What Tire Pressure to Use in a Trailer Tire

Question:

My daughter is moving and will be carrying a load with her in the car. She asked me if she should set the tire pressure to the recommended level before or after she loads the car. I said before and if the tire starts to flatten then the load is too large. Also, I would think adding pressure after the car is loaded would put too much pressure on the tires. I am a little confused after reading some articles on the internet. What do you think? Thanks,

asked by: Rich

Expert Reply:

For trailer tires you actually want to inflate them to their max rating that is listed on the side of the tire when cold. Loaded or unloaded won't matter. It's important to keep the max pressure in the tire at all times as that ensure you get the full tire capacity and prevents heat build up which leads to failure.

You should make sure the tires are rated for the weight of the trailer when loaded. Using the bulge of the sidewall is not a reliable way to know if you are okay to tow or not.

I also attached a help article on trailer tires for you to check out too.

expert reply by: Jameson C