Recommend Tire Pressure
Please recommend a tire pressure for my 5th wheel, tandem axle. Tire size is 235-80R-16 , Rating is E , Max pressure is 80 PSI. By actual scale weighing, the four trailer tires share a load of 8180 ...
Forum Discussion
Vulcan Rider wrote:4X4Dodger wrote:
The inflation on the sidewall is the correct cold inflation pressure and the tires are sized and speced for the vehicle.
You are ASSuming that the tires were spec'd to run at their max. load and max. pressure and that might NOT be the case.
If they were over-spec'd, it might be better overall to run them at slightly less than the number on the sidewall. Over-inflated tires are not likely to suddenly fail but, depending on the specific tire, they might have slightly less traction and will make for a rougher ride and more strain on the suspension.
If the tire type has been changed.....for instance, the originals had a max. pressure of 80 and the new ones have 100.....it is NOT a good idea to run them at 100. Hit a big pothole and break your shock mounts......or worse.
That is exactly how they are spec"ed as there is no other datum to spec to. Secondly IF you run the tires at the cold pressure inflation on the sidewall you will always be in line with the tire's warranty. You will not be if you run under that.
Using some chart on the internet to determine tire pressure that can be disavowed by the tire MFG and the Trailer MFG is not a smart approach.
In most cases you will find like my trailer that the two numbers match. The sticker tire inflation is the same as the tires. If your trailer differs...how do you know that isnt a mistake? Whereas the molded in tire inflation on the tire is definitely reliable.
Do what you want but you cannot go wrong with what is on the sidwall and there is definitely no need to weigh the trailer to decide this.
