Trailer Tire Pressure

[jhiestand]

It seems like there's a lot of incorrect info being passed around regarding trailer tire pressure so I thought it would be good to pass on info direct from the horse's mouth (Goodyear). I've even seen incorrect info on some tire sites saying to use the max pressure on the sidewall, so I thought I'd pass on what Goodyear says. From their site (http://www.goodyear.com/rv/pdf/marat...nfo_032806.pdf):


-Trailer tires should be operated at inflation pressures that are specified by the trailer manufacturer. The trailer manufacturer's inflation information can usually be found in the owner's manual, tire information placard, or vehicle certification label, usually located on the forward left side of the trailer.

-Based on industry standards, if tires with the ST designation (like Marathons) are used at speeds between 66 and 75mph, it is necessary to increase the cold inflation pressures by 10 psi above the recommended pressure for the load.

*Do not exceed the max pressure for the wheel
*If the max pressure for the wheel prohibits the increase of air pressure, then the max speed must be restricted to 65 mph.
*The cold inflation pressure must not exceed 10 psi beyond the inflation specified for the maximum load of the tire.


I'd say for most folks the 'correct' pressure will be 10 psi above what the trailer specifies. :grin:

[gotpwr]

RE: Trailer Tire Pressure

So what do I do for 85 MPH? LOL :grin: Interesting, I've always used the max load pressure on the tire figuring that would give me the highest load capacity. I'll have to check my trailer and see if it even recommends a pressure.

[jhiestand]

You know, I thought I read that for speeds above 75 you needed to increase pressure another 10 psi, but in checking back I didn't see that. :shock:

Without trailer capacity info, it'd be ideal to actually weigh your trailer then use Goodyear's load charts to properly inflate your tires.