Trailer tire inflation settings

[wbc1957]

I don't seem to understand why people choose to make a case for a one size fits all mentality, when it just doesn't work that way. Case in point the weight of vehicle or trailer. Sorry, not apples versus oranges people. Using max inflation isn't a universal rule in trailers. Just because one major brand chooses to avoid legal issues, doesn't make them right by their rule of max inflation (Carlisle). See the inflation chart attached. Additionally, I ask anyone to take the time to google proper inflation for trailers and see just what the sites state. Then decide.

http://www.goodyear.com/rv/pdf/rv_inflation.pdf

Challenged and answered.

 

[dazk14]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

You're still comparing apples and oranges. The OP was running a rig darn near maximum load ability of the tires and wanted a specific tire inflation pressure and you provided automobile babble, while you offered no specific psi value , which was the question asked.

Then you remark that a large national trailer tire manufacturer is wrong and you come on here and offer RV babble in an apparent effort to get boaters to lower their tire pressures under normal circumstances - a very dangerous game.

The primary reason RV'ers lower tire pressure is human COMFORT. Trailered Boats don't carry people, nor delicate china and it's 1 in a hundred boats that actually wear out the tread - unlike RV's.

Higher pressures also lowers rolling resistance which minimizes wear and tear of the tow vehicle - a biggie - while keeping the sidewall stiff helping to minimize trailer sway - another biggie.

Again, the simple fact is most boat trailer tire failures are a direct result of under-inflation.

Under normal circumstances, trying to run the psi at the bare minimum is a fools game. What if you hit 70mph, or it's a very hot day, or you've got a slight flat spot from sitting, or you've underestimated the weight of your loaded rig - which is VERY common - do you feel lucky today??

 

[wbc1957]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

Obviously you failed to see the sizes of the tires in the chart I provided. It clearly shows ST or Special Trailer service tires. RV babble? Yes sure you are so informed! I also checked history on this subject with iboats. Once again my issue was spot on. Failing to cover your position shows you have none.

 

[dazk14]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

Obviously you failed to see the sizes of the tires in the chart I provided. It clearly shows ST or Special Trailer service tires. RV babble? Yes sure you are so informed! I also checked history on this subject with iboats. Once again my issue was spot on. Failing to cover your position shows you have none.

Ok, sure...You win...I guess it's time to close up my boat shop.

Just an fyi to forum members... The attached RV charts are available for ALL tires and those charts show "tire load limits at various psi inflation" NOT "Recommended tire pressure for a given load".

There is a big difference between "Limits" and "recommended", and as stated in my previous post... There is a big difference in needs between a boat trailer and a Custom Coach.

I'll repeat, under normal boat trailering circumstances, running your trailer tires at max side-wall pressure will yield the safest overall result.

 

[rrhodes]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

I'll repeat, under normal boat trailering circumstances, running your trailer tires at max side-wall pressure will yield the safest overall result.

Only in cases where you have exceeded the load rating will running at max pressure become an issue. Also remember that it is not just the weight of the boat and gear but the trailer itself. I run Load Range E tires and always run them at Max pressure with no issues.

 

[wbc1957]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

Ok, sure...You win...I guess it's time to close up my boat shop.

Just an fyi to forum members... The attached RV charts are available for ALL tires and those charts show "tire load limits at various psi inflation" NOT "Recommended tire pressure for a given load".

There is a big difference between "Limits" and "recommended", and as stated in my previous post... There is a big difference in needs between a boat trailer and a Custom Coach.

I'll repeat, under normal boat trailering circumstances, running your trailer tires at max side-wall pressure will yield the safest overall result.

More like the easiest way to be safe! The cost is more wear to the center of your tires due to possible over inflation. The tire manufacturers put the max inflation rate on the tire to cover themselves, and prevent overloading. They don't care about underloading! Also, they don't know your setup, be it one, two, or three axles. They don't know your total weight. That's what you, the owner is to figure out and adjust on your own set up. As stated by others who believe they are the only ones in the know, the easiest way is to not bother, and just run max inflation. You can lose wear on the tires due to underloading your set-up. Basing your decision on how the boat dealer or random trailer package your boat ended up with, is a poor excuse. Sure, it's the easiest method, and one that leads to countless stories of bad tires, bad bearings, and premature trailer failure. True, nobody is supposed to be riding back there, but the trailer tire inflation is meant for the correct load weight for various reasons, and comfort wasn't the reason.

 

[ultra_1968]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

OP here.

I was really just wanting to know where to begin to find out Max PSI, never really intended to start a huge debate. To those of you who have shared knowledge, thank you. I now know where to find the PSI on the tire (mine is a 50lb max), and have several good arguments set forth as to why or why not to keep tires filled to max PSI.

I'm not a car/motor/tire kind of guy, so I look to the knowledge of others to help me out in my areas of ignorance...and I try and recipricate in the world when I can share my areas of knowledge. I'll probably pull my boat 12-15 times a summer, and it's usually less than a 100 miles, so for me (being uninformed and a newbie), dazk14's comments and reasoning seem to be a good fit. But to each their own.

Once again, thanks.

