Trailer tire pressure?

[wilnis]

Hi-I bought a WW Bumper pull horse trailer in 2010, it had 15" wheels and Carlisle tires. I pull to Arizona from Iowa each winter, and back in the spring. I switched to Hi-Run tires but not good tread wear and 65mph limit supposedly so I bought 16" wheels and put LT Firestone Transforce 235/85/16 tires for this year's trip. Trailer has two 5000# axles, dry weight is 4500# and loaded is approx 7500#. Looking through the posts I'm not sure what I should do with the pressure. Those tires are on my Duramax at 245/75/17 size and pressure recommendations on door jam are 50 for front and 80 for the rear. Do I do 80#, which I think is the recommended max on tire wall, or somewhat less. I won't be going over 70, weather is cool usually, roads are interstate most of the way. Any guidance is appreciated, I do pull locally but only about 50-60 miles at a time at 65# air pressure, but the trip to Az is 1600miles and we do straight through pull. Thanks-Bill

 

[Soundguy]

i follow tire recs.. not door post recs....

 

[Diamondpilot]

This is a tough one. As you noted you started with Carlisle's. They are junk and should be outlawed in my opinion. Then it sounds like you went to a Bias Trailer Tire. Again, being in the trailer business I am not a fan but some swear by them. Now you have Truck LT tires on it. Me personally would go with max pressure for the trip or maybe 70 psi, no lower. But with all that said I would have to see the rig and then watch the tires after some miles.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

am i the only guy that runs correct load rating trailer tires on a trailer?

I see other peoples trailer with (P) passanger series tires on them..

 

[JIGBUILDER]

Trailer tires operate in a different invironment than a tire on a truck.

RvSafty.com says this;
Note: Towable Travel Trailer/ 5th Wheel owners Due to the sever use conditions experienced by tires when axles are very close together tire industry experts recommend maximum (sidewall) inflation pressure for towable tires unless this causes a sever over-inflation situation (20psi+), often referred to as the 礎asketball effect? If this is your situation allow a 10 15psi safety margin above the minimum required inflation pressure.

Goodyear also recomends max pressures in a tire on a trailer;

Goodyear Tire and Rubber .... weighing RVs
Special Considerations

Unless trying to resolve poor ride quality problems with an RV trailer, it is recommended that trailer tires be inflated to the pressure indicated on the sidewall of the tire. Trailer tires experience significant lateral (side-to-side) loads due to vehicle sway from uneven roads or passing vehicles. Using the inflation pressure engraved on the sidewall will provide optimum load carrying capacity and minimize heat build-up.

Edit;'tire on a truck'

 

[adjusterr]

check the sidewall of your tires and inflate to the recommended PSI. Be sure to use a quality tire gauge and check pressure on cold tires. I started checking tires and tire pressure really carefully after something flew past my window while pulling a trailer of antique motorcycles down I-95, it was the fender off my trailer. Made it to the shoulder but bought all new tires at next city. All tires looked good, no dryrot, lots of tread, proper inflation, not overloaded.

 

[texasjohn]

I look at sidewall max pressure and typically inflate to 5 or so lbs under the max, thus allowing pressure increase when hot. Also, pay attention to pickup tire pressures, same algorithm. I use load range E light truck tires, generally.

 

[yelbike]

When i had my tahoe the vehicle rating plate indicated 35 psi probably came from the factory with p rated tires. I put on a set of lt e rated tire which max psi was 80. I ran them at 70psi. But the tire shop and mechanic shop both told Me i was running way too much pressure. I ran them at 40 psi after that just to appease them both. Not saying its right, but thats what i did.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I have had a lot of experience going through trailer tires on my fifth wheel camper...
It takes a 15" D rated 225 series tire...
I have had better luck with E rated tires that have inflation pressures up to 80#...
The D rated tires spec to 65#...
My rims state a max inflation rate of 75# so that is what I inflate to...
So far so good...
On fifth wheel campers, IMHO, most blow outs occur to overheating during the summer months and under inflation...
ST tries have a max speed rating of 65 mph I think...
Lots of fifth wheel campers utilizing 16" rims have been very successful utilizing LT tires instead of St tires...
They take the higher temps when pulling at higher speeds in the summer...
Personally, if and when I trade fifth wheel campers, I will get one with 16" rims...
As far as a utility trailer is concerned, I don't pull over 55 mph so I feel that a good trailer or ST tire would work OK...
These Chinese tires suck...
I know from experience...
Inflate to max specs and don't speed...
You should be good to go...
My dad just purchased two new 14.5" tires for a home made utility trailer...
Those suckers cost over $200...
Nothing is cheap anymore...

 

[Bird]

When i had my tahoe the vehicle rating plate indicated 35 psi probably came from the factory with p rated tires. I put on a set of lt e rated tire which max psi was 80. I ran them at 70psi. But the tire shop and mechanic shop both told Me i was running way too much pressure. I ran them at 40 psi after that just to appease them both. Not saying its right, but thats what i did.

It's been 20 years ago, but I know at least a couple of manufacturers who said to never run less than 80% of the rating on the tires. Forget what the door post number shows. So with 80 on the tire, you were good at 70; could go as low as 64, but to run then at 40 is probably just asking for a tire failure.

