What tire pressure while towing???

[gtmgooser]

Guys, I'm going on a road trip this weekend and was wondering what tire pressure I should be running. I'm towing my Jeep Wrangler on a trailer (approx 5,500 lbs combined jeep and trailer).

[blowinsmoke7.3]

what size tires

[gtmgooser]

275 / R16... basically stock.

[dmd]

5500 is nothing.. As long as the trailer is loaded properly...

I assume your tires max at 70lbs being stock, 65 front and back should
work fine.

Unloaded I run front at 65, rear at 60. Tires wear even. I have "E" rated tires that
can go to 80lbs for the stiffer sidewalls. I believe that stock are "D" rated.

[SuperCrutyPS]

Check your driver's side door jamb - the recommended tire pressures are there. Although, it doesn't distinguish between loaded and unloaded.

[19558077]

IS THERE A MAX RATING ON THE TIRE ITSELF. MY GOODYEARS ARE RATED FOR 80 PSI

[orng1]

Yeah but you have to remember that air expands when the tire heats up so you have to stay under the max rating or you'll be way over once it gets hot. 65 is what I'd run on a long trip.

[Colotow]

max rating on sidewall (weight) will then say "AT XX PSI COLD"

After the ford exploder tire fiasco, I always figured the people making the tires know more htan the truck maker, running the tires softer just lets it ride a little smoother. I go with the tire makers numbers

think of it this way: less pressure=more sidewall flex=more heat=tire deterioration

and, pulling a trailer, it will handle a bit better, less sway if you pump the tires up closer to the max COLD inflation. no compressor? let it sit overnight, 5 or 10 miles will not get them warm enough to matter to air up at a filling station.

just get a decent quality pressure gauge, don't trust the ones at the station

that's based on 15 years in heavy trucks and heavy wreckers- i've scaled with 55,000 lbs on tandems- yeah, way overweight and a slow trip, but in 500,000+ miles I've never blown a tire, either!

[dmd]

Originally Posted by Colotow

max rating on sidewall (weight) will then say "AT XX PSI COLD"

After the ford exploder tire fiasco, I always figured the people making the tires know more htan the truck maker, running the tires softer just lets it ride a little smoother. I go with the tire makers numbers

think of it this way: less pressure=more sidewall flex=more heat=tire deterioration

and, pulling a trailer, it will handle a bit better, less sway if you pump the tires up closer to the max COLD inflation. no compressor? let it sit overnight, 5 or 10 miles will not get them warm enough to matter to air up at a filling station.

just get a decent quality pressure gauge, don't trust the ones at the station

that's based on 15 years in heavy trucks and heavy wreckers- i've scaled with 55,000 lbs on tandems- yeah, way overweight and a slow trip, but in 500,000+ miles I've never blown a tire, either!

Lots of words, but didnt answer the guys question...


Sidewall is COLD pressure, it isnt MAX pressure. Air is expected to heat up
as you roll down the road, if you lets some out then you will underinflate
the tire.

Truck is designed to pull 10k-lbs, and haul a good amount lower than what
a 5500-lb trailer will have. No need to max out the tires, but need more
than unloaded pressure to add some sidewall stiffness. Number on door
are for max load on the truck, your not going to have max load so you
can run lower pressure in the tires. See the numbers on my post above
for pressures that should work fine.

[Evan_m]

i tow around 18000 lbs and run my tires at their max cold psi (80) and have never had a problem with them. Tiers are designed for their max load rating at the pressure given on the side wall, thus xxxxlbs @xxpsi