FAQ-60

Trailer tires, loads and inflation

Mark ,

I heard your radio program back in June when you talked about trailer tires , it struck home because we had just returned from a trip with our travel trailer during which we had 2 blowouts on our trailer within 125 miles. The tires where 3 years old , it was over 100 degrees and both the gray and black water tanks where full. I missed your recommendation for trailer tires. Thank you for your help.

You must look at the max load (single) written on the sidewall of each tire and see if they all add up to much more than the gross vehicle loaded weight (GVW) of your trailer. Another way to determine the GVWR is each axle times it’s maximum load rating. So two five thousand pound axles would give you a 10,000 lb GVWR.

For example, all four tires inflated to 45 psi that will handle 2,530 pounds each, times four equals 10,120 lbs carrying capability (4 x 2,530). If the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of your loaded trailer is 12,000 lbs you are in trouble. You have 10,120 lbs of tires holding 12,000 lbs of load.
Your tires need to carry 8,000 lbs if your loaded trailer has a gross vehicle weight of 6,500 to 7,000 lbs.

Then you need to get a weight chart off the net for your tires. You know they (two or both on that axle) will handle 2500 at 45psi, but if that axle load (by using a scale) is 4000 lbs, according to the chart, you should inflate to 38 psi.

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