Tire pressure help for a trailer

Spilchy

Spilchy

New member
Hi guys, my neighbor is leaving tonight on a long trip and pulling their Wells Cargo trailer. However, their tires are low on the trailer and they will be filling it up with serious weight.



They lost the owners manual and there is no place or placard that indicates the tire pressure. I called Wells Cargo and they said to follow the side wall inflation. When I said that is the MAXIMUM pressure (not the recommended pressure) the guy said I was wrong and to fill the tires up to 51psi!! He said that's what the owners manula states.



Now, I didn't want to start an argument so I hung up and called the tire company whose make is on my neighbor's tire. They too said to go with the pressure on the side wall! But, he didn't sound so sure. Again, that's the MAXIMUM I told them and they said to do it anyway!



So I called a local trailer company here that sells them and does repairs. He too said to go with the sidewall! But when I said it was the maximum he said he really didn't know then!



I know you don't go by the maximum pressure on the side wall. Any search on how to properly fill your tires will tell you that!



So in your opinion, what would be the recommended pressure? Currently they're at 32.5 psi with a maximum of 51psi on the sidewall. They will be loading about 1000lbs in the trailer.



This is the size trailer http://www.calvertauto.com/Trailer 1web pic.jpg



I don't remember the tire size. All I know is that filling the tires to maximum 51psi and then loading a 1000lbs could be dangerous on the highway where they will be traveling for 6 hours.



Thanks! :up
 
I always put 32 psi in all my car tires...its a magic number my dad taught me that seems to work...he gets about 80,000 miles on a set of tires...so i picked it up and use it, not sure if it should be more/less because its a trailer but i would put 32 psi in it if i were to fill them up...just my .02...



-Justin
 
Spilch...I believe for max capacity you go to max pressure; it's the air that's holding the weight, the tire is only holding the air. I'm going to check at the Tire Rack and post back.



EDIT: The Tire Rack doesn't really address this issue in their tech section (they talk about upping the pressure for driving on the Autobahn). Heating in a tire, which is what causes failure, is caused by sidewall flexure. The higher the load, the more the tire will deform. To combat the deformation, you raise the pressure. (Look at the tire placard on your car; usually there are two pressures, one for normal load, and a higher number for the max gross vehicle weight.) I don't think anyone ever had a problem from going to the max inflation pressure, other than a hard ride.
 
Yeah you need to raise the pressure when you're adding weight or towing something. More weight, more added pressure. I can't say for sure what the rate of increase should be.



I've had my tires at 42psi (51max) all around, and it's fine, other than a bit harsh on bumps. Now I keep them around 38psi. My tire placard states 31/33.



I think they should increase the pressure until the tires aren't too deformed. They'll probably be a little more deformed than normal with all that added weight, but as long as you're under the MAX PSI rating, I don't think there's anything to be concerned about.
 
Thanks guys. I know the placard decal with the recommendations, etc...



It's just that the trailer has no placard, and they lost the owner's manual. So there is no way to find out the proper inflation other than the max listed on the sidewall. Hence my question.



So we pumped it up to 45psi before loading it and not the max pressure since they aren't holding the max weight which the tire is rated at 1850lbs.
 
If it is a 2 axle trailor, low tires might pop the tire off the bead when he is makeing sharp turn or backing it in.



I go through this with my trailor all the time. I never measure the pressure though, i dont go on the HW, but to be safe, just -5 pounds of pressure off the max.
 
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