Is Pressure Listed on Tire Sidewall for a Cold or Hot Tire

Question:

The tire says max psi is 50. Should I inflate to the max when the tire is cold/cool? What happens when the tire gets warm/hot? Is it still safe? Thanks

asked by: Joe

Helpful Expert Reply:

The pressure listed on the tire's sidewall is intended for when the tire is cold. The air pressure will increase a bit as the tire heats up, but that will not cause an issue and is still perfectly safe.

We frequently get asked if it's advisable to reduce the pressure in a trailer tire, below what's stated on the sidewall. We don't recommend doing this, as the most trailer tire manufacturers do their load testing with the tires at full pressure. If the pressure is reduced, so is the capacity but because the tires aren't tested at lower pressures, the capacity will be unknown which could lead to blowouts or uneven tire wear.

I'll also link to our series of help articles relating to trailer tires and wheels. The articles include all kinds of useful information that I hope you'll find informative.

expert reply by: Mike L