Hi, just bought new tires for my 2011 F150 max tow, had the p285/65 r80 and upgraded to the Michelin LTX M/S2 E rated tire same size. I used to run the p tires at 35 unloaded and 45 towing. When I checked the PSI after they installed the tires, they put in the same 35 as was on the door sticker. when I called Ford they said the same as the tire dealer, when I called Michelin, they said the same thing. Am I crazy, but shouldn't these tires be put at a much higher PSI. My trailer has a very heavy tongue weight. My rear axle came in weighing 3700lbs with my WDH on. What PSI should I put the tires at towing and not towing? I have read so many different forum answers, it seems no one has a good answer. When I called Ford I asked what PSI do they run on the F 150's that had the LT tires as standard equipment, and he couldn't answer me. If someone has an F150 that came standard with the LT tires, what does it say on your door sticker? I don't want to ruin these expensive new tires by running them too low.

Depends what the wheels are rated for. Ford is going to tell you to fill the tires per the spec on the sticker, nothing more.

I'm hoping no shop would put E-rated tires on a wheel that isn't rated for the maximum PSI of the tire, but that's certainly worth looking into. Unfortunately, most such numbers are on the wheel rim UNDER the tire and one has to demount to see them. If the wheels are factory, Ford should be able to answer that question, though.For PSI when towing, most go with axle load/weight. Since you have your axle weights, you might look at an inflation chart and go from there.Here's one such chart- it's not from Michelin, though I'm not sure it matters- size/lr's are pretty standard throughout the industry.Note: Numbers given are per tire.Chart from this link

My 2001 F150 6750 GVWR with OEM LT265/70R17-C calls for 36psi(door sticker) in all four tires.I see no reason to go above 50psi. Usually run 40/45 front 45/50 rear when towing.

lcirelli wrote:Hi, just bought new tires for my 2011 F150 max tow, had the p285/65 r80 and upgraded to the Michelin LTX M/S2 E rated tire same size. I used to run the p tires at 35 unloaded and 45 towing. When I checked the PSI after they installed the tires, they put in the same 35 as was on the door sticker. when I called Ford they said the same as the tire dealer, when I called Michelin, they said the same thing. Am I crazy, but shouldn't these tires be put at a much higher PSI. My trailer has a very heavy tongue weight. My rear axle came in weighing 3700lbs with my WDH on. What PSI should I put the tires at towing and not towing? I have read so many different forum answers, it seems no one has a good answer. When I called Ford I asked what PSI do they run on the F 150's that had the LT tires as standard equipment, and he couldn't answer me. If someone has an F150 that came standard with the LT tires, what does it say on your door sticker? I don't want to ruin these expensive new tires by running them too low.This is some information in this post that doesn't seem right:1) The tire size. Tire Guides doesn't have a listing for a 2011 Ford F-150 that says the original tire size was P285/65R18. I also don't see Michelin listing that size in an LT for the LTX M/S2 (or in a P) I do see F-150's with a P275/65R18, and Michelin lists a LR E with that dimensions. Ford also lists that LT size as needing 40 psi. However, my background say that an LT tire needs to have 15 psi more to carry the same load as a P type tire with the same dimensions.So if my info on the tire size is correct, I would go with what Ford says for the LT's - even though their hotline folks didn't seem to know about that. I'm guessing the person at Ford is driven by VIN number and did not know how to look it up any other way.

Yeah, I wrote down the wrong size, it was late at night, 275/65 r18. That is my tire size. Sounds like 40 running empty seems to be good. I will try 45 with the trailer on. That seems a lot more reasonable. Actually then it is exactly what I was running before on the P tires.

New LT tires on f150, what PSI | Good Sam Community

34 Replies

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jul 02, 2013
dodge guy wrote:
mowermech wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
E rated are too much for a standard 150. for a standard 150 "C" rated tires are all that is necessary. running "E" tires underinflated for extended periods of time while under a load will heat them up considerably. you want to at least run them at 55-65psi to get the best use of them!

I guess those of us who have Jeep Rubicons that came from the factory with E rated tires inflated to 33 PSI should sue Jeep?
I have driven my Jeep from Central California to Northwestern Washington, and then to Montana, at freeway speed in summer heat, no tire trouble at all.
Several times.
Sorry, but personal experience shows that your statement may well be a fallacy.

Your Jeep isn't heavy enough to get them hot at lower temps. Now run that same psi at close to their rated capacity and see how hot they get.

Run any tire based on the load/psi chart and it will last a long time!

That is what they are for.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2013
mowermech wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
mowermech wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
E rated are too much for a standard 150. for a standard 150 "C" rated tires are all that is necessary. running "E" tires underinflated for extended periods of time while under a load will heat them up considerably. you want to at least run them at 55-65psi to get the best use of them!

I guess those of us who have Jeep Rubicons that came from the factory with E rated tires inflated to 33 PSI should sue Jeep?
I have driven my Jeep from Central California to Northwestern Washington, and then to Montana, at freeway speed in summer heat, no tire trouble at all.
Several times.
Sorry, but personal experience shows that your statement may well be a fallacy.

Your Jeep isn't heavy enough to get them hot at lower temps. Now run that same psi at close to their rated capacity and see how hot they get.

Perhaps. But, THAT would be an incredibly STUPID thing to do, right up there with making a right angle turn in a CJ5 at over 30 MPH! At rated capacity, of course the tires should be inflated to the maximum pressure for the weight. That is true regardless of tire size, type, or ply rating.

"Your Jeep isn't heavy enough to get them hot at lower temps."
I wonder if you really meant to say that. May I respectfully suggest that proofreading before hitting "Post Message" would be a good idea?

