Run at MaX Psi on These Tires?

[JungleJim]

austinado mentioned also airing up your TV tires.  I'll add that from experience I've found that TV tires are best 2-3 psi below their rated max.  Still close enough to max to get 97% of your load capacity, but the ride quality between full and a few psi lower is very noticeable.

The data plate gives the tire pressures that should be run at the AXLE GAWR or the truck GVWR.
If you don't overload the truck or the axle, you don't need to exceed those pressures.

You need the proper pressure to create a flat contact patch.

Underinflated tires overheat and explode.

Overinflated tires decrease the size of the contact patch, decrease traction (think emergency braking and avoidance manouvers), and increase wear.

The manufacturers give us these numbers for a reason. The engineers don't just make them up.

[wavery]

The data plate gives the tire pressures that should be run at the AXLE GAWR or the truck GVWR.
If you don't overload the truck or the axle, you don't need to exceed those pressures.

You need the proper pressure to create a flat contact patch.

Underinflated tires overheat and explode.

Overinflated tires decrease the size of the contact patch, decrease traction (think emergency braking and avoidance manouvers), and increase wear.

The manufacturers give us these numbers for a reason. The engineers don't just make them up.

^ ^ Very well put ^ ^

[techntrek]

Right from my owner's manual:  "The recommended cold tire inflation pressure, shown on the label, is the minimum amount of air pressure needed to support your vehicle's maximum load carrying capacity."

This minimum tire pressure is chosen for passenger ride comfort and stability when cornering - front tires sliding outside of a curve - understeer - will tend to regain traction when the gas pedal is released if they have a lower tire inflation.  When towing you need the tires to be much stiffer to help prevent sway - sidewall flex in the camper and TV tires both contribute to sway.  And while the tires may be at their minimum load carrying ability at the suggested psi, when you are towing you are pushing your vehicles limits no matter how much you are within axle ratings, gross ratings, etc.  There is no reason to keep the tires at their "minimum...needed" during those conditions.

The best thing you can do is a "chalk test".  Go to a large open parking lot with a big stick of chalk, draw lines across each tire tread, then drive 100 feet.  If it evenly wears off you are good, if it wears more in the middle you need to increase your pressure, if it wears more on the edges you need to decrease it.

[austinado16]

Overinflated tires decrease the size of the contact patch, decrease traction (think emergency braking and avoidance manouvers), and increase wear.

The manufacturers give us these numbers for a reason. The engineers don't just make them up.

Running vehicle tires at their max rated pressure does not increase their wear.  Been doing this a long, long time, and I've never had a set of tires wear out down the middle.

The automotive engineers set that factory air pressure recommendation for ride comfort.....as it relates to the OE brand of tires that are shipped on the vehicle.  And gee, why is it always something like 27psi or 29psi?  And the tires look like marshmallows.

[wavery]

Overinflated tires decrease the size of the contact patch, decrease traction (think emergency braking and avoidance manouvers), and increase wear.

The manufacturers give us these numbers for a reason. The engineers don't just make them up.

Running vehicle tires at their max rated pressure does not increase their wear.  Been doing this a long, long time, and I've never had a set of tires wear out down the middle.

The automotive engineers set that factory air pressure recommendation for ride comfort.....as it relates to the OE brand of tires that are shipped on the vehicle.  And gee, why is it always something like 27psi or 29psi?  And the tires look like marshmallows.

Unless I'm missing something..... you are both saying exactly the same thing.... 

[stumps]

Overinflated tires decrease the size of the contact patch, decrease traction (think emergency braking and avoidance manouvers), and increase wear.

The manufacturers give us these numbers for a reason. The engineers don't just make them up.

Running vehicle tires at their max rated pressure does not increase their wear.  Been doing this a long, long time, and I've never had a set of tires wear out down the middle.

The automotive engineers set that factory air pressure recommendation for ride comfort.....as it relates to the OE brand of tires that are shipped on the vehicle.  And gee, why is it always something like 27psi or 29psi?  And the tires look like marshmallows.

Unless I'm missing something..... you are both saying exactly the same thing.... 

wavery, I didn't want to point out the difference between "overinflated" and running at max PSI"  but you kinda did... so thanks!

also... it seems we have one referencing vehicle tires, and the thread is about trailer tires, which are different...

anyway... this has been fun.  one and a half pages to say something basic about camper tires. 



 

[zuley]

Ok Guys, now I am really confused.  Mt Arcadia clearly states on the info tag to run the tires at 50 psi.  That's cool because the OE tires say on the side of them to run at 50 psi max.  However, I recently upgraded to an 8 ply Goodyear HD tire that has a 65 psi max rating.  So, do I run at the tire manufacturers max rating or the trailer manufacturers rating?  My thinking, whether right or wrong, is that by running the tires at 50 psi I am under inflating them and will cause them to over heat and wear prematurely.  I was wrong once before but I was mistaken.

[austinado16]

Follow the tire manufacture's recommendation.