Tire Pressure

[FinsNFeet]

The VIN Tag on the trailer calls for 32 psi for the tires, the side wall of the tires call for 50 psi Max Cold. Seems like a large gap between the two. What would be the correct pressure. Right now I split the diffrence and have them at 41 psi.

[colt100]

I would go with what's on the tires. It's completely possible that a different tire was put on the trailer then what origionaly came with it.

[FinsNFeet]

The tires are listed on the plate. The same tires, same size. Just two different psi listing. I was leaning towards the psi on the tire myself.

[jokerjim]

The 50 psi is the max. pressure for the tire. 35 psi is what the trailer mfg. reccommends for the trailer.

[Shep]

Tire pressure is determined by the load. Maxx inflation will get you the highest load capacity for the tires. If you underinflate, you will be looking at trouble.

There are inflation charts available for your tire. You can't go wrong by inflating to max stated on the tire.

[Phil T]

This is from a car/truck magazine someone brought to work many years ago. Draw a line across the face of the tire with heavy chalk. Drive around a few blocks, including some turns. If the chalk is worn more at the edge of the tires, they are underinflated. If more in the center of the tread, they are overinflated. Even chalk loss means equal tread contact and wear.
If you watch your tires in your mirrors, you can see the tread cleaning off dust and dirt more in one part than the other as you tow your rig down the highway. So the chalk thing isn't really needed, it just works well.

[ffishman]

I run my tires at MAX pressure all the time.

[FinsNFeet]

Thanks everyone I will try the chalk trick and try to get a chart. I guess max would also give me better gas mileage?

[colt100]

Originally Posted by FinsNFeet

Thanks everyone I will try the chalk trick and try to get a chart. I guess max would also give me better gas mileage?

It should. I think that the chalk trick is more for cars/trucks, where tires go bad fom wear. Most people won't be wearing down the tread of their trailer tires over 5 years so it's better to keep them inflated to the max pressure on the tire in order to not have the tires over loaded, IE highest load cap. That is going to mean that if you do the chalk trick and keep your tires at a level that will evenly distribute the chalk, the tires are not going to be able to carry as much load. If you overload your tires, that causes heat and more wear, possibly contributeing to a blowout.

I'm no tire expert but that is my understanding when it comes to boat tires.

[fireboat]

Originally Posted by colt100

It should. I think that the chalk trick is more for cars/trucks, where tires go bad fom wear. Most people won't be wearing down the tread of their trailer tires over 5 years so it's better to keep them inflated to the max pressure on the tire in order to not have the tires over loaded, IE highest load cap. That is going to mean that if you do the chalk trick and keep your tires at a level that will evenly distribute the chalk, the tires are not going to be able to carry as much load. If you overload your tires, that causes heat and more wear, possibly contributeing to a blowout.

I'm no tire expert but that is my understanding when it comes to boat tires.

colt100 is correct. Forget about the chalk. Air up the tires to the max rating on the tire. Less air = more flex in the sidewall = more heat in the tire = a blowout.