Tire Pressure (Trailer stamp vs tire info)

[gonzo628]

So, my 3124 has Carlisle Radial Trail tires (225 75/R15 LRE) on it. Their max pressure is 80psi. The trailer stamp says the trailer was spec'ed with 225 75/R15 LRD (max pressure is 65psi. My question is... Which do I adhere to?

How do I tell what the rim was spec'ed for? (Another member mentioned the rim -in his situation - being insufficient for the tire rating).

 

[Kidkraz]

Go by the current tiremarkings on the side wall, not what the trailer sticker shows.

 

[gonzo628]

Go by the current tiremarkings on the side wall, not what the trailer sticker shows.

I get that. If the trailer were LRE, but the tires were only LRD, I would not surpass the 65psi. I guess I am just not sure of 2 things:

1) Should I run at max pressure?

2) Does the stamp in any way correlate with rim limitation? Another member indicated he had problems because his tires were LRE and the rim (spec'ed for LRD) could not hold the pressure (allowing the tire to fail).

 

[Craigrrr]

I get that. If the trailer were LRE, but the tires were only LRD, I would not surpass the 65psi. I guess I am just not sure of 2 things:

1) Should I run at max pressure?

2) Does the stamp in any way correlate with rim limitation? Another member indicated he had problems because his tires were LRE and the rim (spec'ed for LRD) could not hold the pressure (allowing the tire to fail).

If you really load the TM with a lot weight I would run at 75-80

otherwise I think 65 would be fine and not mess up the tires

 

[TrailManorMan]

Most rims do have a psi rating, I'd be sure to know what it is before putting to much pressure on the rim. The old weakest link theory need to be known.

 

[Padgett]

New trailer wheels have a sticker or can check model number which should be stamped in the wheel. I would use at least a 15x6.

These were returned when I saw the wheel sticker.

ps I would not run over 65 psi, trailer would bounce. Check the rating of the LRD tire at 65 then take the weight of the trailer, subtract the tongue weight if not a WDH, divide by two. If the max load of a LRD is more, run 65. LRE is just stronger, not bigger.

 

[Bill]

I think we are mixing up a number of things here.

The label on the trailer tells you how it was equipped when it left the factory. If you want to change to more capable tires, so much the better. The factory sticker is no barrier to that.

As Padgett has pointed out in another thread, tires labelled Load Range E are only Load Range E if they are inflated to 80 psi. If they are inflated to 65 psi, their load-carrying capacity is still Load Range D. And by the way, LR-D is plenty for a TM.

I run my LR-Ds at 60 psi instead of the max 65 psi. At 65 psi, they are too hard and shake things apart. At 60 psi they still have plenty of load-carrying capacity, but are a bit softer.

The wheels (aka rims) are stamped with a max pressure rating, but in my limited experience, the stamp is on the inside of the wheel - the part you can't see when the tire is mounted. But you need to know this rating before you start putting high-pressure air into them. We have had some forum members who were surprised when their wheels were stamped 50 psi.

Bill

 

[gonzo628]

I think we are mixing up a number of things here.

The label on the trailer tells you how it was equipped when it left the factory. If you want to change to more capable tires, so much the better. The factory sticker is no barrier to that.

As Padgett has pointed out in another thread, tires labelled Load Range E are only Load Range E if they are inflated to 80 psi. If they are inflated to 65 psi, their load-carrying capacity is still Load Range D. And by the way, LR-D is plenty for a TM.

I run my LR-Ds at 60 psi instead of the max 65 psi. At 65 psi, they are too hard and shake things apart. At 60 psi they still have plenty of load-carrying capacity, but are a bit softer.

The wheels (aka rims) are stamped with a max pressure rating, but in my limited experience, the stamp is on the inside of the wheel - the part you can't see when the tire is mounted. But you need to know this rating before you start putting high-pressure air into them. We have had some forum members who were surprised when their wheels were stamped 50 psi.

Bill

thanks for the replies. I think the confusion came in regards to the as built (stamp) rating vs the on rim tire rating. As you mentioned, other people have been surprised by the rim being the weakest link. does it stand to reason that if "as-built" (trailer stamp) says LRD, the rim is LRD?