 

[JB]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

Publishing charts that list the degrading of tire load capacity at less than maximum inflation in no way (in my view) offers those under inflated pressures as recommended for less than maximum loading.

I have always run ST tires (once I "discovered" that car tires are poison on boat trailers) at max pressure, regardless of load, and have never had the treads wear out on center. That is not over inflation, it is correct inflation.

Discussions of RV tires belong in a different forum. This one, and this thread, is about boat trailers.

 

[wbc1957]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

Publishing charts that list the degrading of tire load capacity at less than maximum inflation in no way (in my view) offers those under inflated pressures as recommended for less than maximum loading.

I have always run ST tires (once I "discovered" that car tires are poison on boat trailers) at max pressure, regardless of load, and have never had the treads wear out on center. That is not over inflation, it is correct inflation.

Discussions of RV tires belong in a different forum. This one, and this thread, is about boat trailers.

The chart references the abbreviation RV due to trailer tires being for recreational use, hence "RV". You know, as I do, that ST on the tires sizes means special trailer service. So the RV issue holds no water, sir.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

Feel free to inflate your tires as you see fit, nobody is going to convince you otherwise. I've been towing boats, deckovers and car trailers for more miles than I would care to count and I'd never run anything less than full sidewall pressure on ST tires even when the trailers are empty.

 

[wbc1957]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

Feel free to inflate your tires as you see fit, nobody is going to convince you otherwise. I've been towing boats, deckovers and car trailers for more miles than I would care to count and I'd never run anything less than full sidewall pressure on ST tires even when the trailers are empty.

+1. Operator's choice. The sidewall only says the maximum, not "recommended" inflation. I choose to follow load conditions.

 

[dazk14]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

The chart references the abbreviation RV due to trailer tires being for recreational use, hence "RV". You know, as I do, that ST on the tires sizes means special trailer service. So the RV issue holds no water, sir.

I get it. You want to play a game of semantics with JB's phrase, "Discussions of RV tires belong in a different forum. This one, and this thread, is about boat trailers."

You keep trying to make the apples to oranges argument stick.

Let me help you with your thinking...we'll rephrase....."Discussions of ST tires in the RV world, belong in a different forum. This one, and this thread, is about boat trailers".

Hope that helps.

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

Well since that chart says the max speed ratings as well, I bet you follow that to the letter as well.....the speeds at which you tow at greatly effect tires as well. Should we start a seprate post for that debate, do we schedule a selected time and date?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

Well since that chart says the max speed ratings as well, I bet you follow that to the letter as well.....the speeds at which you tow at greatly effect tires as well. Should we start a seprate post for that debate, do we schedule a selected time and date?

Please don't. I'll admit right now that I regularly exceed 65 with ST tires - about 5000 miles in the last calendar year. Not ideal, but I can't bring myself to run 65 across ND and MT

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

Please don't. I'll admit right now that I regularly exceed 65 with ST tires - about 5000 miles in the last calendar year. Not ideal, but I can't bring myself to run 65 across ND and MT

Oh so that was you passing me on Hwy 10 last year, I'll be on the lookout for you.....lol

 

[wbc1957]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

I get it. You want to play a game of semantics with JB's phrase, "Discussions of RV tires belong in a different forum. This one, and this thread, is about boat trailers."

You keep trying to make the apples to oranges argument stick.

Let me help you with your thinking...we'll rephrase....."Discussions of ST tires in the RV world, belong in a different forum. This one, and this thread, is about boat trailers".

Hope that helps.

Since you have no real position, sure jump on JB's remarks. You are so upset it's obvious! And nice try, by the way, but ST still stand for special trailer service tires, which is the type of trailer tires we all use on our boat trailers. They made a full chart covering many tire applications, including trailers, but you just can't accept it unless they make it down to your reading level.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

Since you have no real position, sure jump on JB's remarks. You are so upset it's obvious! And nice try, by the way, but ST still stand for special trailer service tires, which is the type of trailer tires we all use on our boat trailers. They made a full chart covering many tire applications, including trailers, but you just can't accept it unless they make it down to your reading level.

Just for curiosity sake, what kind of experience have you got towing trailers? Few miles at a time, hundereds, thousands? Usually I just look back at folks post history to try to judge experience, knowledge - but this seems to be the only techinical topic you've ever expressed an opinion on. Just trying to figure out if you have some real experience with this or are just screwing with people.

 

[wbc1957]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

Just for curiosity sake, what kind of experience have you got towing trailers? Few miles at a time, hundereds, thousands? Usually I just look back at folks post history to try to judge experience, knowledge - but this seems to be the only techinical topic you've ever expressed an opinion on. Just trying to figure out if you have some real experience with this or are just screwing with people.

I have worked in the tire industry for 54 years, and owning a trailered boat for 34 years, thank you very much. Plus, I can read. Maximum inflation means maximum inflation, not recommended inflation.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

wbc1957, maybe you are right but without data or documentation your just another person with an opinion. I supplied some quoted documentation from Carlisle on another post that was contrary to what you have been saying.....I would like to see you produce something to prove your point.

 

[2300max]

Re: Trailer tire inflation settings

Can't we all get along!!!