What PSI do you fill your trailer tires to: tire recommendation or other?

[RoLo]

7 hours ago, Fishing Rhino said:

Would you seek knowlege about your vehicle from tire manufacturers?

 

 

Not any more, they kept telling me to rotate vehicles every 15 months  

 

 

[crazyjoeclemens]

I inflate trailer tires to the pressure listed on the sidewall.  While checking your tire pressure, don't forget to inspect the rest of your trailer, too.  I just had a leaf spring snap on on my boat trailer on my way back from vacation yesterday.  Let me tell you, it is not easy to find a set of trailer springs in the middle of Kentucky.  If I had taken the time to pull the wheels off, check the hubs/bearings, and inspect the leaf springs for cracks before departure, I might have saved myself from an expensive tow bill.  Unfortunately, being in a hurry as usual, all I did was check the tires and give the bearing buddys a few pumps of grease.  Lesson learned!

[Andy Taylor]

I have a utility trailer that I use to haul kayaks. The tires say "Max load 990 lbs. at 90 psi". That sounds ridiculously high for my use. You guys are saying I should run them at 90 psi(checked when cold)?

 

They are 4.80-12 tires. 

[Fishing Rhino]

In a word, yes.  

[crazyjoeclemens]

So, here's the thing - optimal tire inflation depends on the tire and the weight of the vehicle that sits on them.  If you want to figure out the exact pressure, you need to use the chalk method described earlier in this thread.  If you don't want to use that method, the number on your sidewall is your best bet.  If you inflate tires to the sidewall number, the worst thing that will happen is you'll wear the tread off the middle of the tire a little faster.  If you just guess and underinflate the tire, you run the risk of having a blowout.  

 

In short, use the chalk method or inflate to the pressure listed on the sidewall - just don't guess.

[Glenn]

Bringing this up again because I've been asked the following question several times since Goodyear Endurance tires hit the market:

 

My trailer says 50psi MAX, but my tires say 65psi max.  Which is right?

[A-Jay]

I have to think it's a little hard for a trailer to know what tires are on it.

I go with what the tires require.

 Always prefer the tires to be able to perform at their best

and to be able to safely carry the top end of the tires load rating. 

Max PSI is the only way to do it.

Anything less - is less.

Checking them (COLD) prior to every trip is a solid practice.

A-Jay

 

[cyclops2]

The TYPE of tire construction AND tha ACTUAL weight on each tire is what I was told by Tech Dept engineer decades ago.  It vary a lot on a 6 hour interstate trip with no  or light weight boat.

I always call tire company. Tell sales what I want & they get a application engineer ?  to answer me.I have had tires go for over 40 years with field storage during winter. BUT  I have ONLY & ALWAYS used passenger car tires.  No surprise on the long life.   CALL company.

[MN Fisher]

Always to what the tire has marked on it.

9 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Checking them (COLD) prior to every trip is a solid practice.

That's how every tire - trailer, vehicle, bicycle - should be checked...the warmer the tires, the higher the pressure. Filling them to rated spec cold means they're not under-pressured when they're still cold when you start out...if you fill them to rated spec when warm, then they'll be under-pressured when cold.

[Bird]

Always go by the tires recommended PSI.

A common mistake many make regarding trailers whether it be boat trailers or RV is fear of running Maximum rated cold PSI.

You can't achieve the load rating and risk blowouts unless you do.

Oh, great tire choice, perhaps the finest trailer tire offered.

[Kirtley Howe]

I saw this mentioned in only one response to this subject, so I will say it again here.....

Always check the tire pressure when the tires are cold. Checking the tire pressure after you run down the road at 60mph is not going to tell you anything useful. And just waiting a few minutes after you pull off the highway to check your tire pressure is also pretty much useless. Your tires and rims will hold a higher temperature for much longer than you would suspect. 

Check the tire pressure before you start out for the day, and/or as soon as you come off the lake at the end of the day, and you will get accurate readings. 

I have a battery jump-box that I carry in my boat. It has a built-in compressor, so I can top the tires off right there. It can be a life saver. 

[MN Fisher]

I carry a small, compressor in the glove compartment. Plugs into the cigar lighter for power.

[A-Jay]

16 minutes ago, Kirt Howe said:

I saw this mentioned in only one response to this subject, so I will say it again here.....

