 years to put 30,000 miles on it.
IndyCamp
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
I always run at max pressure (as printed on the tire) when I am towing.

I prefer a stiffer ride when towing and I don't care about premature wear. What's $1,500 for a new set of tires after 30,000 miles in a hobby as expensive as this one?
wandering1
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
all four tires to 44psi
BB_TX
Nomad
Jun 30, 2014
Inflating higher than needed will make the tires harder and the ride stiffer. And will tend to make the tire wear faster in the middle than on the edges. Max pressure is just that, the max pressure recommended for that tire. That does not mean you should just run that pressure for no obvious reason.

Google "your tire brand" tire inflation chart and you should find the manufacturer's inflation recommendations for given weights. Of course, you need to know the weight on the tire to properly use the chart.
Campinfan
Explorer III
Jun 30, 2014
I look at it this way. Ford did not make my tires, I am listening to the tire companies. Do you remember when Ford had the trouble with Explorers tipping over. They told people to lower the air pressure (so the center of gravity would be lower and the tires softer) and then the tires failed.
am1958
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
OK... Just before I slip into bed...

Are the correct inflation tables for my make/model of my tire easy to find by, say, googling the letter/number combination on the tire itself or is there a zen method for getting this information?
Dennis_M_M
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
The correct way to do it is to weigh the rig and then use the correct inflation tables for your tire brand. Best is weight on each wheel, but axle weights are adequate.
12th_Man_Fan
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
The numbers one tag inside the door is for the

The inflation chart on your door panel is for the GVWR. If your truck is fully loaded that is the minimum inflation you should use.

You can always inflate to the max on the sidewall but that just makes for a harsher ride when empty.
mtofell1
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
With all the trucks I've owned the door sticker states max pressure's to haul max weight. I've gotten a considerably better ride by lowering the pressure in the rears when not loaded down. So, I'm not sure what you mean by getting a better ride by over inflating them?

The max on the door should match the max on the tire (or close) and one thing I can promise is the engineers and manufacturers don't give a hoot about your comfort. They want the truck to stand up to people loading it up the max (and beyond).

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Maxing out tire pressures...

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