Am swapping my big goose for a car hauler just for the weekend. Got the car hauler home and proceeded to check tire pressures before my trip.

Two of the tires (front axle) are load range C and demand 50psi.

Two of the tires (rear axle) are load range D and demand 65 psi.

I went ahead and aired em up to the recommended pressure. Is this what you would do or would you leave 50 psi in all of them even though the load range d' call for more?

Is that the max. pressure, or the recommended operating pressure?

Determing the optimal operating pressure has to do with contact patch when loaded, not what is stamped on the side of the tire.

Is that the max. pressure, or the recommended operating pressure?

Determing the optimal operating pressure has to do with contact patch when loaded, not what is stamped on the side of the tire.

x2

(It has been a long time since I have seen a max psi of only 50 though???)

Determing the optimal operating pressure has to do with contact patch when loaded, not what is stamped on the side of the tire.

How do you figure that out?

How do you figure that out?



Use a marking crayon or chalk to mark a fairly heavy line across the tread of the tire (Side-to-Side)
Drive in a straight line for ~300' or so
Line is worn at center of tire = Pressure too HIGH
Line is worn at edge of tire = Pressure too LOW
Line is worn evenly = Pressure is JUST RIGHT (per Goldilocks)


Good luck

When I am at or near maximum trailer weight (loaded) I generally air up to the max recommended pressure. This being a 7000 pound trailer and my Jeep pushing 5000 lbs I will be near the max trailer weight. So, yes, i air all the way up.

Have always done this on my big gooseneck with load E's, loaded down with gear and two rigs on it the tires still bow out even at 80 lbs. So yes, if im loaded down I air all the way up, contact patches be damned.

When I am at or near maximum trailer weight (loaded) I generally air up to the max recommended pressure. This being a 7000 pound trailer and my Jeep pushing 5000 lbs I will be near the max trailer weight. So, yes, i air all the way up.

Have always done this on my big gooseneck with load E's, loaded down with gear and two rigs on it the tires still bow out even at 80 lbs. So yes, if im loaded down I air all the way up, contact patches be damned.

I thought the thread was WWYD? My bad.

I thought the thread was WWYD? My bad.

That helped:flipoff2:

Im just saying in normal conditions with all the same rated tires that is what I do. This being a different scenario yes, I am asking WWYD? Since I am only borrowingb the trailer for the weekend I really do not want to spend a lot of time with chalk and determining contact patches.

So I guess a more direct question would be: If the trailer were fully loaded would you run 50 psi (the max for the load range C's) all the way around or run the max for each set, ie. 65psi & 50 psi?

That helped:flipoff2:

Im just saying in normal conditions with all the same rated tires that is what I do. This being a different scenario yes, I am asking WWYD? Since I am only borrowingb the trailer for the weekend I really do not want to spend a lot of time with chalk and determining contact patches.

So I guess a more direct question would be: If the trailer were fully loaded would you run 50 psi (the max for the load range C's) all the way around or run the max for each set, ie. 65psi & 50 psi?

Assuming you're running regular springs, running mildly dissimilar tires at the max should still work. (The springs will equalize for any differences in tire diameter) The other thing to check is your tire and bearing temps (By feel or IR Thermo) en-route to see whether there are any appreciable differences between the two tire/axle setups.

Good luck.

Good deal, that seemed like the best method but I just wanted someone to sue just in case:flipoff2:

I pulled yesterday about 100 miles before I checked the psi and realized they were two different load ratings. I did temp check the hubs and all was well.

Because a trailer tire holds differing weight, and different locations of the weight, its advised to just air them up to MAX inflate.
If you tow the same load, in the same spot, go ahread and run a contact pattern, but running max pressure is the advised.

We always set the tires at what is stamped on the side wall when a trailer leaves the shop. I personally, only run trailer tires at what is stamped on the sidewall of the tire. I've always gotten plenty of life out of them, never had a blowout, and if you are towing a trailer around empty and wearing out the center of the tires then, WHY THE HELL ARE YOU TOWING THE TRAILER? :laughing: Just kidding!

