Trailer Tire PSI?

[boaterinsd]

Re: Trailer Tire PSI?

You need the 80 PSI or the tires will run hot and fail. At 55 PSi too much sidewall flex = heat.
The air carrys the load.

This is a very good point. We have to remember the tire rotating at road speed and flexing the whole time. Also it would be more prone to sway and wobble at a lower pressure. I think sidewall labeling is the best answer.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Trailer Tire PSI?

tire pressure on the sidewall is for the max load. It is not the pressure YOU have to Run.
Tire wear will tell you some. and how much your trailer bounces and sways, changes lanes when you hit a bumb and so on.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Trailer Tire PSI?

This is what the manufacturer says:

MAXIMUM PSI?

Carlisle Tire recommends and only warrants tires maintained @ the max air pressure while in service.
Maximum load range is attained only when the tire is at its maximum air pressure. There is no

advantage to taking air out of the tire. With maximum pressure, the tire will perform and wear better, and you
will get better gas mileage. Reduce the psi, and you compromise the functionality of the tire. This is the
position that we take on this.

There are ultimately three keys to avoiding tire trouble while towing: (1) Make sure your rig is

equipped with the proper tires; (2) Maintain the tire meticulously; and (3) Replace trailer tires every

three to five years of service, whether they look like they?re worn out or not.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Trailer Tire PSI?

(Maximum load range) is attained only when the tire is at its maximum air pressure. and weight of trailer.
MAXIMUM.

SIDE NOTE

Look at your sidewalls on your pick up.ALSO
it gives mininum and max for loads.???

 

[Andyfender]

Re: Trailer Tire PSI?

The boat weights around 800 lbs. On the trailer itself it stated 1045 = 70psi.

 

[not enuf toys]

Re: Trailer Tire PSI?

SIDE NOTE

Look at your sidewalls on your pick up.ALSO
it gives mininum and max for loads.???

that is completely different. passenger tires and light truck tires are speed rated and treadlife rated. not only are the compounds softer as the tires are required to hold the road better, be quiet and last longer miles, but they are also a big part of the suspension (softness or strength) of the ride and vehicles abilities. car/trucks have 4 tires that split the load. if the car weight is 3500 each tire is holding less than 900 each and usually has a weight limit of 1500 to 1800 lbs thus not reaching max load for the tire (which is usually a radial tire) so the car/truck manufacture states (based on its numbers of weight and performance) where they want the tire pressures to be.

a trailer tire is made speciffically for a trailer. to first; carry a load that is usually closer to its limits when being used....without overheating and failing. the side walls would have to be 8 ply to be able to support the weight with less air...thus causing additional weight to the trailer and overheating....again failing. the second; is to be able to support the weight of the trailer when not in movement, which for most regular trailers (non commercial) is the majority of the time. trailer tires do not get flat spots as commonly as passanger tires and light truck tires WHEN PROPER AIR PRESSURES ARE MAINTAINED.

call a spade a spade and a trailer tire a trailer tire.

IMO - keep the tires at recomendation ~ that is what the manufacture of the tire is stating to do. they made the tires, if they wanted you to do anything else they would say so! that being said i have seen a trailer tire with air pressure reccomendations per loaded pounds...

 

[not enuf toys]

Re: Trailer Tire PSI?

now with me just saying that, on small tires (like little utility trailers that empty weigh less than a couple hundred pounds) i understand airing down with ZERO load in them - keeps the trailer from bouncing around - how ever they overheat really quickly so any load in the trailer equals airing back up - or you could just leave the darn things alone where the manufacture tells you to and call it a day )

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Trailer Tire PSI?

Guys you have to inflate based on load and tire wear.
I have a tire/load chart for my 16", 10 ply tires on my truck and I run 50 psi in the rear in the winter empty and 80 psi summer when I have my camper on. This is per the tire inflation chart that came with the pickup. I now have 50,000 miles on the original tires. The front tires stay at 65 psi because for the load I follow the chart. These are 80 psi tires. The tires are not wearing the center or the sides. I really think trailer tires are very similar. Inflate to the load you carry and do not adjust unless you like to for an empty trailer.
Like I stated I ran over 5,000 miles with 5.3x12 tires at 65 psi at max load 1100 lbs per tire, no tire failures expect for when I hit the pot hole. At higher pressure I was wearing the centers out of the tires. These tires where rated 80 psi, a tire shop told me they would not run 80 psi in a C rated 5.3x12 tire I have to agree based on my experience.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Trailer Tire PSI?

the real reason people don't air up to the max is because the 25c air pumps won't get them that high, at least not in 20 minutes time.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Trailer Tire PSI?

Read the tire sidewalls, it tells what your should do. Max /min.
DONE.
I have towed trailers from MI to Ca. of all size from utility to 10,000lb, believe Me.
PSI rating on trailer tires is not all the same. sometime More Somettimes Less.
Depenping on load.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Trailer Tire PSI?

Andy you are fine. First post.
Sometimes we stray from the first Post.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Trailer Tire PSI?

now with me just saying that, on small tires (like little utility trailers that empty weigh less than a couple hundred pounds) i understand airing down with ZERO load in them - keeps the trailer from bouncing around - how ever they overheat really quickly so any load in the trailer equals airing back up - or you could just leave the darn things alone where the manufacture tells you to and call it a day )

Amen........max pressure won't hurt a thing....lowering pressure is a crap shoot so why gamble? If you run Carlisle brand tires you have NO choice because they will not honor the warranty if you run below maximum pressure so that ought to tell you something. Tire wear on trailers is minimal and Carlisle recommends that you replace every 3 years regardless of wear. Personally I have never worn out a trailer tire and I always inflate to the max. I have not noticed my empty trailer bouncing and even if it does, so what?

 

[bowman316]

Re: Trailer Tire PSI?

most people are used to tires having around 35 PSI. But trailer tires are different.
Hell big rig tires take 100 - 110 PSI.

Just get used the the idea that trailer tires need a whole lot more PSI than car tires.
80 is perfectly normal for a trailer, they design those tires to be heavy duty and take the extra PSI.
they have extra steel inside the rubber.