Rick S.

Try 50 lbs. The OEM Michelins ride very well at 50 lbs. I was surprised as my Focus Michelins give you a pretty hard ride at close to max pressure but the C-Max rides very nicely (most people don't notice and that includes my wife). Paul Jones, the C-Max guru over at the 'other' C-Max forum, says he gets his Michelins to 60k miles and could go further but if winter is nearing he gets new ones. My Focus is very sensitive to tire pressure in terms of mileage and it's frustrating when the garage techs decide to 'properly' inflate them for me. They tell you the car 'rides better', which is true, but you lose a lot of mpgs.

Set my tires at 50 lbs. Ok by Michelin, called the 1-800 number (the max is 51 lbs). There's a reason they put the limit at 51 lbs...and why Ford used those tires (to reach the EPA mileage numbers!). Been doing it for decades with all my cars (Fords). Look at the tire and put it just below the max. If the ride is too hard then back off a little. Huge difference in gas mileage (rolling resistance). The car placards aren't tire specific (how could they know what tires you have?). I know if my tires are low: if the car rolls slightly in the garage before I start (neutral) then it's OK. If it just sits there, check the pressure and inflate as needed. Have a hand pump - very easy to do. It's always in the car in case a tire deflates I need to try to get to a repair place and today it's hard to find pumps any where. And that toy Ford put in your car to inflate your tire is a joke and not worth the weight even. If I'm going a long distance I carry a spare tire on a wheel ready to go with a jack, etc.