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Author Topic:   Trailer tire pressure

Mark Gallagher posted 04-19-2003 11:17 AM ET (US)
I am having brain fade. I upgraded from bias ply to Goodyear 205/75/14 Marathon radials a few years ago and can't remember proper cold tire air pressure.
Side wall indicates max pressure at 50 psi.
What do you recommend?
Thanks
Mark
JBCornwell posted 04-19-2003 11:39 AM ET (US)
Not less than 40psi. I would run them at 45psi.
Red sky at night. . .
JB
lhg posted 04-19-2003 06:53 PM ET (US)
The rated capacity of a trailer tire is at it's full stated inflation PSI. If less pressure, capacity will be less. So determine your total load, including trailer weight, and inflate accordingly. This will give you even tire wear. Over inflation for load will wear the center of the tire. Under-inflation for load will wear the edges.
I run my 14" Goodyear Marathons at 50 PSI cold, because I need the full capacity.
Dr T posted 04-20-2003 06:54 PM ET (US)
A further note: A trailer tire that is under-inflated will tend to flex its sidewalls. On hot summer days, this flexing will make the tires get REALLY hot--so much so that the tires will catch on fire. When the tire starts burning, the boat is not far behind.
Always check your tire pressure before going on a long pull.
tds
goodad posted 04-21-2003 09:34 AM ET (US)
Ditto to the underinflated..Brain dead after a long winter forgot to check tire pressure..I was lucky, tire heated and flew off and I was on the rim..Changed to spare and limped to gas station and corrected the situation..Heat was unbelievable..No less than 40psi for me.
triblet posted 04-24-2003 10:30 PM ET (US)
I'll throw in my vote for 45 PSI. Use a good
pressure guage -- the cheap ones vary all
over the map, both from gauge to gauge and
reading to reading with the same gauge.
Watch the wear pattern. If the center wears,
drop the pressure a little. If the edges wear (unlikely at 45 psi), raise it a bit.
Chuck
JoeH posted 04-27-2003 02:35 PM ET (US)
As a side note, what do you do as for rotating trailer tires or is it even necessary? I was thinking of side to side or putting the spare on and moving one of the other tires from the axel up to spare. Joe
Dr T posted 04-28-2003 01:27 AM ET (US)
I don't worry about it--but then I might pull my trailer 1000 to 1500 miles in a really big year. My tires are more likely to fail from old age than tread wear.
simonmeridew posted 04-28-2003 08:38 PM ET (US)
Another thing to check with trailer tires: get a nice balence job done. Otherwise your electronics (and bow rail) will self destruct.
simonmeridew

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Author	Topic: Trailer tire pressure
Mark Gallagher	posted 04-19-2003 11:17 AM ET (US) I am having brain fade. I upgraded from bias ply to Goodyear 205/75/14 Marathon radials a few years ago and can't remember proper cold tire air pressure. Side wall indicates max pressure at 50 psi. What do you recommend? Thanks Mark
JBCornwell	posted 04-19-2003 11:39 AM ET (US) Not less than 40psi. I would run them at 45psi. Red sky at night. . . JB
lhg	posted 04-19-2003 06:53 PM ET (US) The rated capacity of a trailer tire is at it's full stated inflation PSI. If less pressure, capacity will be less. So determine your total load, including trailer weight, and inflate accordingly. This will give you even tire wear. Over inflation for load will wear the center of the tire. Under-inflation for load will wear the edges. I run my 14" Goodyear Marathons at 50 PSI cold, because I need the full capacity.
Dr T	posted 04-20-2003 06:54 PM ET (US) A further note: A trailer tire that is under-inflated will tend to flex its sidewalls. On hot summer days, this flexing will make the tires get REALLY hot--so much so that the tires will catch on fire. When the tire starts burning, the boat is not far behind. Always check your tire pressure before going on a long pull. tds
goodad	posted 04-21-2003 09:34 AM ET (US) Ditto to the underinflated..Brain dead after a long winter forgot to check tire pressure..I was lucky, tire heated and flew off and I was on the rim..Changed to spare and limped to gas station and corrected the situation..Heat was unbelievable..No less than 40psi for me.
triblet	posted 04-24-2003 10:30 PM ET (US) I'll throw in my vote for 45 PSI. Use a good pressure guage -- the cheap ones vary all over the map, both from gauge to gauge and reading to reading with the same gauge. Watch the wear pattern. If the center wears, drop the pressure a little. If the edges wear (unlikely at 45 psi), raise it a bit. Chuck
JoeH	posted 04-27-2003 02:35 PM ET (US) As a side note, what do you do as for rotating trailer tires or is it even necessary? I was thinking of side to side or putting the spare on and moving one of the other tires from the axel up to spare. Joe
Dr T	posted 04-28-2003 01:27 AM ET (US) I don't worry about it--but then I might pull my trailer 1000 to 1500 miles in a really big year. My tires are more likely to fail from old age than tread wear.
simonmeridew	posted 04-28-2003 08:38 PM ET (US) Another thing to check with trailer tires: get a nice balence job done. Otherwise your electronics (and bow rail) will self destruct. simonmeridew