2000xl_toronto

Hi Guys,

Just a question on tire pressures - what's everybody like? I've got a 2000 F150 XL short box / short bed absolutely stock. The previous owner had the tires filled to 40psi all the way around. I've kept it like this since I've had it and notice that in wet weather the rear tires break loose very easily (yeah I know it's a truck ) and also that the middle of the tires seems to wear faster than the sides most likely due to the increased pressure. I have been thinking about taking them back down to 32psi but I've heard it's better to have them pumped up for loading up the bed.

Comments will be appreciated

Kattumaram

I try to adjust tire pressure to get the best wear-pattern on the tread. In addition, how often do you carry a heavy load in the bed that might require a higher tire pressure? Not often I would suggest. So, I'd run the fronts a little above the manufacturer's recommended pressure and run the rears at the recommended pressure. If you intend to carry a heavy load, then pump the rears up a little. I run my 235/75R16 tires at 38 all around. The truck is a long bed and is carrying a rather heavy Leer custom topper....and a dam*d heavy tow-bar assembly.

dallyack

I run my front at 35 and rear at 32-33 if I'm not loaded. If loaded, you need to pump up the pressure to where the tires "look" normal but not any higher than the max pressure listed on the sidewall.

gritz

One way to get your pressures right is to do a chalk test. Just get some sidewalk chalk and color a 1 ft strip on your tire, drive it perfectly straight about 50 yards or so and then look at the chalk that has worn off. If it's all worn off in the center, then your presure is too high, if it's all worn on the sides, it too low. If the chalk wears off evenly, then you are probably good to go. What I usually do is find where the tires just begin to wear more in the middle, then take off 2-4 psi and run them like that. I can try and do a write-up if you need one because I have to dial in the pressure on my new tires here pretty soon.

2000xl_toronto

thanks for all the advise guys... I did the chalk test and settled at 35psi for everything - it does drive a little better now and I usually only carry about 500-800 lbs in the bed when I load it up. I put a bunch of stuff in and the tires looked about the same so I'll just make sure if I load her up a bunch to take a look and if they look like they're underinflated to pump 'em back up again

Darth Bama

35 psi is a good pressure for a stock wheel/tire combo. I still prefer to run about 32 in the front.

bdrey14

If the middle of the tire is wearing faster than the rest, that means the tire is overinflated...try backing it down to like 36 ish

dewman

All very good advice here. I will add my .02, it may also depend on what tire you are running as to what tire pressure to run. If you are running tires that are numbered this way: 265/75/15, then they are passenger rated tires and will probably drive fine at passenger pressures of 32-35psi. If you are running LT's, like 31x10.50x15LT, then they are light truck tires and may need a little more air pressure than passenger rated tires.

I run my 31x10.50x15 Yokohamas at 40psi, max pressure on the sidewall is listed at 50psi. If they are under 40psi, they look like they are low, and at 40psi, they look fine and they wear evenly across the tread.

Good luck!

dallyack

Just put Nitto Terra Grapplers LT325/60R18 also listed on the label as 33x13.00R18. The tire shop inflated them up to 40psi. I ran it like that for about a week on and off road and it drove me nuts, tooo bouncy. I've since dropped the fronts to 35psi and the rear to 33... much smoother on and off road.

20024x4

i have 285/75/16 mud tires and i run 35psi all the way around... they drive even but it might now be that way soon because i have warped rotors