Trailer tire pressure for long trip

[nyer]

I have load range E (1500 pounds) tires on my pontoon trailer. They say the max pressure is 90 pounds. I bought a new one yesterday because one of them had dry rotted so I asked the tire store what pressure they thought I should run in them. He told me 70-75 pounds. I don't know what my boat weighs (20 footer with 50 horse)but the trailer also says to run the tires at 90 pounds. I only ever tow 2-8 miles to local ramps so I always ran 50 pounds and that seemed to work fine and I have had 1 blowout in 8 years on and old tire. However, this weekend I am towing down the highway at 65 mph for 3.5 hours. I am a little nervous because I have never towed it that far at those speeds. I have 2 spares and I checked and regreased the bearings. Most posts on here say to run the tires at max pressure, should I go with 90 pounds in this situation? It just seems like so much pressure so I'm hesitant to try it but I'm leaning towards doing it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

Ayuh,... Trailer tires should Always be set to the pressure stated on the sidewalls, Cold...

They're Trailer tires, Not car tires, run 'em at 90psi...

 

[nyer]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

I have been putting 32 psi or less in every other tire for the last 20 years, I thinks that created my high pressure trailer tire phobia. I will try to put 90 psi in the tires tonight, it's going to be scary but I think I can do it.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

The 90lbs. of air pressure is what supports the tire and reduces sidewall flex, which is what causes the heat build-up in the tire, leading to failure and blow-out. The air pressure is your friend!

 

[bigdee]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

The air pressure is your friend!

That is a good slogan.......I have always ran max pressure and never had an issue. I think it is human nature to get nervous about high pressure but tires are tires..not balloons!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

My gosh -- physics certainly must not be taught anymore since it doesn't take much thought to understand that without air a tire goes flat and can't support squat. With half the air it cannot hold the maximum load the trailer manufacturer specified. Trailer load capacities are specified at MAXIMUM pressure on the tire sidewall. The tires are designed to run at that pressure and load. Running 32 PSI on a 90 PSI tire on a trailer that is near maximum weight capacity should not result in a surprise when a tire blows.

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

I have been putting 32 psi or less in every other tire for the last 20 years, I thinks that created my high pressure trailer tire phobia. I will try to put 90 psi in the tires tonight, it's going to be scary but I think I can do it.

I have Load Range E tires on my Suburban and on my dual axle pontoon trailer. I run max pressure in all tires when towing. That's 90 psi on the trailer and 85 psi on the suburban tires.

 

[17rogue70]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

why dont you read the sidewall and follow the manufactures rated press for that tire .

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

Run 90lbs. you create heat at to low a pressure and that is the no. 1 problem with tire failure.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

I have Load Range E tires on my Suburban and on my dual axle pontoon trailer. I run max pressure in all tires when towing. That's 90 psi on the trailer and 85 psi on the suburban tires.

holy carp! 85 psi on a suburban tire? The best idea is to match your psi to the load, ESPECIALLY on a vehicle tire. If you aren't at the max rated load, you don't need to be at the max rated psi either. The tire is designed for a specific amount of sidewall deflection at max psi/load. If you have less load but max psi, you have reduced that deflection angle and compromised ride and traction.

In a vehicle, overinflation reduces your traction and control, and thereby also your braking ability. Keep in mind that while you are towing with a bumper hitch, the weight on the front tires is reduced. 85 psi is dangerous if you have that in front...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

In a vehicle, overinflation reduces your traction and control, and thereby also your braking ability. Keep in mind that while you are towing with a bumper hitch, the weight on the front tires is reduced. 85 psi is dangerous if you have that in front...

Ayuh,.... Load Range E tires are Real truck tires, 'n just like trailer tires, they need the pressure to do their Job...

On my pickup, the tires are at the max. pressure printed on the sidewalls... 85psi...

One winter, I threw on a set of Bridgestone Blizzacks,...
They're 35 psi tires, not really truck tires...
The truck drove/ felt like a Boat, all wishy washy...
It didn't take long, 'n I switched to Real truck tires...

 

[mike343]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

I have a tandem 6000 lb GW trailer, 3000 lb/axle. Tire sidewalls say 50 psi. These and predecessors alike. Why would I pt 90 psi in them

 

[NYBo]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

I have a tandem 6000 lb GW trailer, 3000 lb/axle. Tire sidewalls say 50 psi. These and predecessors alike. Why would I pt 90 psi in them

Um, you wouldn't. But the OP's tires and trailer placard both recommend 90 PSI, which is why he should run them at that pressure.

