Setting tire pressure before hitting the road
Getting ready to hit the road and want to set tire pressure on truck and trailer. Max load pressure on 5th wheel is 110 lb. I set tire pressure cold but should it be set first thing in morning or late...
Forum Discussion
If you go back and look at my first post in this thread, you'll see that I said it was FINE to inflate trailers to maximum cold pressure. It's inflating tires on tow vehicles to maximum that I warned against.
Trailers are different from tow vehicles because the dynamics are different.
"There are differences in the driving requirements between the tires on
your trailer and those on the car or light truck you use to tow it.
Therefore, there are distinct differences between the way trailer tires
and tow vehicle tires are engineered.
Your tow vehicle is a leader, which means traction is a key focus in the
design of its tires. Traction allows your tow vehicle to accelerate down
the road, turn around the corner and brake to a stop. Another important
consideration is tow vehicle tires are designed for ride comfort, which
is achieved in part by allowing their sidewalls to flex.
Your trailer is a follower, which often makes tire sidewall flexing a
negative. Sidewall flexing on trailers, especially those with a high
center of gravity (enclosed/travel trailers) or that carry heavy loads,
is a primary cause of trailer sway. Typical passenger radial tires with
flexible sidewalls can accentuate trailer sway problems. The stiffer
sidewalls and higher operating pressures common with Special Trailer
(ST) designated tires help reduce trailer sway."
That's from another Tire Rack Tech Bulletin:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=219
Trailers are different from tow vehicles because the dynamics are different.
"There are differences in the driving requirements between the tires on
your trailer and those on the car or light truck you use to tow it.
Therefore, there are distinct differences between the way trailer tires
and tow vehicle tires are engineered.
Your tow vehicle is a leader, which means traction is a key focus in the
design of its tires. Traction allows your tow vehicle to accelerate down
the road, turn around the corner and brake to a stop. Another important
consideration is tow vehicle tires are designed for ride comfort, which
is achieved in part by allowing their sidewalls to flex.
Your trailer is a follower, which often makes tire sidewall flexing a
negative. Sidewall flexing on trailers, especially those with a high
center of gravity (enclosed/travel trailers) or that carry heavy loads,
is a primary cause of trailer sway. Typical passenger radial tires with
flexible sidewalls can accentuate trailer sway problems. The stiffer
sidewalls and higher operating pressures common with Special Trailer
(ST) designated tires help reduce trailer sway."
That's from another Tire Rack Tech Bulletin:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=219
