single axle trailer tires

[gunnin4six]

I know I am close to my max load rating (1750/tire), but I would think that there is a little factor of safety in that rating calculation.

[natetnc]

both of mine look like the '09 US model, hopefully they will work. putting 50lbs in each right now, the tires seem to have a bit of bounce to them when i hit uneven spots in the road, is this normal. i am new to trailers, please excuse the newbie questions.

[DougPhillips]

So does everyone inflate to the max pressure? I thought that was just for safety.

[AirTool]

P.S. on the DOT and NHTSA. There is a form on one of their websites where you can fill in the data for a tire failure. They keep track of that ... and if the numbers are high enough... start an investigation.

On tire pressure, I recommended looking up the inflation pressure for your load on the tires data sheet and keeping it at that pressure or maybe 5 psi over. More pressure just increases stress on the tire and the inpact load and decreases the tires flexibility.

You should have your boat weighed on a truck scale with and without the tow vehicle. Cost is about twenty dollars.

[DavidF]

I use Greenball Towmaster II's inflated to the maximum (warm) pressure indicated on the tire. I have said it before: Any tire, no matter the manufacturer can fail if not treated properly or is just plain old. What happens often with trailer tires is that they are neglected or simply fail from old age. The trailers most often sit out in the sun for years and years and might fail from dry rot. Owners are upset that a tire with apparantly no tread wear fails. Go figure.

[P-hat_in_Cincy]

So does everyone inflate to the max pressure? I thought that was just for safety.

My trailer placard states to run 65psi cold, which is the max pressure (cold) for max load (2,540lbs) of the Marathon 225/75R/15 D tires. So, I run 65psi.

[P-hat_in_Cincy]

What happens often with trailer tires is that they are neglected or simply fail from old age. The trailers most often sit out in the sun for years and years and might fail from dry rot. Owners are upset that a tire with apparantly no tread wear fails. Go figure.

I can agree to some point, but not in my case(s). My boat is stored in my garage on a concrete floor (I guess tires can soak up moisture if stored on grass). Most off-seasons the trailer is supported on jack stands. 1st failure was on a tire maybe 2 seasons old. Latest failures in '08 were on '03 tires (boat was bought and started use in late '05).

[Andrew]

When storing over winter, it would be highly beneficial to put the trailer on blocks or jackstands to prevent dry rot and flat spots that can damage a tire.....

[NCH2oSki]

I had the tire installer use nitrogen on my new trailer tires this year, I also upgraded to load class E instead of D. 2750lbs load capacity at 80LBS. They tow very nicely. Aprox $85.00 each installed with N2.

[NautiqueJeff]

What is the benefit of using nitrogen? Never heard of doing that before.

[SkiTower]

What is the benefit of using nitrogen? Never heard of doing that before.

Nitrogen is supposed to make the tires last longer. My uncle works for Michelin and his minivan was a guinea pig for a while.

[AirTool]

What is the benefit of using nitrogen? Never heard of doing that before.

This trick has been around a while...got popular a few years ago and then fizzled...likely due to PITA to maintain.

The big benefit is no moisture (water) goes in the tire.

SLANG: The nitrogen also has a more stable temperature / pressure curve because it more closely behaves as an ideal gas. Air is not ideal because it is a mix of many gases and varying moisture. Forget that air is almost 80% nitrogen...doesn't count.

Look up Ideal Gas Laws or nitrogen in tires.

The main benefit is no moisture - the rest are a stretch at best.

AirTool

[NCH2oSki]

The other benefit of nitrogen is it doesnt change pressure much. The pressure in my tires has stayed at 80 all year without having to add any air.

[SkiTower]

ok, quick question: for those running 50 psi+ on tires, did they come from the dealer like that? Mine were at I think 25 and I've bumped them up to 35. Need to double check what the tires are rated (tandem axle).

Also, my truck tires are rated to 50, but Ford recommends 35. I wonder if trailers are the same. And one last question: does the increase in pressure improve the ride or make it bounce more? I'd think it bounces more.

[Andrew]

My take on nitrogen in tires:
Unless the pull a vacuum on your mounted tire (which would be pretty hard to do while maintaining a seal) and evacuate all of the non-nitrogen gases, then it is a waste of time and money....