We always set the tires at what is stamped on the side wall when a trailer leaves the shop. I personally, only run trailer tires at what is stamped on the sidewall of the tire. I've always gotten plenty of life out of them, never had a blowout, and if you are towing a trailer around empty and wearing out the center of the tires then, WHY THE HELL ARE YOU TOWING THE TRAILER? :laughing: Just kidding!

You are airing up to the 'Max PSI' stamped on the sidewall? (just want to clarify)

I usually try to back off of that 5-10 lbs. depending on the load. I have always been a fan of running the radials on the pickup between 35 and 40 when empty and up to 55 when loaded, but I may be trying a little more (65-70) when I make my next trip to see how it affects my mileage.

You are airing up to the 'Max PSI' stamped on the sidewall? (just want to clarify)

I usually try to back off of that 5-10 lbs. depending on the load. I have always been a fan of running the radials on the pickup between 35 and 40 when empty and up to 55 when loaded, but I may be trying a little more (65-70) when I make my next trip to see how it affects my mileage.

Yep, at the max. I keep my truck that way as well, all the time. I get much better fuel milage, and I do great on tire life. The truck has 215k on it now and still never a blow out on it either.

Everytime we get someone into the shop with a trailer tire that has blown out, we check the others and find that they are running them low. Never once, that I can think of, have we check the other tires and found them all to be up at max. And I don't mean a couple psi low, I mean a tire that should have 50psi with only 32psi. It's now your wifes caddy, air up the tires and you'll have less problems. And I'm betting longer life too.

If the tires are low, then you have a larger contact patch which creates more rag that the truck is having to pull, rolling residence. Also in tight cornering, there is more stress on the rubber and there for, more tire scrub which equals more wear.

On pickups, a low air tire setup might soften the ride, not much but it helps. The problems are the same. And on the highway, that tire being just a little taller, even though it's not much, is changing your final gear ratio. Smaller tire, more fuel burn. Not to mention the extra rolling residence.

Discuss, have fun, I've got to get some sleep, I'm a zombie right now.

If the tires are low, then you have a larger contact patch which creates more rag that the truck is having to pull, rolling residence. Also in tight cornering, there is more stress on the rubber and there for, more tire scrub which equals more wear.

On pickups, a low air tire setup might soften the ride, not much but it helps. The problems are the same. And on the highway, that tire being just a little taller, even though it's not much, is changing your final gear ratio. Smaller tire, more fuel burn. Not to mention the extra rolling residence.

Discuss, have fun, I've got to get some sleep, I'm a zombie right now.

This has always been my theory as well. I run my trailer and pickup at max PSI always -- and since they are always at max I never have to air them up to load up. It also makes checking pressure super easy -- since it is stamped on the tire I don't have to remember what I aired them up to the last time :D

Yep, at the max. I keep my truck that way as well, all the time. I get much better fuel milage, and I do great on tire life. The truck has 215k on it now and still never a blow out on it either.

Everytime we get someone into the shop with a trailer tire that has blown out, we check the others and find that they are running them low. Never once, that I can think of, have we check the other tires and found them all to be up at max. And I don't mean a couple psi low, I mean a tire that should have 50psi with only 32psi. It's now your wifes caddy, air up the tires and you'll have less problems. And I'm betting longer life too.

If the tires are low, then you have a larger contact patch which creates more rag that the truck is having to pull, rolling residence. Also in tight cornering, there is more stress on the rubber and there for, more tire scrub which equals more wear.

On pickups, a low air tire setup might soften the ride, not much but it helps. The problems are the same. And on the highway, that tire being just a little taller, even though it's not much, is changing your final gear ratio. Smaller tire, more fuel burn. Not to mention the extra rolling residence.

Discuss, have fun, I've got to get some sleep, I'm a zombie right now.

I run my trailer tires at max all the times since I rarely tow it empty, but not the truck tires, the right pressure for the truck means better traction is rain or snow, and better overall thread wear since the tires aren't bulging at high pressures and no load. There's a chart on the good year site I saw some time ago, it relates pressure to load.

I would get rid of the C and D load range and go for at least an E. Then I would air them up to their max sidewall pressure and check them before I drove it each time. Like I do now.

I run mine at max PSI, get more wear from scrub than anything else