Tire pressure

[alohamonte]

40 PSI

jitters over 65 mph though.

 

[joecrna]

Ex- 50 psi, I haul alot
Porsche- 29fr 33 rear
Lexus- 36fr 42 rear
Camaro- 36 all around
All checked weekly, all adjusted from baseline for use. Porsche for commuting goes up 7psi. Lexus around town, all down 6psi. Ex off-road, who knows, thats why I have a compressor onboard. Camaro hates tires, melts em on launch and eats outside edges through turns.

 

[Essex4x4]

I run 35psi and i am a stickler for things like this so i usually check it about once a week, same day i wash her and check the fluids

 

[dleigh007]

I have BF Goodrich 30x9.5x15 All Terrain tires and I keep them at 50 psi. On the sidewall of the tire it says that's the max (cold) pressure. I get better mpg than with 35 psi. I air down when necessary and check pressure every oil change.

 

[Anime]

I came about this method by driving on a floor covered in fine dust. If the dust only sticks in the middles, too much. If not much in the middle and more on the edges, too little. Its a very precise and scientific method

Keep in mind the tread of radial tires changes shape when it's rotating, especially at higher speeds. It's not nearly the same as when parked. The correct method is to use a tire crayon to make lines across the thread and up to the shoulder, then drive it and go by where the crayon has worn off. At least, for racetrack use that's how you do it.

 

[JDraper]

There are quite a few of you in here running waaaay too much pressure in your tires. Just because the sidewall says "Max Pressure 50 PSI" doesn't mean you should run the tire there. That's the MAXIMUM you're supposed to inflate it to under any circumstances and on any vehicle, it's not what's right for your vehicle. Running a tire at max pressure for daily driving has one advantage and several drawbacks. The advantage is a slight increase in fuel mileage because you are decreasing the rolling resistance. The disadvantages are uneven tire wear, reduced traction, reduced handling, longer stopping distances, harsher ride, shorter tire life, and a higher potential for blowout if a piece of debris is run over.

 

[Essex4x4]

There are quite a few of you in here running waaaay too much pressure in your tires. Just because the sidewall says "Max Pressure 50 PSI" doesn't mean you should run the tire there. That's the MAXIMUM you're supposed to inflate it to under any circumstances and on any vehicle, it's not what's right for your vehicle. Running a tire at max pressure for daily driving has one advantage and several drawbacks. The advantage is a slight increase in fuel mileage because you are decreasing the rolling resistance. The disadvantages are uneven tire wear, reduced traction, reduced handling, longer stopping distances, harsher ride, shorter tire life, and a higher potential for blowout if a piece of debris is run over.

I agree running anything over 40psi is just down right dangerous , knowing that there are people out there running at the tire's max pressure scares me. Don't you guys want to be safe and and considering we all drive suvs the rollover rate will increase if your tires are bad.

There are four contact points that touch the ground, YOUR TIRES!! A higher pressure will decrease its contact patch and like JDraper describes its BAD and just down right DANGEROUS!! GOING WITH anything over 35 in an suv tire is a no no[

 

[Glen4X4]

I usually run 35psi in our explorer's its been months since I checked, glad this was brought up

 

[Anime]

But see, I run mine over 40psi when going on long trips not just for the mileage, but to wear the tread at the center, to make up for all the wear at the edge of the tread from all that cornering in everyday driving. Seems to work ok.

 

[Essex4x4]

But see, I run mine over 40psi when going on long trips not just for the mileage, but to wear the tread at the center, to make up for all the wear at the edge of the tread from all that cornering in everyday driving. Seems to work ok.

Sorry buddy but i have had several tire manufactures including goodyear, and BFGoodrich oh and also my local tire shops including American Tire, California Tire, BigBrand Tire, and even Ford tell me on an all terrain tire on an suv that you should go no higher than 35psi for optimal saftey, and even tire wear

 

[CDW6212R]

JDraper, you are almost dead on correct, I agree with 99% of that. There is no magic pressure. Anime4x4, if playing with the pressure gets you better tire wear, that is the goal. But why not raise the pressure when you are in town to lessen the edge wear that you mentioned?

There is also no magic pressure which is too high. Essex4x4, that in the post above is crap, 35psi is not a limit for "...an all terrain tire on an suv..." usage.

The vast majority of people do not know that tires are available in many different pressure ratings/capacities. They are not designed to operate at the same pressure as all other tires, nor on all vehicles.

A 50psi tire is now common, those shouldn't be run at 25-30psi, the old bias ply type of pressures. The same is true for cheap 32psi tires now, they should not ever have 35psi in them.

