How to Put Air in Ford Truck Tires

Find the recommended tire pressure for your Ford truck. Open the driver's side door and look inside the door frame, near the front of the truck, for a sticker that lists information about your particular model. It will tell you the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle. If your tires list a different amount, stick with the Ford truck manufacturer recommendations. Usually the number printed on the tire is the maximum psi, not the ideal pressure. Tire pressure should also be adjusted when towing or when hauling a heavy load. The recommended psi will also vary from the Ford recommendation if your truck has tires that are a different size than the ones the manufacturer put on. General Ford tire pressure recommendations are 30 psi for Ford Rangers, 40 psi for the Ford F150, and for the Ford F250 it is 60 psi for the front tires and 80 psi for the rear tires. If you are towing, hauling a heavy load or doing a significant amount of off-road driving, be sure to consult the owner's manual for the psi recommended for the way you are using your truck.

Check the tire pressure. Before adding any air, find out what the tire pressure is. This should be done while the tires are cold, before you've done any driving. If you do it after driving, the air will have warmed up and it will be impossible to tell the actual pressure. To check the pressure remove the valve cap and place the tire pressure gauge firmly over the valve stem. Make sure you press it straight down and not at an angle to get an accurate reading. Look at the number on the gauge to determine the pressure. If it's not within 1 or 2 lbs. of the recommended pressure, you need to add or release air.

Add air. With the air compressor already turned on and ready, or the air supply at the gas station turned on, place the air hose firmly over the valve stem, pushing straight down just as you did with the tire pressure gauge. Some air hoses don't have a trigger handle and will start adding air as soon as engaged with the valve stem. You will hear the air entering the tire. If it has a trigger handle, you will need to squeeze the trigger to add air. Watch the tire while adding air. You might be able to see it fill up, or lift a little bit. Only add air for about eight to 10 seconds at a time, then stop, check the pressure, and add more air if needed. It's better to add air in small amounts than to accidentally over-inflate the tire drastically.

Double-check the tire pressure and replace valve caps. After adding air, check the pressure one last time to make sure it's right. If you've mistakenly over-inflated it, push in the pin in the center of the valve stem to release some air. Usually the back of the tire pressure gauge will have a small nub designed for this purpose. If you need to add additional air, do so, and then double-check the air pressure. Finally, put the valve caps back on. They are important for keeping dirt out of the valves.