We have a little 19 foot 2014 Bullet Premier I just put on a complete new set of the Goodyear Endurance 205/75R X 14 tires. They have a "D" load rating, putting their single max load single at just over 2000 lbs. at the max inflation of 65 psi. The original tires were the same size but with a "C" load rating. They had a max load single of just over 1700 lbs. at max pressure of 50 psi.The trailer has an empty weight of 4200#. I figure by the time I get all our junk in it and all the fluids topped up, we will probably be in the neighborhood of 6000#. That is 1500# per tire. I would like to hear what you guys think would be a good pressure to run in these new tires. Running at max pressure would, in my mind, make for a harsher ride for the rig and it's contents.

Travelin2 wrote:We have a little 19 foot 2014 Bullet Premier I just put on a complete new set of the Goodyear Endurance 205/75R X 14 tires. I would like to hear what you guys think would be a good pressure to run in these new tires. Running at max pressure would, in my mind, make for a harsher ride for the rig and it's contents.I installed a set of 205/75R14 Endurance a couple of months ago on my Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS that averages ~ 4800 lbs loaded & ready to camp ... I run these tires with the recommended cold inflation of 65 p.s.i., no harsh ride at all. Can't imagine why you'd want to run any less.

First of all, some of the weight (about 12-15%) is tongue weight and goes onto your tow vehicle...I always pressure my trailer tires to their max rating....don't care if the ride is somewhat harsh. I'm not riding in it. We also have shocks on all for wheels.Max pressure lets them run cooler and thus less chance of failure. As far as the "wear" argument...They reach age replacement long before the tread wears out.

I have always inflated trailer tires to the maximum shown on the sidewall.

Follow manufacturer’s recommendation...65 psi...unless you are a trailer tire manufacturer, engineer, expert etc.

Inflate ST trailer tires to the max pressure on the side wall. One of the worst enemies of trailer tires is side wall flexing. This will cause the trailer tires to over heat. Overheating can lead to blowouts. Max inflation stiffens the sidewalls. A squishy tire sidewall will also allow a small amount of sway adding to tire flexing and the overall sway of the trailer.

need opinions on tire pressures | Good Sam Community

45 Replies

GrandpaKip
Explorer II
Oct 26, 2017
Travelin2 wrote:
Sorry...:R

No reason for you to be sorry. Half the time, someone looking for info ends up unintentionally starting a personal argument. However, sometimes, they can be entertaining. Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck come to mind.
Huntindog
Explorer
Oct 25, 2017
mike-s wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
Oh geez. I have acually been trying to debate with someone that has single axle TT and a single axle point of view.
So, you've been making claims and statements based not on fact, but on assumption. Your statements and claims don't apply to all cases, although they're stated as if they did.

Thanks for admitting that you were wrong.
Not really. You were aware for quite some time that I have (as most do) a tandem axle TT. You even made snide comment about my coming home on 3 wheels.
So you were well aware of my situation. You could have told me, but you chose not to.

NICE.
Travelin2
Explorer
Oct 25, 2017
Sorry...:R
mike-s
Explorer
Oct 25, 2017
Huntindog wrote:
Oh geez. I have acually been trying to debate with someone that has single axle TT and a single axle point of view.
So, you've been making claims and statements based not on fact, but on assumption. Your statements and claims don't apply to all cases, although they're stated as if they did.

Thanks for admitting that you were wrong.
Huntindog
Explorer
Oct 25, 2017
Oh geez. I have acually been trying to debate with someone that has single axle TT and a single axle point of view.

Everything you have said is worthless to the majority of us that have dual axle TTs.

On a dual axle, if something happens to one tire, like a blowout, or loss of the wheel due to a spun bearing. the other tire on that side supports all of the weight. If one is running their tires close to capacity, that means that tire will be damaged and will fail in short order. So those of us that are experienced, know to replace both tires on that side. Now if you are running signifignant reserve capacity in your tires, you may just get away with it. I will retire such a tire to spare duty, but not worry too much about it.

With a single axle ( a minority now days) you do not have this concern... Of course if you lose a wheel due to a spun bearing, you will have other more pressing concerns.

