E-Series VansTechnical discussion of topics related to vans powered by any of the Navistar engines. This covers a broad number of years, but there isn't enough demand to split it any further.
Some have given a very scientific method using a chalk line on the tire and seeing how it wears off. Sounds like it works but you'll have to do a search for the exact procedure.
Too complicated for me, so I run 60/60. That has been satisfactory, and I have no strange tire wear.
I believe you can do a search and get the chalk method so I won't describe it.
The lazy way will work, but you might get just a little tire wear from it. Basically you already know what is too high. I recomend dropping 5 pounds off and going from there. One thing to remember is that the front tires most likely need more pressure up front if you have the diesel. Once you lower the pressure go for a drive. What you want to figure out is if the truck corners as well as it needs to, and if the ride got better. If you need to lower pressure again you need to first walk around the van and look at all the siewalls. If there are scrub marks going up the sidewall that means you are rolling the tread while driving. This is bad and you need to add air. Some of the 1/2 ton trucks do this even at max pressure. But I feel they are undertired, so it is a judgement call. I don't think the sidewall will handle the scrubbing for very long and usually go up two steps to be safe.
The above is completely subjective. The less air in the tire the more it flexes. The more flex it gets, the more the belts inside heat up. This is the reason some thing ford was wrong in lowering the pressure on the explorers. And if you get the pressures right for how you normally load it, make sure you air up the tires if you use it to haul or tow a load. Tires at a too low pressure will go back to rolling onto the sidewall, and will give a wishy washy feel while pulling a trialer.
Most likely even if you ran max pressure you would not get even tread wear. So playing with the pressures to get the ride you will hopefully be close. But once you get that you want to watch the tire tread and make sure it is wearing evenly. Too much pressure generally pushes the center of the tread into the road more than the edges. Too little pressure gets the edges without the center. This is explained in detail in the chalk method. Basically using the chalk you are looking for how the chalk wears off the tread. So in a few hours you can find the ideal pressure. With my method it could be weeks or months till you are sure the tread is wearing ok.
Thanks for the info. I will try the chalk when the roads dry out. When I bought the van (used) it was at 45psi all around which is to low in my opinion. 60psi all around seems more reasonable to me.
tom
97E350 v10 cause i couldn't find a psd for 15k.
i have run 60psi front and back on this van and the last, never had a problem, van is carrying about 1,500 in weight, i go to 80 psi if loaded to max. always get 50k out of tires or so.
good luck,
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'99 e-350 psd super cargo,viper, remote start, tinted, more to come
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'06 navigator,4x4, ultimate, black/grey interior.
'99 e-300 turbo diesel benz, silver, wife s ride
'77 450SL benz in the family since new.
'06 gmc 3500 dmax/allison, cc, slt. black/dark pewter int.
'91 350sdl turbo diesel benz
'06 mazda 6, daughter s ride.
'89 560sl benz, it s official, i m outta room in the driveway.
I run 60 front & 70 rear as my van is work vehicle that weighs 8800 lbs.
I've been running Goodyear Wrangler GSA'S for 4 years this way (245/75r/16 load range E).
I get about 50,000-55,000 miles on a set of these tires w/ no strange wear.
Tires are rotated every 5000 miles.
My 16" wrangler tires say 80psi max and ford recomends 70psi
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2001 E-350SD PSD Chateu wagon(VLB1). AIC, 3.55LS, WD Chip, EGT , Trans Temp Gauge, Amsoil Air Filter, Walker straight through muffler NRA Member, Tuna Fisherman (I throw the marlin back). First Diesel and love it. Take a kid fishing today!
I have 99 E350 PSD, Regular length with every Ford option, including the rear storage bins and the bulkhead divider, service vehicle style.
I drive a far amount of interstate miles, 60,000 miles in 2 years. I have the Goodyear Wrangler, stock treads from Ford. I criss-cross rotated them the first time at 20,000 miles. They just started to show some wear out of the usual. I also took it to a dealer to have the alignment check. That was a $160 trip. They put in adjusting cams that are not installed at the factory, or so I was told. It has been great ever since. I just rotated them the 2nd time at 60,000 miles.
At the rate they are wearing, I expect to go at least to 80-85,000 out of them. I carry about 1500 lbs all the time, and have had as much as 3500 lbs. I have 65 lbs of air in the fronts and 60 lbs in the rear. The tires positively look great, they actually look like they have about 30-40,000 miles. I attribute alot of interstate miles to the longevity, but still, if they go that far, I think it is pretty darn good.
Good Luck Gentlemen!
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'99 E350 Service-Type Van, with all options available. 3.55-LS, Tach, Trans-Temp & Pyro in Gaugeworks pods.
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