 

[yelbike]

It's been 20 years ago, but I know at least a couple of manufacturers who said to never run less than 80% of the rating on the tires. Forget what the door post number shows. So with 80 on the tire, you were good at 70; could go as low as 64, but to run then at 40 is probably just asking for a tire failure.

I think i just had the wrong tires really. LT E rated on a 1500 tahoe was overkill. I wonder if the low pressure led to early tread wear as I wasn't impressed with the wear. I got about 60-70km out of Good year dura track. 265/75/16.

 

[Bird]

I think i just had the wrong tires really. LT E rated on a 1500 tahoe was overkill. I wonder if the low pressure led to early tread wear as I wasn't impressed with the wear. I got about 60-70km out of Good year dura track. 265/75/16.

Probably right. In the early '90s, some 3/4 ton GM pickups and suburbans came with some Uniroyal tires rated for 80 psi and door stickers for 50 psi. The ones I saw had bubbles on them from the rubber separating from the cord. Even though Uniroyal said it was from running them underinflated, we were allowed to warranty them.

 

[Turbys_1700]

My F350 dually 4x4 crew takes E rated 16" tires...
Max inflation is 80#...
I typically run the fronts @ 70# and the rears @ 50#...
Unloaded @ 80# all around will jar your teeth...

 

[timswi]

It's been 20 years ago, but I know at least a couple of manufacturers who said to never run less than 80% of the rating on the tires. Forget what the door post number shows. So with 80 on the tire, you were good at 70; could go as low as 64, but to run then at 40 is probably just asking for a tire failure.

I had the opposite problem...My truck had GoodYear Eagles that GMC said to inflate to 30psi...The dealer inflated them to 40 after a warranty wheel replacement and all 4 centers started wearing off before I noticed it...Deflated to the door sticker and the wear stopped..This was most likely aggrevated by the fact that my tires are almost a foot wide. Sometimes the guys that built the truck know the numbers....I never follow the max sidewall pressure on anything and I've never blown a tire in my life....I follow OEM instructions--give or take.

 

[Bird]

I've never blown a tire in my life....

Fortunately, tires have improved so much that actual blowouts are rare now; they do happen, but not nearly as often. I've only had 2 in my life; a right rear on a '56 Merc doing over 100 mph in '58 and a left front on a '66 Chevy doing over 100 mph in '66.

 

[Ojonesy]

Quick note...
I definitely don't see many trailer tire problems as there were years ago.
Maybe because when they let go, there is nothing left to inspect after you pull off the highway.
Carlisle is a good brand.
Bias seems to last longer than radials.
Many people either over-load the trailer and or under pressurize the tire.

Brian

 

[Diamondpilot]

Quick note...
I definitely don't see many trailer tire problems as there were years ago.
Maybe because when they let go, there is nothing left to inspect after you pull off the highway.
Carlisle is a good brand.
Bias seems to last longer than radials.
Many people either over-load the trailer and or under pressurize the tire.

Brian

Boy, you must work for Carlisle. I maintain about 75 trailers and they are by a long shot the worst. The newer Goodyear Marathons are not any better and bias tires bring on a whole other set of problems.

On our trailers we run Greenball Towmasters or Maxxis along with a few sets of Gladiators. All in radial with quality metal valve stems, tires balanced, and ran at max inflaton with no issues. All are changed after 6 years of service no matter the miles unless they wear out earlier. Average trailer gets 5,000 per year and during long layups they are placed on jack stands unless empty.

These are all 10,400# to 25,000# gvwr trailers with the vast majority being tandem and tri axle 6,000# Dexter and Alko equipped axle trailers.

Chris

 

[Bird]

Quick note...
I definitely don't see many trailer tire problems as there were years ago.
Maybe because when they let go, there is nothing left to inspect after you pull off the highway.
Carlisle is a good brand.
Bias seems to last longer than radials.
Many people either over-load the trailer and or under pressurize the tire.

Brian

Bias last longer than radials? I assume this is a typing error?? The exact opposite has been true as long as I can remember.

 

[firedog]

am i the only guy that runs correct load rating trailer tires on a trailer?

I see other peoples trailer with (P) passanger series tires on them..

+1
I run load rated (greenballs) on my trailer (80psi)

 

[Turbys_1700]

Boy, you must work for Carlisle. I maintain about 75 trailers and they are by a long shot the worst. The newer Goodyear Marathons are not any better and bias tires bring on a whole other set of problems.

On our trailers we run Greenball Towmasters or Maxxis along with a few sets of Gladiators. All in radial with quality metal valve stems, tires balanced, and ran at max inflaton with no issues. All are changed after 6 years of service no matter the miles unless they wear out earlier. Average trailer gets 5,000 per year and during long layups they are placed on jack stands unless empty.

These are all 10,400# to 25,000# gvwr trailers with the vast majority being tandem and tri axle 6,000# Dexter and Alko equipped axle trailers.

Chris

I got to say that the Greenball's and Maxxsis are by far the best that I put on my 30' fifth wheel...
Numerous blow outs with the Carlisles...
I've got both in radials on my camper now and have not had any issues...