On another note: I find it hilarious that people with TTs will brag about their tires success over such short mileage figures like 6500 miles, as if that is a major accomplishment. It seems that people have VERY low expectations out of their TT tires.
The same performance on their daily drivers would have them screaming.
mike-s wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
mike-s wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
It is even worse than that.
TTs are sort of unique in that not only can the total weight vary by a lot in the course of a trip, but the way it is distributed can change dramactically.
So what? If LRC tires are sufficient to support the axle capacity, and someone puts on LRD, needing to inflate them to max to support your "dramatically varying weight" only means you're overloading the axle.
Maybe for you. Not for me.
My TT came with 5200# axles and springs. I swapped in 7000# axles and springs. My TT has two 42 gallon grey tanks and two 42 gallon Black tanks. Since we always boondock, often in remote locations, the TT comes home with full waste tanks quite often.
That fact alone makes for a dramatic change in the weight. Add in all of the other things, like my 5.0 cubic foot freezer full of necessitys on the rear rack. and all of the little stuff... It all adds up. But my additional 3600# of axle capacity and Michelin XPS RIB LRE tires can handle it just fine.:B
That post is worthless without numbers.

My TT came with a 3500 lb axle, which I replaced with a 5200 lb one. I run LRE tires which could handle 5600+ lbs @ 80 psi. No need for more than 70 psi to support the axle rating, but I run them at well below that because I don't load to over 4000 lbs. There's still a significant margin above what they carry, even though the pressure is much less than the max. Since anecdotal data seems to carry unreasonable weight around here, 6500 miles so far without incident. Including towing on occasion at more than 65 MPH (oh, the horror!). And, they're what the xenophobes around here would call "China bombs."
mike-s
Explorer
Oct 25, 2017
Huntindog wrote:
mike-s wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
It is even worse than that.
TTs are sort of unique in that not only can the total weight vary by a lot in the course of a trip, but the way it is distributed can change dramactically.
So what? If LRC tires are sufficient to support the axle capacity, and someone puts on LRD, needing to inflate them to max to support your "dramatically varying weight" only means you're overloading the axle.
Maybe for you. Not for me.
My TT came with 5200# axles and springs. I swapped in 7000# axles and springs. My TT has two 42 gallon grey tanks and two 42 gallon Black tanks. Since we always boondock, often in remote locations, the TT comes home with full waste tanks quite often.
That fact alone makes for a dramatic change in the weight. Add in all of the other things, like my 5.0 cubic foot freezer full of necessitys on the rear rack. and all of the little stuff... It all adds up. But my additional 3600# of axle capacity and Michelin XPS RIB LRE tires can handle it just fine.:B
That post is worthless without numbers.

My TT came with a 3500 lb axle, which I replaced with a 5200 lb one. I run LRE tires which could handle 5600+ lbs @ 80 psi. No need for more than 70 psi to support the axle rating, but I run them at well below that because I don't load to over 4000 lbs. There's still a significant margin above what they carry, even though the pressure is much less than the max. Since anecdotal data seems to carry unreasonable weight around here, 6500 miles so far without incident. Including towing on occasion at more than 65 MPH (oh, the horror!). And, they're what the xenophobes around here would call "China bombs."
Huntindog
Explorer
Oct 25, 2017
mike-s wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
It is even worse than that.
TTs are sort of unique in that not only can the total weight vary by a lot in the course of a trip, but the way it is distributed can change dramactically.
So what? If LRC tires are sufficient to support the axle capacity, and someone puts on LRD, needing to inflate them to max to support your "dramatically varying weight" only means you're overloading the axle.
Maybe for you. Not for me.
My TT came with 5200# axles and springs. I swapped in 7000# axles and springs. My TT has two 42 gallon grey tanks and two 42 gallon Black tanks. Since we always boondock, often in remote locations, the TT comes home with full waste tanks quite often.
That fact alone makes for a dramatic change in the weight. Add in all of the other things, like my 5.0 cubic foot freezer full of necessitys on the rear rack. and all of the little stuff... It all adds up. But my additional 3600# of axle capacity and Michelin XPS RIB LRE tires can handle it just fine.:B
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Oct 24, 2017
mike-s wrote:
JIMNLIN wrote:
Goodyear says on the tires side wall "inflate to 65 psi". No questions about what Goodyear recommends.
I can quote Goodyear, and provide a reference for the quote:
Overinflating can reduce traction, braking ability and handling, as well as result in uneven wear and an uncomfortable ride...The proper air inflation for your tires depends on how much your fully loaded RV or trailer weighs...See load inflation charts...actual air pressure required should be determined based on the actual load on each individual tire.

