trailer tire pressure

[sailor55330]

For those of you who tow, what pressure do you run in your trailer tires? One school of thought is that always run at max, which is usually 50psi on st tires. Maxxis, a leading manufacturer of trailer tires actually publishes an inflation chart based on trailer weight. Many will say that you should go with the max to avoid heat build while others say why do that? You don't run your truck tires at max....but rather adjust PSI based on load.

Just a curious thought.

[NautiGirl]

We run ours a bit under the max number on the sidewall.

You know what's more important than tire pressure? Tongue weight. If only someone had a scale you could use to calculate yours. Wait...I think I know a guy that may have one up for sale in just a few short weeks. Don't worry I will keep you updated on pricing and availability.

[thunder550]

I run mine at max as well.

[Big Block Power]

Run mine at max. On your vehicle it's set from the manufacture for the best ride and handling and other factors the manufacture wants.

[Bfun220]

Run mine at max also.

[Tuscany]

The reason tires on trailers seem to blow easily is pretty simple.. They’re junk.
To make the situation worse, trailer manufacturers will max profits by mounting the tires that are at the very limit of their weight carrying abilities.

What I have learned:
Most trailers are sitting on nearly maxed out tires to begin with. Add your personal stuff, and you are over the limits, and then at some point..boom.
Buy a tire that gives you lots of extra weight rating, inflate to the suggested PSI, and make sure you respect the tire speed limitations.
After 5 years, toss them out, no matter how much tread is left.

If you have a trailer with rubber ride torsion suspension, it’s imperative that the trailer rides down the road level, because that suspension system does not equalize the load between the axles. If you are dipping down in the front, the front tires will bear more load.

Personally, I run E rated tires at 80 psi.

[Big Block Power]

I'm switching over to the Goodyear Endurance this year. I think the max psi is 65. Max speed is like 85mph. I'm sure we all are going past the speed rating on those Goodyear Marathons. Check that out.

[Tuscany]

I'm switching over to the Goodyear Endurance this year. I think the max psi is 65. Max speed is like 85mph. I'm sure we all are going past the speed rating on those Goodyear Marathons. Check that out.

That’s the best!

[thunder550]

Resisting urge to rant about trailer tires......ugh....

[Ytmsn]

I learned a long time ago from a good friend with hundreds of vehicles and pieces of equipment in his fleet. On the tire sidewall the pressure is shown that THE TIRE MANUFACTURER says is the optimal pressure form the tire to lerform. THEY engineered and designed the tire, not the vehicle or trailer manufacturer. It drives me nuts when I get service done like an oil change and some goofball decides he knows better at what my tires should be. That usually means he lets air out...

Whatever it says on that specific tire is what I run. It was engineered for it! Just my .02.

[hoghead54]

The reason tires on trailers seem to blow easily is pretty simple.. They’re junk.
To make the situation worse, trailer manufacturers will max profits by mounting the tires that are at the very limit of their weight carrying abilities.

What I have learned:
Most trailers are sitting on nearly maxed out tires to begin with. Add your personal stuff, and you are over the limits, and then at some point..boom.
Buy a tire that gives you lots of extra weight rating, inflate to the suggested PSI, and make sure you respect the tire speed limitations.
After 5 years, toss them out, no matter how much tread is left.

If you have a trailer with rubber ride torsion suspension, it’s imperative that the trailer rides down the road level, because that suspension system does not equalize the load between the axles. If you are dipping down in the front, the front tires will bear more load.

Personally, I run E rated tires at 80 psi.

I have to agree with Tuscany. If your running just"adequate" tires your flirting with disaster.They will carry your boat or whatever down the road but if you threw a bunch of extra toys and whatnot in because your meeting extra family/friends then if you hit something...pot holes/road debris suddenly your missing 1 or 2 tires if that happens and things really go south your boat may be in the ditch just MHO.

[Ytmsn]

Oh I agree totally with what Tusac said. My point is more to someone with a three quarter ton truck running 35 pounds of air. Or someone that universally runs 33 pounds in cars, trailers or whatever because that's the "standard".

My little pew pew car is a hybrid and the tires I have should have 44 pounds. They let air out every freakin time when I get my oil changed, even when I tell them not to!

[hoghead54]

Oh I agree totally with what Tusac said. My point is more to someone with a three quarter ton truck running 35 pounds of air. Or someone that universally runs 33 pounds in cars, trailers or whatever because that's the "standard".

My little pew pew car is a hybrid and the tires I have should have 44 pounds. They let air out every freakin time when I get my oil changed, even when I tell them not to!

I'm guilty of that....if I run more than 35 psi in the tires on my 3500 without a load it runs the center out of the tread so I end up with half bald tires.

[2ridgebacks]

I guess I do things a bit differently. The tire manufacturer builds a tire for a purpose and load and determines a max tire pressure based on that(and other things). The car/truck/trailer mfgs. source a tire that meets the criteria of the vehicle that it will be installed on. Simply put, the correct tire pressure is dictated by the tire manufacturer, the size of the tire, and the load placed on that tire. PSI= pounds per square inch. The more square inches at the same pressure will support more weight. The more PSI at the same area will support more weight. The profile of the tire where it meets the ground is dictated by the above. Too much pressure and the center bears more weight. Too little and the shoulders bear more weight.
On a passenger car, you can go by the sticker on the door/trunklid/doorjamb, etc. as a reference on correct tire pressure. The reason being that cars typically do not vary much with regard to loading. Having said that, if you, the family, and all of your crap load up for a cross country trip, you should likely raise the tire pressure accordingly.
In a truck, and I'll use mine as a good example, loads can and do change drastically under normal use. It is also common to change tire size (mine are 35X12.50 or whatever the metric equivalent is) and that can greatly effect the tire pressure. As the load goes up given the same size tire, the pressure should go up to carry the load. If the load exceeds the max for the tire, failure is certain.
A trailer is no different.
Having said that, I shoot my tires with an infrared gun. I take three readings across the tread. All readings should be similar. I went up a couple of pounds on my Fusion only because of the low profile tires pinching sidewalls. At the increased pressure, I see a slightly higher center temp. This is indicative of excessive pressure for the load. On my truck (F250 diesel, CC, 8 Ft bed, 4X4) I run 48 in the front and 36 in the rear when empty. At those pressures, the temps are even and the treadwear is excellent. I do not get any of the center wear that hoghead mentioned. If I am going far with a load or with a heavy trailer, I raise the pressure.
I had a good spirited disagreement with my mechanic. His son jacked my tires up to 70lbs when it was in his shop. He went for a drive after and advised me the steering box was getting loose and the truck was all over the road. After driving the truck for a couple of days, it dawned on me to check the pressures. All four at 70+! There wasn't any tire on the road. I went back to him and discussed it. I insisted that he go for a ride. I shot the tires with the infrared then lowered the pressure. I let him drive back and shot them again, even all the way across and he admitted that it was driving much better. He's a friend of the family and an honest mechanic, so I don't think it was shenanigans on his part.

[Big Block Power]

Yes buy watching your tires tread wear tells you everything of you don't have a temp gun. If you're wearing your center bring down the pressure a few pounds. If your wearing the edges bring up the pressure a few pounds.
So I ordered balancing beads today,tpms sensors that read temp as well for my new tires and rims.Can't wait to see this upgrade.