All that aside, i think we all know i meant pressure and not temps! And yes there are people out there that would run an "E" rated tire at 35 psi when they should be run at 55-80 psi and wonder why they don't last! Yes i've seen it!
mowermech
Explorer
Jul 01, 2013
dodge guy wrote:
mowermech wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
E rated are too much for a standard 150. for a standard 150 "C" rated tires are all that is necessary. running "E" tires underinflated for extended periods of time while under a load will heat them up considerably. you want to at least run them at 55-65psi to get the best use of them!

I guess those of us who have Jeep Rubicons that came from the factory with E rated tires inflated to 33 PSI should sue Jeep?
I have driven my Jeep from Central California to Northwestern Washington, and then to Montana, at freeway speed in summer heat, no tire trouble at all.
Several times.
Sorry, but personal experience shows that your statement may well be a fallacy.

Your Jeep isn't heavy enough to get them hot at lower temps. Now run that same psi at close to their rated capacity and see how hot they get.

Perhaps. But, THAT would be an incredibly STUPID thing to do, right up there with making a right angle turn in a CJ5 at over 30 MPH! At rated capacity, of course the tires should be inflated to the maximum pressure for the weight. That is true regardless of tire size, type, or ply rating.

"Your Jeep isn't heavy enough to get them hot at lower temps."
I wonder if you really meant to say that. May I respectfully suggest that proofreading before hitting "Post Message" would be a good idea?
milo
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2013
FWIW .. My 13' F150 HD came with BFG Rugged Trail LT 245/75R17's. Sidewall says 80 PSI, door label says front 55 ...rear 60. I run door label when not towing but raise em to 60 front & 70 rear when towing. Works very well.
goducks10
Explorer
Jul 01, 2013
dodge guy wrote:
goducks10 wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
E rated are too much for a standard 150. for a standard 150 "C" rated tires are all that is necessary. running "E" tires underinflated for extended periods of time while under a load will heat them up considerably. you want to at least run them at 55-65psi to get the best use of them!

Why? My 12 CTD 2500 Ram's tire sticker says 65f, 45r.

Yes. But you truck has the need for "E" rated tires. A standard 1/2 ton does not!

Yes but my Ram is heavier than an F150. I ran my 10 F150 with Michelin E rated tires at 36psi for 16,000 miles before trading it in. Never had an issue. Sure that's not 40-50,000 miles but just because a tire is rated at 80 psi doesn't mean it needs to be at 60& psi to run properly. Running a lower psi with a lighter load is not a problem. Why would Discount Tire tell me to run 45psi for my max load if it was detrimental to the tire? How does the tire know if it's on a 1/2 ton or a 3/4 ton? I just fail to see your logic in needing to run 65psi simply because it's an E rated tire. What's interesting is my 12 Ram and my 10 F150 had almost identical rear weights and the Ram says 45r and discount said 45psi. It's not about the need, it's about the load when determining psi. The reason the Ram says 65f, 45r is because the load is lighter in the rear. Same goes for the F150 since it can't carry a heavy of load as the 3/4 ton, therefore the need for higher psi is not necessary.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2013
goducks10 wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
E rated are too much for a standard 150. for a standard 150 "C" rated tires are all that is necessary. running "E" tires underinflated for extended periods of time while under a load will heat them up considerably. you want to at least run them at 55-65psi to get the best use of them!

Why? My 12 CTD 2500 Ram's tire sticker says 65f, 45r.

Yes. But you truck has the need for "E" rated tires. A standard 1/2 ton does not!
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2013
mowermech wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
E rated are too much for a standard 150. for a standard 150 "C" rated tires are all that is necessary. running "E" tires underinflated for extended periods of time while under a load will heat them up considerably. you want to at least run them at 55-65psi to get the best use of them!

I guess those of us who have Jeep Rubicons that came from the factory with E rated tires inflated to 33 PSI should sue Jeep?
I have driven my Jeep from Central California to Northwestern Washington, and then to Montana, at freeway speed in summer heat, no tire trouble at all.
Several times.
Sorry, but personal experience shows that your statement may well be a fallacy.

Your Jeep isn't heavy enough to get them hot at lower temps. Now run that same psi at close to their rated capacity and see how hot they get.
mowermech
Explorer
Jul 01, 2013
dodge guy wrote:
E rated are too much for a standard 150. for a standard 150 "C" rated tires are all that is necessary. running "E" tires underinflated for extended periods of time while under a load will heat them up considerably. you want to at least run them at 55-65psi to get the best use of them!

I guess those of us who have Jeep Rubicons that came from the factory with E rated tires inflated to 33 PSI should sue Jeep?
I have driven my Jeep from Central California to Northwestern Washington, and then to Montana, at freeway speed in summer heat, no tire trouble at all.
Several times.
Sorry, but personal experience shows that your statement may well be a fallacy.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jul 01, 2013
dodge guy wrote:
E rated are too much for a standard 150. for a standard 150 "C" rated tires are all that is necessary. running "E" tires underinflated for extended periods of time while under a load will heat them up considerably. you want to at least run them at 55-65psi to get the best use of them!

Nothing wrong with running an "E" tire on a 1/2 ton. Air the tires per the load.
goducks10
Explorer
Jul 01, 2013
dodge guy wrote:
E rated are too much for a standard 150. for a standard 150 "C" rated tires are all that is necessary. running "E" tires underinflated for extended periods of time while under a load will heat them up considerably. you want to at least run them at 55-65psi to get the best use of them!

Why? My 12 CTD 2500 Ram's tire sticker says 65f, 45r.

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New LT tires on f150, what PSI

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