ModMech
Platinum Member
Personally, if I have a choice, 16" for any trailer with a GVW over 5K although you can get LT or XL tires in the 15" rim size that for a set of 4 will get you WAY over 8K with a good safety margin.
In my experience, heat is the BIGGEST factor in tire failures, yes even with the Exploders
How do you get heat in a tire? Pavement temperature and sidewall flex. In TX where blacktop temps can easily reach 140*F you are starting out at a big disadvantage even empty. Add a little under inflation relative to the load, and a little speeding and you have a receipe for disaster. Others have also mentioned this in different ways.
The inflation pressure for ANY tire depends on THREE FACTORS:
1) Load
2) Speed
3) The TIRE Manufacturer's recomended inflation
Increasing #1 and #2 will also increase the needed air pressure in the tire, increasing both #1 and #2 at the same time will REALLY require more air in the tire(s).
ALL tire manufacturers have "Tire load and Inflation Tables" for each tire model they make. Obtaining this information is quite difficult unless you have a much better than average tire dealer/distributor.
In my experience, heat is the BIGGEST factor in tire failures, yes even with the Exploders
How do you get heat in a tire? Pavement temperature and sidewall flex. In TX where blacktop temps can easily reach 140*F you are starting out at a big disadvantage even empty. Add a little under inflation relative to the load, and a little speeding and you have a receipe for disaster. Others have also mentioned this in different ways.
The inflation pressure for ANY tire depends on THREE FACTORS:
1) Load
2) Speed
3) The TIRE Manufacturer's recomended inflation
Increasing #1 and #2 will also increase the needed air pressure in the tire, increasing both #1 and #2 at the same time will REALLY require more air in the tire(s).
ALL tire manufacturers have "Tire load and Inflation Tables" for each tire model they make. Obtaining this information is quite difficult unless you have a much better than average tire dealer/distributor.