Quote:
Originally Posted by Tkch88
What's your opinion on proper tire inflation pressure? I thought I had always read to inflate to the maximum pressure on the sidewall. My original 2001 Sunline 2470 tires said 35PSI, and so does the label on the trailer. I got new tires a couple years back that can go to 50PSI. In reading on line, I see mixed opinions if I should use 35 (trailer label) or 50 (tire wall)?? Yesterday, I set them at 42!
What are your opinions? Thanks!
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As I have covered in detail in my RV Tire Safety blog there are a number of details needed to make an informed decision on what inflation pressure to run on your TT.
Since there will be a number of readers I will give a brief summary here.
Single axle trailers are NOT the same as multi axle units.
You need to know the actual load on the tires with the TT loaded to its heaviest. You also need to confirm you are not exceeding the information on the Vehicle Certification Label AKA Tire Placard. That label has Grose Axle rating and Grose vehicle weight rating. You should never exceed those numbers.
-Knowing the actual axle load and with smaller trailers ( No slide-out and no heavy equipment like permanent generators or water tanks larger than 30 gal with propane tank(s) mounted on the front of the RV) you can use the inflation number on the Placard as your 'COLD" inflation number. Cold means not having been driven on or in direct Sunlight for the previous two to 3 hours. OR if your
- Single axle TT can simply figure 50% of the axle load is on each tire to confirm tires are not overloaded. Hopefully, that 50% figure is no greater than 90% of the load number in pounds molded on the tire sidewall. If you exceed 90% you must remove some of your "stuff" from the RY or you can expect an increased probability of having a tire failure before 5 years use.
- Multi-axle trailer owners should know that very few trailers have the load evenly split 50/50 between the axles and very few have the axle load split 50/50 side to side, so we need a better Reserve Load. In this case, the tire load should be no greater than 85% of the tire rating in pounds.
- If you don't know the individual tire loads you should calculate the axle load split to be 53/47% and the side to side split also 53/47%. Yes, I know it is harder to find a scale where you can get the individual tire loads measured but you can find gravel pits or building supply companies that have the side clearance to allow you to learn the numbers so you can use
THIS chart to learn the individual tire loads.
Tkch88 You didn't say if your tires were "P" type or "LT" type so without knowing the actual tire type it is difficult to answer that part of your question. How about posting your actual tire size (include the letters and numbers) and posting a picture of the Placard or telling us the numbers for axle load and tire inflation and full tire size shown on the sticker.