I have a single axle Karavan trailer. I was checking the tire pressure and wondered what it should be. Max pressure on the sidewall is 65 psi, but I know that is not the right pressure. Any thoughts?
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65 PSI - same as it says on the sidewall. Trailer tires like full pressure and only support the rated load at full pressure.
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Nit,
This will be the first of I am sure many answers, some with conflicting info.
Fact, the max pressure on the sidewall of the tire also lists a max load at that pressure. I would hope your boat/trailer/contents weight is not over, or even terribly close to the max load rating of the tires. Your trailer, 2 tires, load rating on the tire times 2 for the max load on the tires.
Find out the combination weight of your unit. The paperwork with your boat, or available online, or by driving over a commercial scale will give you the dry weight or with the scale, the full boat/contents/trailer weight.
With the full combination weight in hand, compare that to the max weight rating on the trailer if visible, or to the load rating of the tires at the max pressure. Should be less.
I would lower the tire pressure from the max rating by an amount about equal to the amount the load is lower than the max rating.
But, I would also recommend visiting a REPUTABLE tire shop with your numbers in hand and ask for a recommendation on pressure. They may also want to know about driving distances and speeds.
Now, some will tell you, 'I run my trailer tires at max pressure all the time and have never had any trouble". Except that by running them OVER inflated for the load will seriously wear out the centre of the tread and cause extreme heat build up around the same area.
Good luck with your boating this season,
james
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Good info. Thanks. I know automobile tires should not be operated at the max pressure. The manufacturer determines that based on the vehicle.
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i also have a karavan trailer but it is twin axle,i run tyres at 40psi ,have had no problems tyres do not get hot at all
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50PSI on mine !
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I run mine at 55psi...no issues!
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My local tyre shop said 45 so that's what I run at.
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I have an '85 Bayliner 185 w/Karavan trailer w/one axle (two tires). Check my tire pressure every time I hook trailer w/boat up to vehicle. Had been running w/tire pressure around 44lbs but edges of tries wore significantly. Since putting tire pressure at 50lbs have put over 800 miles on trailer tires running from Upper Marlboro to Myrtle Beach, SC w no noticeable additional wear. Also, highway mileage speed of about 65 mi/hr towing boat.
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The sticker on my Karavan trailer shows a chart as to what pressure you should run in a given tire size. Mine says 50, I have not looked on the tires themselves to see what their max pressure is.
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I tend to agree with "Jamsac". 65 psi is for max load, if you inflate to this pressure and do not have max load then you are running with over inflated tyres for the conditions. This will wear the tyres in the centre prematurely.
I have a 185BR on a single axle, I run at 40-45 PSI however when we head away camping with all the gear in the boat I lift the pressue to 60psi.
You can tell just by looking at the tyre where it contacts the road, not enough and it looks flat, too much and it will be sitting high on the road rather than sitting down on the tread.
If you are unsure Ask a tyre expert, it will save you heaps on new tyres.
Happy boating.......
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What tire size is the 50PSI for? Could you post a picture of the sticker so we can all benefit from it?JeffBowser wrote:
The sticker on my Karavan trailer shows a chart as to what pressure you should run in a given tire size. Mine says 50, I have not looked on the tires themselves to see what their max pressure is.
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Thanks for all the good responses. I noticed a little edgewear this weekend while readying the boat. I will probably up it to 55 psi.
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http://baylinerownersclub.org/media/...iler.JPG[/img]kjs wrote:
What tire size is the 50PSI for? Could you post a picture of the sticker so we can all benefit from it?Comment
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thanks a lot for posting the picture!
Now I only have to find a loaner wheel larger than the go-cart wheels (185/80-13) my trailer came with to be able to check whether they can be made fit. My favorite would be a 205/75-15 but a 205/75-14 would be a step up already. Don't want to buy a new set of 3 before I know that they fit. Unfortunately my tire place doesn't have any stone-age ones (only new) and so far craigslist wasn't a success.
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