 

[burp]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

I have a tandem 6000 lb GW trailer, 3000 lb/axle. Tire sidewalls say 50 psi. These and predecessors alike. Why would I pt 90 psi in them

You wouldn't........and shouldn't........ Different tires with different load ratings. In order for the tire to carry the maximum weight that it is rated to carry, the air pressure needs to be set to that noted on the tire sidewall. Some tires indicate 50 PSI maximum pressure (load range C), others indicate 65 psi maximum pressure (load range D). In nyers case, the sidewall indicates 90 psi and needs to have that much pressure to handle the maximum weight that the tire is rated for. Anything less and the sidewall will flex excessively, generating excessive heat, bounce and sway.

....and the tires on my 2500 series Suburban run at 80 psi.......

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

holy carp! 85 psi on a suburban tire? The best idea is to match your psi to the load, ESPECIALLY on a vehicle tire. If you aren't at the max rated load, you don't need to be at the max rated psi either. The tire is designed for a specific amount of sidewall deflection at max psi/load. If you have less load but max psi, you have reduced that deflection angle and compromised ride and traction.

In a vehicle, overinflation reduces your traction and control, and thereby also your braking ability. Keep in mind that while you are towing with a bumper hitch, the weight on the front tires is reduced. 85 psi is dangerous if you have that in front...

It's a 2500 ( 3/4 ton ) and it has 16" , load range E tires ( as Bond O stated "real" truck tires ) NO bumper hitch, it's frame mounted class 4

That's maximum rated pressure and since the suburban itself is loaded plus pulling a 24' pontoon boat on a dual axcle trailer, I run at max pressure.

I've only towed this setup since 2008 for only about 7000 miles with zero tire problems ( I reduce pressure to about 65 psi for a "soft" ride )

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

I have 2 examples.
5.3x12 tires rated 80psi and they where loaded at 100%. Tire shop told me if I was wearing the centers of the tire to reduce inflation pressure. To get these to wear flat I had to run around 65 psi in a 80psi tire, I was loading the tire at 1,000 rated about 1050. The tire shop did say at the lower pressure I was less likely to damage tire if I hit a pot hole. I was in getting a tire replaced because I hit a pot hole and broke the casing.
Those tire I ran for several 1,000 miles at up to 60 mph on a hot day with no tire failure.

265/75 16 E tires on my pickup. I have a chart that says how much pressure to run for the load. I typically run the front tires at 65 psi (diesel, 4,300 lbs), the rear at 60 psi (no extra load, 3,200 lbs) and up to 80psi with my camper (6,000 lbs). In 50,000 miles no tire failures and I still have the orginal OEM tires. Still looks like I can get another 10k plus before I need new tires.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

some folks REALLY like to talk about stuff that has no bearing on the question..... Tire says 90..... trailer says 90....... the answer is 90..... doesn't matter what anyone's second cousin's, brother's, wife's, friend's car, trailer, or airplane runs in the tires.

 

[Titanium48]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

Load-inflation tables apply to all tires, but underinflation is worse than overinflation. Run your vehicle tires at or slightly above the pressure recommended by the manufacturer for the load you are carrying. Run your trailer tires at maximum pressure unless you know you are well below the load rating. Most boat trailers are right-sized or even undersized for the load, so they need maximum pressure. There can be exceptions though - if you bought a heavy junk boat for the trailer and then put a tinny on it, you are probably well below rated load and you might want to lower the pressure to make the trailer less bouncy.

 

[Philster]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

You can run the tires are max pressure listed on the sidewall or weigh your vehicle on a scale which measures load distribution to each wheel and axle before every trip or whenever the load changes (such as when you stop to fuel your trailered boat, or even the tow rig).

If you decide to inflate to the exact pressure based on the load reading from your million dollar scale setup, then you need a darn good pressure gauge.

Time and time again, tests show that it's better to run at max tire pressure. Everything from handling to braking are best; heat is lowest. You might see a slightly rougher ride (I mean, surely sometimes the tire would offer a better ride at something less than max pressure), but that's no the point here, because going too low makes all safety issues worse.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Trailer tire pressure for long trip

When I was a newbie I thought I needed to adjust the tire pressure according to the weight of the load. In other words, if the tire was rated at 1750 lbs (so two tires support a total of 3500 lbs) and my load was 2800 lbs, then I thought the air pressure would be okay at 80% of the max rated on the sidewalk. Wrong. Started out on a 220 mile trip, stopped after 20 miles to check things out and discovered tires and wheels were very warm. Inflated tires to the max pressure on sidewall and all was better. Have run max pressure ever since and all has been fine.