The goal is to obtain the best tire wear, with the best acceptable fuel economy, plus safety and handling. The best pressures are different for all vehicles and drivers. Every application is different. A slow driver can run less pressure and not ruin the edges, opposite of an aggressive driver.

Vehicles with heavy front ends need more pressure in the front tires. That applies to almost all vehicles.

Always observe the MAX tire ratings on your tires when you buy them, or fill them for the first time. Try to keep the pressures below that when cold, don't set tire pressures when hot. Setting tire pressures should be done when they are cold.

Older vehicles typically have poorer suspensions and will wear the tire edges faster than newer vehicles. Try to set pressures to a couple psi under the max in front, and 2-4psi under that in the rear tires. That is a beginning guideline, not a magic setting. Observe vehicle handling, drive cautiously, and watch the tire wear very closely. With a new vehicle(bought) or new kind of tires, it will take thousands of miles to narrow down the proper tire pressures.

Don't blindly follow a book, or the door jamb tag, or anyone who isn't you driving your car. No one else knows how you drive better than you. How could anyone on Earth besides you know what pressures will be best for your vehicle and your tires? You should be the one authority for your best tires pressures. Regards,

 

[MustangP51]

I always thought that the Max pressure printed on the sidewall was well below the actual tires blow out pressure.

 

[X-North]

Company specs for Explorer first generation 1991-1994 are 32PSI for 2wd and 26PSI for 4wd. Thats all everything said.

 

[Anime]

Sorry buddy but i have had several tire manufactures including goodyear, and BFGoodrich oh and also my local tire shops including American Tire, California Tire, BigBrand Tire, and even Ford tell me on an all terrain tire on an suv that you should go no higher than 35psi for optimal saftey, and even tire wear

Well, sure, on most P-rated all terrains, 35psi is the max pressure, of course you shouldn't exceed that. But many XL and LT truck tires (not to mention high performance tires) have 40, 44, or 50 psi max pressure, and running them at 35 is usually much too soft and will give low mileage and uneven wear.

Keep in mind the "optimal" tire pressure varies with the weight of the vehicle, it's passengers, and it's load. 35psi might be fine for a 2 ton SUV with driver, but for a 3 ton SUV with 1000+lbs of passengers and cargo, higher psi with XL or LT tires means an easier time on the tires, and an easier time on the vehicle pulling the load. Higher pressure is what these tires are made for to deal with the extra loads they see.


Oh, and I usually run slightly lower pressures around town for both comfort, and performance, being the normal pressure gives the most tread contact compared to higher highway pressures when intentionaly inflating them to run more in the center of the tread...but not by much.

 

[JDraper]

I always thought that the Max pressure printed on the sidewall was well below the actual tires blow out pressure.

It is...it's the maximum recommended safe pressure to inflate the tires to when cold. Remember if you fill them cold, the pressure will increase as they warm up.

 

[Donner]

Well now...

Another tricky label... Ford recommendation in front, manufacturer for the rear. This is interesting...

 

[CDW6212R]

That label probably reflects their historic choices for the front tires, and the fear generated about the rear blow outs. IMO low tire pressure was the cause in all of the Explorer rollovers blamed on Firestone and Ford. Ford has a hand in that with those low factory recommendations. The result is smoother ride yes, but...

 

[joecrna]

Thanks CDW for your comments 3/29. Just a couple more factoids. Keep in mind, "Max" pressures printed on the sidewall are related to load range of the tire. All floatation (ie. 31x10.5) tires are rated at 50 psi. for a max load limit. Its common knowledge in the industry that the load limit will be higher and the tire will not blow at higher pressures but thats not what the federal standard says. It says they must be rated for load at 50 psi. What you should run in your tires is up to debate. The manufacturers recommendation is a good place to start. Its an average for the stated vehicle under its intended uses. Although this is often messaged (lowered) to improve ride. The manufacturer often uses lower front pressures than rear anticipating loading. Tire pressure also alters handling dynamics (over vs understeer), not really that important for the street except at extremes. Lastly, the size of the tire contact patch is only determined by two things. Not diameter or width (this determines shape) but the wieght applied to the tire and the air pressure in it. Lower pressure equals more traction at the expense of response, the side wall flexes more with steering input and side loading. Always remmember, underinflation is much more dangerous than overinflation.

 

[Lloyd10977]

I run 35psi all around with my Kumho Venture AT's. I love the handling and the ride is not bad on the highway, neither is the mileage. But some of the winter-worn local roads here in NY are a bit teeth chattering.

I check pressure bi weekly.

 

[Donner]

Anybody...

still runnin' these?? I had these at around 35 back in the day...