[team5150]

OK, we're getting everything ready to head out to Jelleystone and the topic of tire inflation for the trailer carrying the trike came up with my know it all, never done anything neighbor.

He is warning me to crank the tire pressure up to at least 50psi for the trailer or it we will be a flaming fireball somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

I, on the other hand, am looking at the weight in the trailer and adjusting the tire pressures accordingly.

The weights I am looking at for this single axle 1540# empty (3500# gross) weight trailer are

trike - 1000#
installed shelves, chock, hitch rack, spare tire & misc stuff - 350#
luggage - 200#
10% safety factor - 150#

total - 1700#

According to the weight vs tire pressures chart for the ST205/75-15 tires - my inflation should be right at 40 - 45#

Does that seem right ?

 

[Harry Robinson]

Look at it this way.
You run 35 - 38 psi in your car, which probably weighs 3500+ lbs on 4 ply Tires

If the trailer is sprung, I would say 40 is ok.
If unsprung, I would drop it to 35 for smoother ride..

50# is too much, unless you are running Tractor Trailer Tires.