NHTSA Complaint #10898221 — 2016 FORD F-350 SD

FORD DOES NOT ALLOW THE TPMS ALERT THRESHOLD TO BE REDUCED TO REFLECT AFTERMARKET TIRE PRESSURE NEEDS. I HAVE OWNED THREE SUPERDUTIES TO DATE, A 2011, AT 2013 AND NOW A 2016. ON EACH VEHICLE I HAVE BEEN RUNNING TOYO OPENCOUNTRY A/T TIRES ON THEM, AND THE PROPER TIRE INFLATION VALUE ON THESE IS WAY BELOW WHAT THE OEM MICHELIN TIRES COME FROM THE FACTORY. THE OEM TIRES ARE SUPPOSE TO BE INFLATED TO 65 PSI IN THE FRONT AND 80 PSI IN THE REAR. THE TPMS ALERT WILL KICK ON AT A SMALL PERCENTAGE BELOW THESE VALUES. THE TOYO TIRES ON THE OTHER HAND ARE SUPPOSE TO BE RUN AT 34 PSI, GIVEN THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE PROPER WEAR, BEST GAS MILEAGE AND PROPER SAFETY PERFORMANCE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR FIVE YEARS NOW TO FIND A DEALER THAT CAN ADJUST THE TPMS ALERT THRESHOLD SO MY WIFE DOES NOT HAVE THE TPMS ALERT INCORRECTLY ON ALL THE TIME. I HAVE HAD TO MAKE A COMPROMISE BETWEEN INFLATING THE TIRES PAST THEIR OPTIMAL LEVEL SO THE LIGHT GOES OFF SO SHE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TPMS ALERTING HER TO A FLAT TIRE, OR TO INFLATE THE TIRES TO THE PROPER LOWER LEVEL TO ACHIEVE PROPER WEAR. WHEN I HAVE INFLATED THE TIRES TO THE LEVEL REQUIRED TO TURN OFF TPMS, THE TIRES HAVE LITERALLY BEEN DESTROYED IN 1/10TH THE TIME AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. IN ONE CASE I MOUNTED NEW SNOW TIRES ON THE VEHICLE AND SHE TOOK A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP, PUTTING ABOUT 4000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES WERE INFLATED TO THE LEVEL FORD SAYS SO THE TPMS WOULD TURN OFF WHEN SHE ARRIVED BACK, THE REAR TIRES WERE DESTROYED. I NOW RUN THE TIRES AT TOYO'S RECOMMENDED VALUE AND TOLD MY WIFE TO IGNORE THE TPMS WARNING. FORD NEEDS TO FOLLOW THE OTHER MANUFACTURERS IN ALLOWING THE CUSTOMER TO CHANGE THE TPMS ALERT THRESHOLD. EVERY FORD DEALER THINKS ALL TIRES SHOULD BE INFLATED TO 65 PSI, WHICH IS ONLY APPLICABLE FOR OEM TIRES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.