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Timeking's avatar
Timeking
Explorer
May 08, 2013

tow vehicle tire air pressure/load quandary

I have to replace tires on my Trailblazer soon, which I use to tow 5000 lbs (with no problems in over 25000 miles), with load leveling, anti-sway. The current tires are Toyo Open Country P245/65R17 with a load-speed rating of 105H. The tires are rated full load of 2039 lbs @ 35 psi (stamped on tire). The placard on the Trailblazer door recommends 32psi front and 35 psi rear. So I typically pump them up as per Chevroet's recommendations. This is where I get confused!! When you look at the tire with the trailer hooked up, you can see an increase in sidewall bulge. I was thinking if I got a tire that could handle a higher pressure, I could have less bulge, and better gas mileage. For example, a Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max is rated 2149 lbs at 51 psi. So what does this all mean? I buy tires that can take more pressure, and pump them up until the bulge is the same as when I am not hooked up to the trailer? What happens then when I am driving about with say 45 psi in the rear tires, 10 lbs pressure above what Chevrolet determined was appropriate for this vehicle. Is that bad? Good? Don't matter?
  • door jam pressure is usually just the vehicle pressure not towing. while towing you might wanna go up to the actual tires max psi. most people assume the psi on the tire is what they need to put in for regular driving. fill to tire max and dont overload rating. should be good to go.
  • I always use the tire pressure shown on the sidewall of the tire. If properly inflated and rated to carry the load you have you should see very little sidewall bulge when hooked up to your trailer.

    A stiffer sidewall usually means a stiffer ride.

    You're goal when buying tires is to buy tires rated at least 25% higher than the loads you typically carry. This gives you a safety margin.