Always check the tire pressure when the tires are cold. Checking the tire pressure after you run down the road at 60mph is not going to tell you anything useful. And just waiting a few minutes after you pull off the highway to check your tire pressure is also pretty much useless. Your tires and rims will hold a higher temperature for much longer than you would suspect. 

Check the tire pressure before you start out for the day, and/or as soon as you come off the lake at the end of the day, and you will get accurate readings. 

I have a battery jump-box that I carry in my boat. It has a built-in compressor, so I can top the tires off right there. It can be a life saver. 

In both my truck & trailer tires,

when checking PSI,

I've seen the tires sitting in the sun be considerable higher than

the side in the shade.  Something to think about. 

Accordingly, I prefer to check them in the garage.

A-Jay

[Dwight Hottle]

I was in the tire business with Goodyear for 15+ years managing several tire stores. 

@Glenn believe the tire manufacturer for advice on the tires care & maintenance. They are responsible for the warranty not the auto manufacture. Car dealers & manufactures will recommend air pressure to increase ride comfort at the expense of tire wear. They don't care if your tires wear out prematurely.  Maximum air inflation for any tire either passenger or trailer will give a stiffer ride because it stiffens sidewall movement & deflection. In the case of trailer tires they are usually rated as 4 ply, 6 ply or 8 ply. Load range B , C or D. The higher the load range or ply rating increases the maximum air pressure the tire is designed to carry. The same tire size increases the weight carrying capacity as they increase ply's.  

As already mentioned tires fail from heat build up. You can control the amount of heat build up by not under inflating your tires & purchasing the correct load range for the trailer. All trailer tires should be set at the maximum pressure stated on the sidewall to insure maximum performance. Air pressure should always be checked cold after sitting over night and before driving on them. The lower the tire air pressure the higher the heat build up. Overloading also increase heat build up. Boat dealers have been known to skimp on trailer specs including tire specs & axle requirements in order to reach a price point in the market. Especially on starter boat price points. Air pressure readings decrease about a pound for every 10 degree outside temperature drop. As a consumer you don't need to worry about air pressure build up when you set the pressure at the maximum recommendation on the sidewall except for gross overloading. 

[TOXIC]

Nice feature on my buddies 2019 Silverado is when he ordered it with the trailering package, he got 4 extra tire monitors to go on his boat trailer.  They show pressure and temperature right on the display screen in the truck. 

[TOXIC]

Here is his display.

[jbsoonerfan]

That's nice. I might can buy a 2019 Silverado in 2039 LOL

[MN Fisher]

Sounds like me - I'm still on my 2001 Silverado.

 

Course I turn 80 in 2039...might be past driving at that point.

[jbsoonerfan]

My 08 is paid for so I will drive it as long as possible. My wife keeps telling me to buy a new one, but not having a payment sure is nice.

[slonezp]

When the annual maintenance and repairs exceed a the annual car note, it's time to get a new one.

[cyclops2]

Replace trailer tires every 3 to 5 years. Mileage is not important .

 

Replace passenger tires every 3 to 5 years. 

 

Both tires can cause the same accidents.  Why do some trailer tires blow out so often ?Car tires so rarely. Both are on a solid rear axle and frame mounting .

 

There is a reason Trailers can & do use car tires.  On new trailers from trailer companies.

[TnRiver46]

Every time I ponder this question, I’m kneeled down next to my tire with an air hose……… so the answer I seek is printed right in front of me on the tire. (Sometimes in shockingly small font though) 

 

if the writing is wollered off your tire somehow, go with 40 or so and make a note to get another tire 

[gim]

I’ve always wondered what the PSI should be on my trailer tires too. There is not a recommended PSI. It only list max PSI.

 

My truck has a recommended tire PSI for the tires on the VIN sticker inside the door. The max PSI on the actual truck tire is not the same as the sticker inside the door though.

 

The sticker is what I follow for the truck tires. I’ve been keeping the trailer tires at max PSI since there is no recommended PSI.

[TnRiver46]

Ranger aluminum ? Single axle? 50-60 oughta do it 

[cyclops2]

Tires are ALWAYS inflated to the PSI stamped on the tire side. BEFORE THE TIRE IS DRIVEN AROUND.

 

 The door label is only for a tire with the same ratings as the new car tire.

Different rated tire ?  You always do the tire rated pressure.