 

[Bill]

In my mind, yes, it stands to reason, assuming the trailer is still equipped with the OEM wheels. Doles the trailer stamp also say 65 psi?

I wasn't aware that TM was putting LR-D tires on any TMs in the 2006 time frame.

Bill

 

[gonzo628]

In my mind, yes, it stands to reason, assuming the trailer is still equipped with the OEM wheels. Doles the trailer stamp also say 65 psi?

I wasn't aware that TM was putting LR-D tires on any TMs in the 2006 time frame.

Bill

The stamp does say 65psi. If I have time, I'll edit and upload the picture I took...

 

[Savage709]

That was ME!

I was the one with the issue about the rim and tire. Too bad I found out about this AFTER the fact! To my knowledge, TM's with 15" tires are rated at 65psi max (LRD) on the tires and so they only equipped them with rims rated the same. If I were you, I would buy new rims from etrailer.com . Before I changed out to 16" tires I bought new Maxxis tires (LDE) and new rims rated at 100psi (or so that is what they told me they were rated at...but they will hold 80psi) last fall before we went out to California. 5,500 miles later and never a single issue with them, and that's towing at 72MPH! Why take a chance? Just get new rims and then you won't have to worry. I found out the hard way :new_cussi!!! I had e rated tires on a d rated rims (not knowing there was such a thing as rated rims) and while running 70-75 psi the rims couldn't hold the pressure and BOOM! There she went, half way between San Antonio and Corpus Christi on I-37 in 105° weather. NO FUN-O! You can read more about this on my website (see my signature). If you don't get new rims, NEVER run more than 65psi! Remember, your tires will heat up as you drive down the road and there by increasing the pressure in the tire by at least 5-10psi depending on the weather. So start out like Bill with less psi when the tires are cold. Having a tire monitor that tells you the tire temp comes in real handy here!
By the way, I still have my 15" Maxxis tires and wheels (LRE), and would let them go at $90 a piece (you pay the shipping). If your within 100 miles of me I'll bring them to you. If you want to take a trip to Austin Texas you can save to shipping cost....just FYI.....
TC

 

[Padgett]

LNT123: am surprised, thought the 3124 came with a 5k axle and 6 bolt wheels. Am surprised a 6 bolt wheel would only be rated for 65 psi. OTOH I have heard that more than 65 will shake the trailer a lot.

 

[Deb Mac]

Once again, sorry to resurrect an old post... just put new tires on (came to me w/ original Marathons, on 15" steel rims, 225/75 R15 - 2007!!) Shop guy filled them to 60 psi.

I went with Carlisle Trail HD Radials, load range E. Now I keep seeing references to the psi limits for rims being stamped on the backside of the rim. I can't find anything that says anything about psi on mine. I am still inclined to run at 65 psi, since I really do not carry much - dishes, cutlery, a few pots n pans, basic food, some water (not a lot) some clothes and that is about it.

Attached is a pic of what is stamped on the backside of my rim... Anything there that would be code for max psi rating? That 15 x 6 C (I think). Is that C an indication of the psi? FYI, tires are rated for 80 psi, steel valves. Thanks.

Edit: May have found part of my answer - the psi rating is INSIDE? the rim? Not on the backside? So you can't know unless you take the newly mounted tire back off? Just MHO - that seems silly! Backside would be awkward enough, but inside?

 

[Deb Mac]

My thoughts are that there probably weren't any load range E tires in 15" back then - so likely these would be 65 psi max - designed for load range D tires?

 

[Bill]

... Now I keep seeing references to the psi limits for rims being stamped on the backside of the rim.

Deb -

Are the markings in your photo on the backside of the rim, or the inside of the rim? Often they are found on the inside - the part that is covered by the tire once the tire is mounted. Handy huh? So you may not find the marking unless you dismount the tire, then remount it, then (of course) re-balance it.

