Still questioning the proper psi for my trailer tires. Everything I've read says run the tires at max psi, for my tires (E load) that's 80 psi. Fully loaded, my enclosed car trailer weighs 3520# less than the max load the 4 tires can carry. Seems the 80# max psi would be to much.
Tires = 2830 load per x 4 = 11,320
Trailer = 7800#

 

Most tire companies have a load/inflation chart as to how much of a load the tire can carry at certain pressures. I would look there.

 

the tires themselves will have embossed on them; "XXXX max load at XX psi.
Are you saying the trailer BY ITSELF weighs 7,800 pounds??? Have you put it on scales? That seems...incredibly...heavy for a trailer like that.

 

My trick is to measure tire temp, and keep inflating until the change between to subsequent inflations doesn't change. that tells you for the given load you are not getting any heat build up. Of coarse don't go over max. I also look fo all tires exhibiting the same temp changes.

But now a days I just inflate to max when fully loaded.

 

As far as inflating to max psi, I usually go 5 psi less to allow for heat build up (and the associated increase in tire pressure). Both of my boat trailers have 'max 50 psi' on the tires so I run 45 psi, for example.

 

I've looked at my tire mfg's trailer tire psi chart, and for the weight of the trailer, 7800, divided by 4 tires = 1950# per tire. So, if I round up to 2000# per tire, the chart says 45 psi = 2020# per tire and at 50 psi = 2150 per tire. That seems low, but is that reasonable?

Fully loaded, car, etc., scale weight.

good advice, will give it a try

Yea, I have a hard time accepting max psi...the D load tires I had, I ran 60 psi, so lately I've been running 65, but don't want to harm the sidewall or tires by being under-inflated.

 

Vehicles can be rated at 94% of max load per inflation chart at placard pressure for LT Tires. So if you have 7000 lb on the trailer tires I would start with 1862 lb worth of psi in the tires and increase from there if you have stability issues.

I'm guessing around 40 psi but not knowing actual axle weights it's a guessing game. My 6800 lb enclosed car hauler (with about 6000 on axles) is at 55 psi because that was where more didn't seem to help stability. However I have smaller tires with a 7500 GVWR trailer vs I'm assuming your 10,000 GVWR.



​​​​

 

I think he is saying that's his operational weight not his tare.
.

 

Sidewall says max psi cold. No reason to inflate 5 lbs below that to allow for heat buildup. A 50 psi cold tire is fine at 55 hot.

 

I wouldn’t cut it that close myself. I was thinking you’d be closer to 60. That is quite a bit of difference from the Max of 80. Nothing wrong with having a little cushion. The temp reading that was mentioned above is also a good idea.