Tire pressure on a Ford Explorer?

[techs]

I just bought a used 1999 Ford Explorer XLT. Due to the whole rollover/Firestone tire problems I wanted to make sure my tire pressure was correct.
On the drivers door where it is usually posted it says (I may not have the abbreviation correct) kPa 26 lbs.
So do you think its 26 psi? Doesn't that seem low?

 

[Sundog]

Look at the sticker on the door jam (drivers door). If it says 26 psi, it means 26 psi.

 

[mugs]

kPa = kilopascal

 

[Goosemaster]

26psi seems low....


didn't they tell people to lower their PSI on purpose to balance the vehicle....which in turn blew out the tires at high speed?


<---forgot

 

[Eli]

26kpa couldn't be right, that'd be like 5psi.. lol

 

[boomerang]

You could inflate them to the maximum pressure as indicated on the sidewall of the tire. This would probably be a pretty harsh ride. I'd say 30 to 32 should work just fine.

26 does seem low.

 

[Sundog]

Originally posted by: Eli
26kpa couldn't be right, that'd be like 5psi.. lol

3.77 psi

 

[Cristatus]

whoa...that seems high if I'm using the right units. I filled my mom's tires recently, and they said 21psi for a 4 door saloon (not a Ford Explorer).

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Sundog

Originally posted by: Eli
26kpa couldn't be right, that'd be like 5psi.. lol

3.77 psi

meh, I was too lazy to actually do the conversion, lol.

 

[dug777]

Ask Jack Bauer

 

[imported_sling]

I own a 1999 Explorer...I think some of them got a new sticker after the tire debacle, I'll send u a PM with what the updated placarded tire pressure is. The 26psi was the reason for the roll overs imo, since the tire mfg. recommended higher pressures to avoid blowouts, and ford posted a very low tire pressure to off set their top heavy SUV. Firestone took the brunt of that, but Ford was completely at fault in my book.

I BELIEVE that it's 32psi, but I'll check for you when I get home.

 

[drum]

look at the tires. it should tell you on the tire. I bet it is 32

edit: sling sucks

 

[iamwiz82]

30psi is now the recommended pressure for Explorers.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: drum
look at the tires. it should tell you on the tire. I bet it is 32

edit: sling sucks

The pressure on the door plaque is better to follow since that is accurate for the weight of the vehicle.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: drum
look at the tires. it should tell you on the tire. I bet it is 32

edit: sling sucks

You are incorrect. The PSI rating on the side of the tire is the maximum pressure. Remember that the tire does not know what kind of vehicle it's mounted on.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: sling
I own a 1999 Explorer...I think some of them got a new sticker after the tire debacle, I'll send u a PM with what the updated placarded tire pressure is. The 26psi was the reason for the roll overs imo, since the tire mfg. recommended higher pressures to avoid blowouts, and ford posted a very low tire pressure to off set their top heavy SUV. Firestone took the brunt of that, but Ford was completely at fault in my book.

I BELIEVE that it's 32psi, but I'll check for you when I get home.

After searching the web it indeed seems they were recommending the 26psi. However that is what stressed the Firestones and caused tread separation.
But they recommended the 26 because of a danger of rollover at the originally tested 35 psi.
So much of the web seems to recommend 30 as the best balance between tire safety and rollover prevention.
I look forward to your pm.
thanks.

 

[PHiuR]

inflate to maximum and back it down a few lbs. what I would do if I diddn't know the proper pressure.

 

[Eli]

lol....

I wonder how many people are driving with their tires inflated to what the sidewall says.

:Q

Scary.

 

[MaxFusion16]

I run on 36psi, but then again I drive a celica...it gives better mileage and is more responsive, but easier to loose traction.

 

[Bassyhead]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: drum
look at the tires. it should tell you on the tire. I bet it is 32

edit: sling sucks

You are incorrect. The PSI rating on the side of the tire is the maximum pressure. Remember that the tire does not know what kind of vehicle it's mounted on.

Actually, the pressure of a tire pretty much stays the same regardless of the load imposed on it (ideal gas law). You can try this sometime, check the pressure of a tire after its jacked up. The pressure would only change if the volume did, and tires are not very elastic.

The ratings stamped into the sidewall of a tire are the maximum pressures a tire can withstand safely. The ratings printed on a vehicle sticker on the inside door jamb or glovebox are manufacturer recommendations based on how they tested the vehicle. These ratings are for the *original* style tires that came stock with the vehicle. Using ratings other than the manufacturer recommendations can lead to anything from improper tread wear to blowout. The vehicle may not handle as safely if manufacturer recommendations are not followed (ie rollover hazards or loss of traction).

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: Eli
lol....

I wonder how many people are driving with their tires inflated to what the sidewall says.

:Q

Scary.

More sad than scary.

 

[imported_sling]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
The pressure on the door plaque is better to follow since that is accurate for the weight of the vehicle.

that was the problem with the Explorers, they lowered the recommended pressure to make the ride more forgiving and make them harder to roll over. The recommended pressure on the door jam is what you use if you want to see what a blow out followed by a rollover looks like. I've had a few of those Firestone Wilderness tires from that time period, and they had no issues, of course, I inflated to the recommended pressure on my truck, which was withing the range recommended by the tire manufacturer. Ford put some stiff suspentions on these things, and I think that the below spec recommended psi was a bandaid for the poor safety of their design, and a cheap one too, just let some air out and blame the tires when they separate.

EDIT: I don't suck, at least not during the week.

 

[Muadib]

Firestones take on the recall. I had a 97 XLT, and also thought that 26psi was too low, and always had mine at 31/32psi. I had gotten almost 60k when I replaced them. Firestone recalled them about 2 weeks later.:disgust:

I still don't see how people flipped them, but then I had the AWD model.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

<---97 Explorer.

Door says 26. too low.

Tires says 34. So 34 it is.

 

[NascarFool]

It probably says 226 kPa (32 PSI).