Tire PSI advice straight from BFGoodrich

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CCuzj100

CCuzj100

Joined
Sep 16, 2016
Threads
7
Messages
32
Location
NorCal
Ok people, first of all Id like to establish that I own a 2000 Toyota Landcruiser UZJ100 with OEM 16" wheels.

Secondly, I ***n love this forum and since buying my rig, Ive been able to get all my answers except the PSI for my new BFGoodrich TK02 275/70/16's

Ive seen ppl state as low as 32PSI and as high as 60PSI, so I just contacted BFGoodrich.

They advise 50PSI up front and 55PSI ppl!!! so all of you idiots who were saying ppl are crazy to fill up to 60PSI, go read a book ;)

We dont drive 1000 pound civics with s***ty tires at 35PSI, the max psi is also 80 not 60!!!

Attached the email I received from the BFG team since im sure there will be idiots who argue just to argue.

Argument over, proper PSI is 50-55 on road of course.

IMG_1919.webp
 
:popcorn: Interesting. When I run larger, off road tires on a vehicle (have since the late 70's), for highway use- I air them up until the full tread pattern is in contact with the surface of whatever I'm parked on. A level concrete pad works pretty well. Then I see what the pressure is and remember that for future reference. I think I'll see what 50/55 psi looks like. It seems kind of odd to pressure the rear up more than the front unless the LC is loaded.
 
Nicole at bfg has voiced the mfgr recommendation and that was kind of her.

Of course bfg communicates recommendations that decrease their liability to a minimum.
 
Sounds like that post was written by an attorney following the advice of an engineer, auto-generated by a software person, initiated at 3:00 am by a call center in India. Yep, experts top to bottom.
 
I just had some KO2's installed (on my all stock 100) and talked for about 10 minutes with a couple of the tire guys. I asked them what PSI are they going to fill them with and they said 50psi. I was a bit surprised because of all I read about guys running 35psi for road/highway. I was concerned about a harsh ride at 50psi. When I questioned them, I was firmly rebuked and told not to run less than 50 or else I'd risk bad wear at least and, at worst, tread separation or loss of control. They were pretty annoyed with me for even asking.

I thought 50psi was going to be real rough, because of what I read, but now that I've been driving on them for a few weeks, 50 seems perfectly fine. The ride isn't harsh, the tires look like they have good contact. I don't see a reason why I'd air down to 35psi.
 
I had 50 psi in my 285s and brought it down to 40 and like the ride much better much too harsh at 50 but to each his own.
 
I'll weigh in. I'm currently working for one of the big three tire manufacturers as a territory rep, albeit for commercial tires. I know enough about round and black to say that her recommendation (while maybe correct from a legal standpoint), may not hold true for your vehicle.
That tire's specs show MAX capacity at 3,000 lbs with air pressure at 65 psi. Anything under 65 psi and you effectively reduce the carrying capacity of the tire. Not dangerous, unless you overload it. At 55 psi, this tire's max load drops to 2,680 lbs, and at 50 it drops to 2,535. Even if you go all the way down to 35 psi, the tire can still handle 1,955 lbs.
Let's look at a 2000 Land Cruiser, weight-wise. Curb weight is 5,115 lbs, gross is 6,860. You shouldn't exceed gross weight (most of us do though). For a stock cruiser, 275/70R16 load range D BFG A/T KO2's at 35 psi is plenty, unless you have an obscenely fat driver. That works out to 7,820 lbs of carrying capacity at 35 psi...almost a thousand pounds more than your max gross vehicle weight rating. Although at 35 psi, you'll probably have a squatted tire with excessive shoulder wear.

Moral of this story is, if you want to get real technical about your psi and load ranges, go find a scale and weigh your cruiser. Otherwise, do what others here have mentioned: inflate the tire so that the tread evenly contacts the ground. We're not driving 18 wheelers...tire life & even tread wear is more important than getting a few more pounds of capacity.