Inflation pressure should be adjusted to handle the tire carrying the heaviest load, and all tires on the axle should be adjusted to this pressure.
- Goodyear Tire Care Guide

That is all well and good, BUT from my own recent personal experience setting the pressure to those tables is foolish at best.

This spring as part of my states requirement for an inspection I needed to replace one worn out tire during the inspection. The tire tech underinflated the new tire by 10 lbs from the sidewall pressure.

The tech mentioned to me this AFTER he had installed the tire and where my trailer was sitting they would have had to drag a lot of hose out to top it off..

Since my trailer was not loaded for a trip I figured that that pressure was fine as is (no food, clothing water or personal stuff, pretty much empty of any added weight).

Driving home 18 miles at max of 45 MPH that tire was nearly hot enough to burn your hand if you left it on for a few seconds compared to the other three that were barely warm..

HEAT KILLS TIRES..

Yeah, inflating to a chart is fools game, go ahead and do it if you think you know better.. But for me, I will inflate my trailer tires to the max sidewall pressure, I KNOW my tires are running as cool as possible.
mike-s
Explorer
Oct 24, 2017
Huntindog wrote:
It is even worse than that.
TTs are sort of unique in that not only can the total weight vary by a lot in the course of a trip, but the way it is distributed can change dramactically.
So what? If LRC tires are sufficient to support the axle capacity, and someone puts on LRD, needing to inflate them to max to support your "dramatically varying weight" only means you're overloading the axle.
Atlee
Explorer II
Oct 24, 2017
The ever changing weight and weight distribution on my trailer is why I just inflate to the 65# max on the tires. That way, I know I have plenty of reserve capacity, and don't have to worry about over loading any tire.

Huntindog wrote:
Atlee wrote:
So, do all who run lower than max pressure in a trailer tire in order to match the weight of the trailer to the PSI in the tire also always run your trailer across the scales before leaving on a trip? Seems like you would need to in order to make sure your weight is exactly the same as before? And if you carry a full tank of fresh water, do you let air out of the trailer tires at the end of a trip since the trailer doesn't weight as much?

Another question. Do you weight each tire separately? Or do you weight the whole trailer and divide by 4, and air each tire to the same PSI? Since no trailer is ever loaded to the exact amount on each tire, couldn't some of the tires be "over inflated" and other tires be under inflated if using a inflation chart?

I know that having less air, even if allowed by the manufacturer, gives less load capacity. I prefer having extra margin for error rather than less margin for error.

I have always tried to keep the max air pressure as called for on the side of the tire (50# in my previous LRC tires, and 65# in my current LRD tires).

azdryheat wrote:
No need to run max psi unless you want to beat up your trailer with a harsher ride and have uneven tire wear. Goodyear has a psi chart for your Endurance tires and they recommend 40 psi for a load of 1530 pounds per tire. You can find the chart HERE

Seems Goodyear isn't much concerned with sidewall flexing, heat build up, and such with these American made tires.

Atlee.
It is even worse than that.
TTs are sort of unique in that not only can the total weight vary by a lot in the course of a trip, but the way it is distributed can change dramactically.

FW ends up in waste water tanks, fridge and pantry items get consumed and end up there as well. Propane gets burned and disappears. Clothing gets dirty and moves from closets to hampers. Many other items will change locations as well. IOW, it is a fools game to try to match the inflation precisely to the load.

This also the main reason why I advocate a TV with a lot of reserve... But that is another topic.