Recommended Tire Pressure for ST Trailer Tires and Load Rating Capacity
Question:
Your QandA states - The correct tire pressure for a trailer tire will be indicated on the tire sidewall. Trailer tires should always be inflated to the full cold psi pressure noted on the tire. They should never be run under- or over-inflated since this can reduce their load capacity and lead to overheating. But tire manufactures put out inflation charts based on weight load and say you should adjust the pressure based on actual load. So, Which is correct and why?
asked by: Ray
Expert Reply:
The trailer tire manufacturers we work with all have recommended the information you have seen given in our online answers. The max PSI from most manufacturers the listed capacity at the highest load capacity rating of the ST tire.
There are charts as you stated to give you a variable psi level from certain manufacturers, like Goodyear and Maxxis for instance, that have their primary business in automotive tires. They have testing of these levels built into their system where most ST specific trailer tire manufacturers do not. The reason why they do not do as extensive testing on their tires is because of the function. Trailer tires have a stronger sidewall because they are not used for turning in the same way as the front axle of a vehicle tire is. Also, it is very rare for a person with a trailer to weigh their load each time and adjust the pressure accordingly and tire failure is most of the time attributed to not having enough or having too much air in the tires for proper use. The max psi is the safest place to keep the tires inflated whether traveling empty or fully loaded to give you best traction with an ST tire and that is the majority of the reason why we recommend it.
One is not right and the other wrong, they are simply different approaches based on manufacturer.
If you have further questions, please let me know.
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Westlake ST235/80R16 Radial Trailer Tire w/ 16" Silver Mod Wheel - 8 on 6-1/2 - Load Range E
- Trailer Tires and Wheels
- Tire with Wheel
- Radial Tire
- Load Range E
- 235/80-16
- 16 Inch
- L - 75 mph
- 8 on 6-1/2 Inch
- Steel Wheels - Powder Coat
- Westlake
more information >
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George L.
5/28/2020
Unfortunately, both are kind of misleading. If a trailer has a max gross of 2000lbs (this is the combined weight of the base weight of the trailer AND cargo and should NEVER be exceeded per mfcr), then if I'm running ST175/80*13 tires with a load rating of 1360lbs at 50psi, that means, per tire, I have a loading of 1000lbs per tire. Based on the Load Limit at various pressures table supplied by the mfcr, I should inflate my tires to around 30psi (not to exceed 50psi). The further away from 30psi I get, the more likely i will have over inflation wear. If I go under 30psi I could risk under inflation wear.