Tires

[Jon Vermilye]

I posted this at the Escape forum, but it may be of interest here:

Well, the trailer now has a set of Maxxis D rated ST205/75/15 tires. Both the RV dealer that did the work as well as the tire store that did the mounting insisted that trailer tires must be inflated to their maximum sidewall pressure. Since I suspected that they would feel that way, I printed out a copy of both Maxxis's & Goodyear's RV & Trailer Tire Inflation Pressure/Weight Tables, but they wouldn't let me out of the shop without 65psi in the tires.

I know that there are believers in both theories, and I suspect the "inflate to sidewall pressure" comes from larger trailers that are at the tire weight limits, but I don't understand why there are inflation tables from both manufacturers if the shops won't use them. Maybe because they have no idea of what the trailer actually weighs?

In any case, the bearing have been checked, repacked & brakes cleaned & adjusted. All the various spring projects in the trailer are done so I'm ready to go!

[rabbit]

Here we go again.

jack

[Jon Vermilye]

Originally Posted by rabbit

Here we go again.

jack

Yea, I probably should have kept my mouth shut (well, my fingers off the keyboard)...

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Jon Vermilye

I posted this at the Escape forum, but it may be of interest here:

Well, the trailer now has a set of Maxxis D rated ST205/75/15 tires. Both the RV dealer that did the work as well as the tire store that did the mounting insisted that trailer tires must be inflated to their maximum sidewall pressure. Since I suspected that they would feel that way, I printed out a copy of both Maxxis's & Goodyear's RV & Trailer Tire Inflation Pressure/Weight Tables, but they wouldn't let me out of the shop without 65psi in the tires.

I know that there are believers in both theories, and I suspect the "inflate to sidewall pressure" comes from larger trailers that are at the tire weight limits, but I don't understand why there are inflation tables from both manufacturers if the shops won't use them. Maybe because they have no idea of what the trailer actually weighs?

In any case, the bearing have been checked, repacked & brakes cleaned & adjusted. All the various spring projects in the trailer are done so I'm ready to go!

This has been hashed about cussed and discussed here many times. The last time I pointed out the wording on those charts. Those ARE NOT recommended inflation charts. They are charts that show the minimum inflation by weight, not the recommended inflation points, big difference. I have seen on Goodyear and Carlise web sites where they indicate the recommended inflation is the pressure shown the on the sidewall.

Here comes the low tire pressure guys to give you their opinion.

[Jim Bennett]

Glad to hear you are good to go for the year now, Jon.

I too subscribe to the belief in keeping tires at, or at least near, maximum allowable regardless of other interpretations of charts. I just see to many benefits, with little reason to go less. Reace at Escape has recommended max pressures to me too.

[Jon Vermilye]

That is interesting - he is the one that recommended 45psi for my 17B.

[santacruzer]

Same here...40-45 psi. I compromise at 42!

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Jon Vermilye

That is interesting - he is the one that recommended 45psi for my 17B.

My stock tires only have a max of 50psi. He had suggested at least 45 to me too.

[Carol H]

Well mine are inflated to max as was recommended by the tire store even after we discussed the actual weight of my trailer.

[alan in alberta]

This might be a good topic after 30,000 kms or so.

If it has too much air the middle of the tread will be worn and if not enough the outside edges will be worn.

ready ...set ....get camping

I'll be waiting for the results .....lol

[gmw photos]

I will bet that here on the good 'ol internet, you can find folks who will present convincing sounding arguments that will say anything from about 25 psi to 80 psi is the magic number.
I say, run whatcha want.....cuz you ain't gonna convince anybody they are wrong on this subject.....

[Roy in TO]

Thanks Jon and Byron,
From the Carlisle site:
http://www.carlisletransportationpro..._Practices.pdf
I learnt a few things:

– 3 to 5 years is the average life expectancy of a trailer tire,

regardless of mileage.

– Maintain air pressure at the maximum PSI recommended on the

tire sidewall.

[Daniel A.]

My feeling is that the sidewalls carry the load so I go max pressure.

My trailer tires are nine years old and I'm thinking this may be the year to change them.
Next year I'll be spending a lot of time on the road.

[rabbit]

I see Carlisle doesn't muddy the waters with charts of inflation pressures linked to trailer wgt. What a relief. Go chalk Carlisle on the sidewalls of my Goodyrs and be happy at least until the received wisdom changeth. Interesting comments on inflation recs issuing from the Escape builder. I suppose he inflates his tires one at a time just like the rest of us.

jack

[floyd]

AMAZING!.... But, anyway, I still say Byron got it right.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Roy in TO

From the Carlisle site:
http://www.carlisletransportationpro..._Practices.pdf

That is a great sensible document on trailer tires, thanks for linking to it.

I do wonder why they can't, or don't, manufacture tires to last longer than 5 years. I guess maybe car tires are the same, we just tend to replace them more often due to wear.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

That is a great sensible document on trailer tires, thanks for linking to it.

I do wonder why they can't, or don't, manufacture tires to last longer than 5 years. I guess maybe car tires are the same, we just tend to replace them more often due to wear.

The issue of presently manufactured tire longevity aside,there may never be a better tire made.

Those who advocate laws for tire replacement by build date and those who refuse to mount tires based on time rather than condition, may see to that. They hold all tires to the standard set by a small number of the worst tire under the worst possible conditions.

That sort of thinking, allowed to flourish,would be the end of all research and development.
Why should a company produce a superior product if it is forced to perform only at the "lowest common denominator" level?

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Roy in TO

From the Carlisle site:
http://www.carlisletransportationpro..._Practices.pdf
I learnt a few things:

– 3 to 5 years is the average life expectancy of a trailer tire,

regardless of mileage.

– Maintain air pressure at the maximum PSI recommended on the

tire sidewall.

What the first item tells me is that I should not take the second item seriously.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by rabbit

Interesting comments on inflation recs issuing from the Escape builder.

I have noticed that Escape uses ST205/75R14 tires on all trailer sizes (4 of them on the heaviest models, the 19' and 21' models) while Scamp uses "13” C load radial" (ST185/80R13?) on all models... even the 19' which would overload those tires by over 500 pounds per pair at GAWR. It does not surprise me that the two companies might have different approaches to tire inflation.

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by alan in alberta

This might be a good topic after 30,000 kms or so.

If it has too much air the middle of the tread will be worn and if not enough the outside edges will be worn.

ready ...set ....get camping

I'll be waiting for the results .....lol

You beat me to it! I was looking at my truck tires today and decided they were a bit underinflated. Or wife was driving too fast around corners. lol.

Underinflation causes global warming.
Overinflation causes global cooling.
So let's all get with the program. I'm freezing here.