I have 245/75 17 tires on my 2010.

When i bought it had 50 psi in the tire! Then i had a nail in one tire and they patched it and filed that tire to 50 psi.....


Is that what im suppose to run in my tires?
What are pros and cons of running that pressure?

They are the factory all terrian tires! Goodyear i believe.


thanks

 

you should run your tires at the recommended PSI, from Goodyear or a local tire shop. The sidewall has what the MAX PSI should be, it is not a bad thing to run at the MAX PSI. What load range are your tires? I am assumping P-rated tires?

 

This is just my opinion. There is not really an "official" pressure you MUST run at. It all depends on the circumstances. For instance, for everday driving, I go with the door sticker of 35 PSI. But when I'm pulling my camper, I increase the pressure in my tires to 40. I think it helps just a little to keep to the sidewalls in shape with the heavy load.

Either way, 50 is likely over pressured. Look on your driver side door for the manufactorer recommendation and on the side of the tire for the max PSI.

 

I have my tires at 50 PSI, but I also have an aftermarket E-Rated Tire. Look and reference what it says on the tire, not on the vehicle door. If its stock, then most likely it will match, but you should always go with tire manufacturer recommendation.

 

And, as said by earlier poster, the number on the tire is not the recommended pressure, but rather the maximum pressure.

 

Although the MAX PSI on the sidewall is a recommended PSI if the vehicle owner wants it that stiff. As said by another poster, its all about what the vehicle use is, if you are using your truck as a "truck" and hauling loads and towing and all that stuff, then the MAX PSI would be the recommended PSI.

 

Be very careful though - your PSI when you fill it up cold is not the same as the PSI when your tires heat up. As the air expands with heat, the pressure in the tires builds up. If you're at the tire's "max" when cold, heating it up could cause a blowout.

It happened on my old car. I filled the tires below maximum PSI listed on the tire. But then I took a road trip from West Texas to Florida in August. Needless to say, it was hot and the longer I drove, the more those tires heated up. 3 of them ended up busting the metal bands inside.

 

I run mine at the MAX perssure, measured when cold which is 44 PSI as per the tire. The door jam is the standard pressure for the OEM tires, and nothing else in case they are ever repalced.

I notice no difference in ride, the tires are not wearing any differently, and in theory, you will get better fuel economy at the higher pressure but I can't quantify that with all the other variables around.

I have the stock P rated, 20", on mine.

 

I run mine at 35 PSI, which is what Ford recommends


A lot of the times, tire shops will over-inflate the tires if they're serviced (patched or newly installed) to help seat the patch or seat the bead. They usually tell you "Hey there's 50 PSI in your tires; run that for a few days, then lower it back down to the pressure you want them at". At least they have with me anyway

 

Unless you are hauling a really heavy load 50 PSI is not a good idea. Heavier load range tires can handle a heavier load usually also with a higher max PSI rating but they don't require a higher pressure when the trucks empty.

The number on the door is the OEM tire size that is true. However unless you drastically change the tire size the PSI needed won't change that much. Now when you increase the PSI in the tire you are actually decreasing the contact surface area of the tire with the road. This will reduce handing especially in water and ice/snow.

For an example if the truck weights 5500# and you have 35 PSI in the tires the contact surface per tire should be about 3.27 square inches per tire. Now if you have 50 PSI in the tire your contact surface would be reduced to 2.29 square inches to support the same weight. I know the construction of the tire will not make the above numbers exactly what touches the road but the concept is correct. You will really get about a third less contact surface with 50 PSI in the stock size tire. That is why as you increase load you can increase the pressure to keep the same contact patch and side wall deflection. Your limit though is the max pressure on the side wall of the tire.