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.