Forum Discussion

dgcarlson's avatar
dgcarlson
Explorer
Jul 12, 2013

Correct Tire Pressure

Okay, I've been given absolutely genuine expert information on correct tire pressure from two purported experts: A long-haul trucker and a lifelong truck/camper owner, and they both completely disagree. So I will ask your expert opinions.

1 ton Ford single rear wheel, total GVW 10,000 pounds. Tires are Michelin with the following specs:
275/70 R18 LTX A T2
service Description 125
Load Range E
10-ply
Inflation 80 psi 3640 pounds total load

The door label on my Ford F-350 says to inflate front tires to 65 pounds, and rear to 75 pounds cold.

So for our last trip, I had the rear tires inflated cold to 75 pounds and front to 70 pounds. After 100+ miles of driving in 100 degree temperatures, the rear tires measured out at 88 pounds, and front to 83 pounds, over the rating for the tires. I was pretty worried for a while.

Then I consulted the experts, each of whom are my brothers-in-law. Results:

Expert #1: Inflate tires to 80 pounds each. Any underinflation will cause tires to heat up more and eventually cause them to fail due to excess flexing. They can easily handle the 90+ pounds under high temperature.

Expert #2: Inflate to the recommended pressures on the door label. Use less pressure when the camper is not loaded.

Who do I believe?

Dave
Truck Campers
  • lanerd's avatar
    lanerd
    Explorer II
    Jul 12, 2013
    Neither....

    First, go get your rig weighed while it is loaded and ready for a trip. Get weights for all four corners (if possible) or at least front and rear.

    Second, go to the Michelin tire weight inflation chart HERE and download the PDF file.

    Third, match up your actual weights and the size of your tires and find the correct inflation pressure.

    Forth, Inflate the tires to the recommend pressure while the tires are cold. Any pressure increased during driving is taken into consideration with the chart.

    Hope this helps

    Ron
  • Dick_B's avatar
    Dick_B
    Explorer
    Jul 12, 2013
    I like Expert #1 mostly. I would load up the tires to the max cold pressure rating on the tire and not worry about how much they heat up when on the road.

    But, when not towing, I would drop the pressure to 55 or 65 psi cold to ease the ride.

    How does the door sticker know what tires are on the vehicle once yhou change from OEM tires?
  • Dirtpig's avatar
    Dirtpig
    Explorer
    Jul 12, 2013
    if you read the sticker on the pillar once you open your driver side door it will say something like "maximum weight of cargo and passengers not to exceed 3628 lbs" and then list the 65lb fronttire 75lb reartire pressure. so if you have 3628 lbs in the truck then you should be at that recommended air pressure. if you have more then go up to 80lbs, if you have less weight in the truck let some air out. This information would only be accurate if you are still running the stock size tires & load index rating.

    I travel with 80lbs of air in the rear tires and the recommended 65lbs in the front as my camper is heavier then what the truck says it can accept. I'm also not running the stock tires.

    mfg rate the tires at cold pressure knowing they will increase in pressure when hot which is why the sidewall always states, inflate to 80lb psi max (cold)

    happy camping
  • petenewell's avatar
    petenewell
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2013
    Another vote for Lanerd, if you want to be that anal. You are way over thinking this. Set to max sidewall number when hauling weight and less when not.
  • skipbee's avatar
    skipbee
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2013
    Follow the tire mfg's specs. We have 19.5" "H" Rated Dunlop tires with 80 psi in the front and 105 psi in the rear. We have traveled in excess of 65,000 miles all over the country including Alaska, trouble free.
  • JIMNLIN's avatar
    JIMNLIN
    Explorer III
    Jul 13, 2013
    I've seem my 16" LT tires on my max loaded equipment trailers run as high as 90-92 psi all day long on long hauls in the summer 100+ degree heat. All is normal as the tire makers take all this in consideration.

    Experts # 1 has some excellent information to remember but lanerd fine tuned it.
  • bjbear's avatar
    bjbear
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2013
    lanerd wrote:
    Neither....

    First, go get your rig weighed while it is loaded and ready for a trip. Get weights for all four corners (if possible) or at least front and rear.

    Second, go to the Michelin tire weight inflation chart HERE and download the PDF file.

    Third, match up your actual weights and the size of your tires and find the correct inflation pressure.

    Forth, Inflate the tires to the recommend pressure while the tires are cold. Any pressure increased during driving is taken into consideration with the chart.

    Hope this helps

    Ron


    X2
  • abslayer's avatar
    abslayer
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2013
    Expert #1: Inflate tires to 80 pounds each. Any underinflation will cause tires to heat up more and eventually cause them to fail due to excess flexing. They can easily handle the 90+ pounds under high temperature.

    I have same tires anddddd:)
    That is what my Michelin dealer told me also so I would think that is right answer

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