Why is it Safe to Reduce Tire Pressure in Some Trailer Tires But Not Others
Question:
I see here etrailer has the position that trailer tires should alway be inflated to the max inflation pressure. Both Goodyear and Maxxis have Inflations charts listing different pressures for different loads. This would indicate to me the inflation pressure should match the load. I have seen both arguments made, any help you can provide to help me understand would be appreciated.
asked by: Karl S
Expert Reply:
Great question!
This is something that has been slowly shifting in the past couple of years (since about 2020). It used to be a hard "no" when it came to changing the amount of pressure to put in the tires and even as of now (January 2023) some companies like Kenda still hold true to the single psi rating, like what we see with their Karrier S-Trail ST145/R12 Radial Trailer Tire # AM10130.
Goodyear and Maxxis coming out with the different load ratings is great for the towing community because it's more practical. Yes, lowering the pressure in a tire will lower the amount it can safely carry (and ultimately give you better performance/control), but since companies like Kenda didn't test for this it meant that lowering the pressure would give you an unknown load rating which is more dangerous than having tires that are capable of carrying more than what is needed.
So, as of now, our stance is that if the tire manufacturer has an inflation chart, like what you mentioned for Goodyear and Maxxis, then use that so you get the best performance out of your tires and towing rig. If the company doesn't have an inflation chart, like what we still see with Kenda, then it will be safer to abide by the psi rating on the sidewall of the tire. Better to have tires that are a little more stiff than ones that are prone to blowing out on the highway because of being overloaded (heat build up).
Hope this helps clear up some things for you!
Products Referenced in This Question
Kenda Karrier S-Trail ST145/R12 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range D
- Trailer Tires and Wheels
- Tire Only
- Radial Tire
- Load Range D
- 145/80-12
- 12 Inch
- M - 81 mph
- Kenda
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Kenda Karrier S-Trail ST145/R12 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range E
- Trailer Tires and Wheels
- Tire Only
- Radial Tire
- Load Range E
- 145/80-12
- 12 Inch
- M - 81 mph
- Kenda
more information >
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