***Oh, and the reason she picked 50 psi for front and 55 psi for the back...factory recommendation! She is basing her choice on what the vehicle's Standard Load P275/70R16's could carry at the factory spec of 29 & 32. It crosses over in the load and inflation tables. This may not be the pressure that gives the best ride or wear, but the one that gets them in the least amount of trouble should some tire-related liability come up.***
 
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WingNutLG said:
I'll weigh in. I'm currently working for one of the big three tire manufacturers as a territory rep, albeit for commercial tires. I know enough about round and black to say that her recommendation (while maybe correct from a legal standpoint), may not hold true for your vehicle.
That tire's specs show MAX capacity at 3,000 lbs with air pressure at 65 psi. Anything under 65 psi and you effectively reduce the carrying capacity of the tire. Not dangerous, unless you overload it. At 55 psi, this tire's max load drops to 2,680 lbs, and at 50 it drops to 2,535. Even if you go all the way down to 35 psi, the tire can still handle 1,955 lbs.
Let's look at a 2000 Land Cruiser, weight-wise. Curb weight is 5,115 lbs, gross is 6,860. You shouldn't exceed gross weight (most of us do though). For a stock cruiser, 275/70R16 load range D BFG A/T KO2's at 35 psi is plenty, unless you have an obscenely fat driver. That works out to 7,820 lbs of carrying capacity at 35 psi...almost a thousand pounds more than your max gross vehicle weight rating.

Moral of this story is, if you want to get real technical about your psi and load ranges, go find a scale and weigh your cruiser. Otherwise, do what others here have mentioned: inflate the tire so that the tread evenly contacts the ground. We're not driving 18 wheelers...tire life & even tread wear is more important than getting a few more pounds of capacity.
Click to expand...
This is the correct way to closely estimate tire pressure. And no ones going to get it perfect, just because there are so many variables. It's simply a factor of weight to psi, going off of the manuf ratio. I personally run my KO2s (load range E) at 38 front 40 rear, then I bump it up a few psi for long highway trips.

OP, considering the email mentions nothing about the intended vehicle for the tires to be run on, I am assuming that is their general Psi number they give out for retaining some carrying capacity while not sacrificing all ride comfort. Is Nicole a trusty source? Heck, I used to run my 3/4T pickup (same tires) with 50 psi front/ 55 psi back. Let's step back and think about this logically before calling us idiots.
 
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Bottom line is that there is no "perfect" psi. Anything from 35 on up is fine.
35 will give you a nice smooth ride at the expense of increased rolling resistance and decreased fuel economy.
Max psi will give the opposite.
Higher psi definitely will increase the likelihood of getting stone punctures on dirt roads because the tire doesn't flex around the sharp object as well.
 
Since I have been called an idiot before I think that qualifies me to represent on the behalf of idiots on this forum and idiots not related to this forum on the topic of BFG tire pressure. I have decided based on the information that was posted by the OP that he has qualified for our honorable position of Chief BFG Tire Pressure Idiot. This gives him the privilege of calling anyone an idiot that is not running the specified tire pressure in a BFG tire. In the event of a surprise pressure check finds you in violation you will be issued an idiot citation and be asked to change your pressure immediately.

All in fun of course!:) Have a good weekend
 
You probably didn't get an answer because, as you can see, this is such a debatable topic. Everyone on this forum has an opinion but are also super helpful and nice (look at all these awesome posts above). Calling other members idiots, drinking the garbage BFG told you, and then posting it with such finite only makes you the idiot. Stating that you love this forum doesn't give you a pass. Just my opinion ;)
 
OP said the population of ih8mud members that voiced concern to those who filled tires to 60 psi are idiots based on an assertion from a bfg employee who clearly reported factual data. Maybe im an idiot but he showed his source and it appears you can inflate that high if you feel the need which is contrary to what was incorrectly represented as factual by other members.

Gotta cover your assertions!
 
Like we haven't been doing right for 19 years or something. Thank goodness this dude-che showed up on the scene to end the argument that's been keeping us up all night for the better part of two decades and been responsible for so much death, destruction, and premature tire wear. Phew. I'll sleep better tonight, even on my 35 PSI Nitto's...
 
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