Tire Pressure recommendations needed

[Matt]

And I'll add one more thing to think about; Trailer tires are only rated and tested at 65mph. You can weigh your rig and play around with tire pressure till the cows come home but if your going faster that 65mph you can throw your calculations out the window and wait for your blowout.

 

[JRW-NAW]

Just FYI...Sailun S637T are 75mph rated trailer tires. I ran S637's on my 5ver.

Safe travels.

 

[redbaron]

ok so what you're saying is that using the max tire pressure on the tire is a safety issue? Not true.

The recommended tire pressure is on the sticker from the Mfg., it's on the trailer. My previous RV was a 2012 Laredo where the load rating on the tire was 'D'. Those D rating tires came with a max tire pressure of 65 lbs and the sticker said to use 65lbs of pressure. When I looked at the loaded weight of my RV the weight of everything basically put these tires at the max. It was still legal for the Mfg to do that but in the middle of August going down the highway in the heat at full weight made me nervous. I decided to upgrade the tires to a load rating of 'E' which basically means they can handle more weight. Same size tire just a higher load rating. Those 'E' rating tires I put on had a max pressure of 80lbs giving me less stress (my blood pressure) going down the road so obviously I wasn't going to set those tires to 65lbs. Use your common sense.

As I mentioned already, I have a 20 year track record doing it this way with ZERO blow outs. You do it your way.

I can not understand it for you. I can only state what I have said.

I never said that using max psi was a safety issue. Go back and read the posts.

 

[redbaron]

And I'll add one more thing to think about; Trailer tires are only rated and tested at 65mph. You can weigh your rig and play around with tire pressure till the cows come home but if your going faster that 65mph you can throw your calculations out the window and wait for your blowout.

False.

Goodyear endurance travel trailer tires provided on my 2022 grand design are rated to 87MPH.

 

[ARD]

ok so what you're saying is that using the max tire pressure on the tire is a safety issue? Not true.

Actually, when I took the Spartan Owners Course, they said overinflated tires can reduce traction, as well as reduce braking ability and handling. As you can see from the photo that @redbaron shared you can see the excessive wear in the center when overinflated. When riding on the center section of the tread, debris can move the tire around, not to mention it is an uncomfortable ride.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

The rule I was taught is to inflate to the maximum cold pressure stated on the sidewall of the tire, Never more! Do not exceed the load rating published on the side of the tire. Also, keep in mind there is a date code on the tire. Usually, for trailer service, 5 years is the rule of thumb for the safe age limit. Just because the trailer was purchased new, does not mean the tires aren't already 2 or 3 years old. They sit in the warehouse and then sit at the dealer. The age of the tire is more important than the remaining tread on the tire.

Now with that said, I understand for tandem axle trailers the tire load rating is 80% of the published rating on the tire. Thus for a single axle trailer and a tire rating of 1800 lbs, the gross weight of the trailer should not exceed 3600 lbs. [2 x 1800 = 3600] Now if the same tire used on a tandem axle trailer would have a load rating of 1440 lbs. {not 1800} or for the entire trailer a gross load rating of 5760 lbs. [4 x 1440 = 5760]

Agreed, the biggest issue faced is underinflated tires and overloaded trailers. Also, pay attention to the speed rating of the tires and for this rule........never exceed! Otherwise, you become a very underpaid tire test driver.

I consider tire wear as pennies on the dollar whereas an accident due to tire failure could cost you and your family their lives. Not to mention a destroyed trailer and tow vehicle.

(a) never exceed the load rating of the tires
(b) never exceed the speed rating of the tires
(d) never underinflate below the maximum pressure

And if you are concerned about a rough ride, make sure the wheels & tires are balanced just as you do on your tow vehicle. It will prolong tire wear.

 

[Jabber Jaw]

And I'll add one more thing to think about; Trailer tires are only rated and tested at 65mph. You can weigh your rig and play around with tire pressure till the cows come home but if your going faster that 65mph you can throw your calculations out the window and wait for your blowout.

WRONG! Different tires have different "speed ratings"!
Michelin's on my Class A RV are "speed rated" to 75 mph!
Tires on my truck are "speed rated" to 120 mph!!
Other tires on sportscars are even "speed rated" to 150 mph!
Trailer tires, depending on manufacturer may or may not be "speed rated" at only 65 mph!
Check out the tire, the manufacturer, and the "speed rating"!

 

[Jabber Jaw]

ok so what you're saying is that using the max tire pressure on the tire is a safety issue? Not true.

The recommended tire pressure is on the sticker from the Mfg., it's on the trailer. My previous RV was a 2012 Laredo where the load rating on the tire was 'D'. Those D rating tires came with a max tire pressure of 65 lbs and the sticker said to use 65lbs of pressure. When I looked at the loaded weight of my RV the weight of everything basically put these tires at the max. It was still legal for the Mfg to do that but in the middle of August going down the highway in the heat at full weight made me nervous. I decided to upgrade the tires to a load rating of 'E' which basically means they can handle more weight. Same size tire just a higher load rating. Those 'E' rating tires I put on had a max pressure of 80lbs giving me less stress (my blood pressure) going down the road so obviously I wasn't going to set those tires to 65lbs. Use your common sense.

As I mentioned already, I have a 20 year track record doing it this way with ZERO blow outs. You do it your way.

Oh, and some on here have significantly greater than a 20 year track record!
And Yes, WE WILL DO IT OUR WAY, & BE SAFE at the same time!
Good Luck, & hopefully, Good RV'ing!!

 

[redbaron]

Oh, and some on here have significantly greater than a 20 year track record!
And Yes, WE WILL DO IT OUR WAY, & BE SAFE at the same time!
Good Luck, & hopefully, Good RV'ing!!

Are you suggesting that one could do something for 30+ years, and have always done it wrong? How is that possible--doesn't seniority and experience automatically make it the right way?