I always look at the sttcker on the door for Tire inflation guidance --which in this instance is in the mid-30s PSI for a Ford F-150. At the feed store it was pointed out to me my tires actually say 80 PSIs and my tires do always look like they are running on the low side when I have them inflated per the door. Any thoughts? I do not want a side wall blowout from under inflation (or over inflation??) TIA
I go by the PSI rating on the actual tire wall. Different size tires from what the manufacturer put on the vehicle on the assembly line can end up on a vehicle (like you buy it used and don’t know who replaced tires, or a tire place sells you a different tire to put on, etc.). So I’d find it on the tire wall.
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Yes, always look at the tire! 30 PSi is really, really low…
30 PSI is not as low as 80 PSI is high though…? I think almost every car/truck I’ve had, the tires are between 29 and 40 PSI.
My truck tires are 80 psi. Always go by what the tire wall tells you.
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Thanks! I owe the feed store staff as I had never looked at the wall of my tires for the PSI before!
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Heavier duty tires require more air generally. So truck tires have a higher pressure than passenger tires. 80 is fairly average for medium duty truck tires. That’s what mine are.
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If you read what’s on the tire, that is the max pressure. You apparently have load range E tires on it.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=195
If you’re not towing, you can lower the pressure some and the truck will ride better. But I would not go down to 35!
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THIS
You can research your specific tires and find out what the recommended PSIs are for different payloads. Often different front and rear.
It’s funny about that door sticker - I took my truck in to an oil change place and when I got it back, I thought the tires were a bit low. Turns out they go by the door sticker, so my 80 PSI tires were at 50 (seriously! They took air out of ALL of them to do that). And wouldn’t reinflate them because that’s what the sticker said. Had to take it to a tire place to have done, or I’ve had been at a gas station all day.
About 6 months later I needed a valve stem replaced at Les Schwab. Honest to God, they took all my tires down to 50 (and then back to 80 when I had a fit).
Now when I take it anywhere, I tell them if they can’t put my tires to 80, please just don’t touch them.
This is a pretty good article on tire pressure. Spends some time on larger pickup needs.
https://www.souzastireservice.com/tires-101/air-pressure.aspx
G.
