Proper Tire Inflation Pressure?

caissiel

Senior Member
I bought a double ended digital tire gauge at Camping World. It was a bit expensive but It suits me very well.

My 10 Year old unit wore out and I truely missed in the trip.
 

PUG

Pug
Airing to 74 at 32 degrees, the tire will be at 80 lbs within a few miles of driving. I have documented this with my TST sensors. Airing to 85 at the charts higher temp isn't overinflating and will return to 80 pds at 65 degrees. True as you say you should run 80 at all temps but who wants to adjust pressure everytime you go to a different climate, not me. Keeping the tires within about 5 pds at all temps works for me. If you want to get really technical you should also adjust for low to high altitude.
 

lwmcguir

Well-known member
I agree. Set the pressure at the maximum noted on the sidewall when the tires are cold and get on the road. 99% of folks do it that way when you are loaded >75% of the tire capacity.
 

jnbhobe

Well-known member
My tires were set at 107 to 109 psi cold this year, I seen them go as high as 127 psi when running on the highway.
 

JohnDar

Prolifically Gabby Member
I fill my trailer tires to 110 psi cold (means they haven't been on the road for a day) and the truck to the placard pressures (66 front, 60 rear). Use a trucker's blade style gage to check them and leave it at that. If I have to start running a NASA computer program to check air pressures at different temps, phases of the moon, inches above sea level, etc., I'll sell the rig.
 

caissiel

Senior Member
I inflated my truck tires at 75PSI as the placard indicates and when the trailer is on the hitch the rear tires are at 80PSI cold.

The trailer tires inflated at 110PSI cold gauge pressure will indicate 110 PSI at 70F and 114PSI at 35F as TMPS readings.

The hawkshead TPMS calibrate the tire to 70F. So that at 35F I should have inflated them at 106 PSI so they may be 110PSI at 70F.

When traveling the pressure was as high as 124PSI. I had started at 110PSI at 35F so I was already overinflated at 114PSI at 70F. So 10PSI increase while the air heated up inside the tire.
 

porthole

Retired
Proper tire pressure with 2011 Ford DRW's.

Don't know if it is unique to the 2011 truck,s by I had nothing that could fit properly on the inner tires to check pressure. I will be buying a new pressure gauge but was surprised that I had nothing in the toolbox that worked.

I had to remove the outer wheels to set the inner tire pressure, that is when I found out I had a flat inner. Never would have known had I not decided to check the dealers service.

The TPMS which typically was only on the truck during trips is now a standard item.
 

JohnDar

Prolifically Gabby Member
That's kind of strange, Duane. At least on my GMC, a two headed truckers gage works. Straight head for the inner dually and the angled one for the outer tire. It's a little touchy with the gated rubber stems, but no real problem.
 

porthole

Retired
John, the stems are metal, so not at all flexible. They have the type of caps that are "self sealing" eg they allow air in but seal the stem.
With them on I couldn't get any of the chucks I had on. And it is almost impossible to remove the inner cap. I plan on ordering a gauge from with replaceable heads.

It was also a PITA to get the TPMS sensors on. The TST sensors use a tool to tighten the sensors to the wheels, an "anti theft" feature.
There is no room on the Ford aluminum wheels (made in china BTW) to get the tool on the sensors.
 
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