Another way to get an idea is via the valve stems, presumed to have been originally installed on the wheel. See this
https://www.etrailer.com/question-230756.html

Can you identify the maker of the wheel? If so, you can query them, probably on their web site. Last week I went through this same question. I upgraded from TM's OEM LR-D tires (65 psi) to new LR-E tires. After the tire jockey mounted them and inflated them to 78 psi, he mumbled "Gee I wonder if the wheels can take that pressure." So I deflated them to 72 and we continued the trip. When we got home, I shot off a query to HiSpec, the wheel maker, explaining the situation with the D-to-E conversion. They immediately responded "They will easily handle 80 psi".

My trailer also had the proper valve stem for 80 psi

So I am resting easier.

Good luck.

Bill

 

[Deb Mac]

Hi Bill. That picture is from the backside of the rim. If I had realized the rating info was on the inside, I would made sure he checked before he mounted the tires.

I have steel valves on all of the wheels - came with the rims from what I can see so it would seem the valves can handle 80psi. Rims are the big question.

Maker is CT&W. Carlisle Tire & Wheel. 2009 mfr date. I have a query in to them. We’ll see what they come back with. But I agree that it is more likely a 65psi rated rim being from ‘09. Could be pleasantly surprised… that would be a switch! Nothing else has been a pleasant surprise, though nothing really has been totally unexpected.

If all else fails I can bring back one tire and have him take a look inside then remount and rebalance. Maybe the spare, since I’m working getting the rack tweaked.

 

[Wavery]

Just a tip Deb Mac......... I see rust spots on the rims. Once the rims start rusting, that degrades the PSI rating anyway.

Having said that, I've never seen a post on anyone experiencing issues with wheel leaking or breaking.

Even if your "E" rated tires are rated at 80PSI cold, I wouldn't run them over 60PSI. It just causes a very hard ride on the trailer. 60-65PSI is plenty to support under 2,000# of load per tire. Those tires are probably rated @ around 2500# each and would need 80# of pressure when carrying 5000#.

 

[Deb Mac]

Just a tip Deb Mac......... I see rust spots on the rims. Once the rims start rusting, that degrades the PSI rating anyway.

Having said that, I've never seen a post on anyone experiencing issues with wheel leaking or breaking.

Even if your "E" rated tires are rated at 80PSI cold, I wouldn't run them over 60PSI. It just causes a very hard ride on the trailer. 60-65PSI is plenty to support under 2,000# of load per tire. Those tires are probably rated @ around 2500# each and would need 80# of pressure when carrying 5000#.

I wondered about the little rust spots. It’s all surface and just on the outside of the lip. The part that contacts the tire bead is ok. I couldn’t see running them at 80 anyway. I had thought 65-70 psi. But if the rims are only rated to 65psi, I guess my decision has been made for me. I can’t see them being 80psi rims. In spite of the metal valve stems. I’m good with running them at 60-65. They’re filled at 60 right now.

One more thing to put on my “maybe get next year” list…

 

[Wavery]

I wondered about the little rust spots. It’s all surface and just on the outside of the lip. The part that contacts the tire bead is ok. I couldn’t see running them at 80 anyway. I had thought 65-70 psi. But if the rims are only rated to 65psi, I guess my decision has been made for me. I can’t see them being 80psi rims. In spite of the metal valve stems. I’m good with running them at 60-65. They’re filled at 60 right now.

One more thing to put on my “maybe get next year” list…

I remember when I put new tires on my 2004 TM. The stamp on the inside of the white steel rim said, Max PSI 55#.

 

[Deb Mac]

I remember when I put new tires on my 2004 TM. The stamp on the inside of the white steel rim said, Max PSI 55#.

Were you on 14” or 15” rims? Load range C? Or D? Do you remember? My 15” rims had D’s on them I think. I’ll stop at the shop that did the tires tomorrow and see what they were. Can’t remember but I’m pretty sure they were D.

Still think inside the rim is a really silly place to put that information. If I buy a used trailer with good tires, good dating on them, and I don’t know what the psi rating of the rims are, he could have E’s on there, inflated to say 75psi, but the rims are only rated to 65. Unless you pop the tires off, you have no way of knowing…. Silly! It would be so easy to stamp it into the back of the rim, with the other info…