Should Trailer Tires be Inflated Over Maximum psi

Question:

Boat trailer tires wearing on outside of the tires .both sides of the boat .article said probably /maybe under-inflated Tire says inflate to 35 lb Im already at 40 lbs do I dare go more than 40

asked by: Ron S

Expert Reply:

No you should not inflate your trailer tires to over the maximum psi; if your tires have a max of 35 that should be what they are inflated to as going over could also cause the tire to wear in the center of the tire quicker than it should.

Underinflated tires is a potential cause for your tires wearing on the outside but it might also be an issue that the weight on your trailer is not enough to straighten the axle when under load. Trailer axles have a slight bow to them that straightens out when under a load. Another possibility is an issue with your suspension being worn out or somehow damaged so take a look for holes that are egg-shaped instead of round where the suspension components come together.

I should mention that from your photo it certainly looks like it is the inside of the tire that is worn and if that was the case then the issue could stem from your trailer being overloaded, as opposed to not having a large enough load which would affect the outside of the tire.

expert reply by: Kyle S