Tire pressure

[Tacklebuster]

On a double axle trailer, should you pump your tires up to the max PSI that it is rated or back off about 10? I think mine are rated for 35 max and I have always had 25 or so in them.

[MattPark]

It depends on the amount of weight on the tires compared to the maximum weight rating of the tires. Tire manufacturers have charts for inflation vs load, but I rarely see them, and they seem to be hard to get ahold of.

The worse that can happen if it's got too much air (not over the max psi) is the center of the tire will wear and it will ride rough. If it's underinflated, the outside will wear and the tire will get warm, potentially warm enough to fail.

On my boat trailer tires, I'm fairly close to the load limit on each tire. It the tires are at 65 psi (max), they stay nice and cool, and wear great. If they are down just 10 to 55 psi, the tires will be very warm to the touch after just a few freeway miles.

I did blow one on the way back from the coast, it was at about 50psi, but I assumed it was OK. It was obviously not. Now they are checked every day, and correctly inflated before I go anywhere. I think my trailer would have been better off with a couple of smaller 3500 lb axles instead of the single 5200 lb unit.

[ICHTHYDEMON]

I'm sure you have the same tires my trailer has. They're Goodyear Marathon radials in a 205/75/14 with a "B" load range.

If they are,they have a 1430lb rating at 35psi. Thats 5720lbs of total rating. I'm sure your 21' Seahawk and trailer is close to that. With nothing in my boat other than 50gal of gas,my 20' Seahawk is 4500lbs on the trailer. Its 5K plus loaded with gear.

IMO our trailers need at least a "C" load range tire. I've already had one tire go bad and before next spring I'm getting 4 new tires to up the load capacity.

[ICHTHYDEMON]

Check out this link

http://www.maxxis.com/products/trailer/docs/m8008load.pdf

If your running 25psi in "B" rated tires you only have 1170lbs per tire.

[foxer]

I have the same trailer/tires. What are you getting to replace them? Been thinking the same thing.

[ICHTHYDEMON]

I have the same trailer/tires. What are you getting to replace them? Been thinking the same thing.


I'm getting them at Les Schwab. They're called a Towmax Power King.

The guy at LS said he thinks they're made by Goodyear. The tread is identical to the GY Marathons on my trailer.

The load range "C" are about $60 a piece at LS.