Recommended tire pressure for trailer GVW 80,000 LB

I was of the same opinion. Anything over 100 PSI would be too much and cause the center to wear faster. I'm discovering that is not the case.

I run 110 PSI in my Michelin XZA3+ steers,. Thats what Michelin calls for. They are wearing like steel and I fully expect to see well over 225k - 250k mi out of them.

I still run 100 PSI in my drives. They are wearing evenly and smoothly,.. I'm running a combination (Still experimenting) of Yoko 417's on my front drive and General D660 on my rear drives. The Yoko's wear nicely,.. good rain traction. But not so good in the snow and they are wearing out quickly. I dont expect to see much over 200k out of them. I got 475k mi out of 8 Hancook DL07's. I think I will try the Hancook DL11's next when these Yoko's expire.

On my trailer,. I've experimented with several different brands and different PSI in the tires. With a spread axles,.. I was doing good to see 100k mi out of my tires. Because I switch to 110 PSI at the same time I went with the BFGoodrich ST230's,.. I can not honestly say if one or the other (Tire brand or the PSI) or combination of both. But I am finally going to be replacing my first set of tires this week. I got 147k mi out of them. Almost 50k more than any other tire I have tried. So be it 110 PSI,.. or just the tires,.. I am going to continue as I have been. The tires have worn evenly,.. smoothly,.. about as good as you could expect from a spread axle. Not bad for a $380 tire.

Hurst

 

Thanks, Hurst. Good information there. I'm running the XZA3's myself, got 'em for $400ea with Conway national account, new shocks and 3 axle alignment to help them feel good, and at 100psi (faithful, constant maintenance) the center treads are deeper than the outers, so I think I'll go with your 110 for the rest of this lifespan. I mean, why not? I already ran them about 165K, like, what do I have to lose! Thanks again. J

 

I run 110-120 in my trailer & 120-130 in my steers, but the shoulders are still wearing faster than the centers. In fact, I can't ever recall seeing a semi trailer or steer tire worn out in the center...

I have ~150,000 miles on the steers and they'll probably make it 250-300k. 80,000 on the trailer tires and they'll probably make it to 350-400k. Both are inexpensive tires not known for long life ($370 FS591 steers & $270 Kumho klt02e trailers)

But that isn't true for the drives. More than 100psi and I'll see center wear accelerate...

 

Thats a darn good price. I thought I was doing good paying $535. Place in Fla wanted over $600. I cried to my carrier and he hooked me up with his Polish tire connection. LOL

Hurst

 

I sure thought so, Hurst. I priced them out at TA "Big Sale for Professional Drivers," at $635 plus install, valve stems, and balance. Another truckstop doing us favors. I like Michelins, for the most part. I bought 8 new XLline Energy D drives, 3 axle alignment, new shocks and air bags, tires $3,200, installed, new valve stems. Duals not balanced at Allied Tire in Joplin.

 

Double, is there any way to say an average load weight on your rig, or a pattern to your trips? That's pretty outstanding tire mileage. I am going to run my steers to 110psi, mentioned earlier, but my drives don't pick up road dust or show contact on pavement when they're wet, on the outside treads. That's loaded or empty. 100psi.

 

Including deadhead, I average 62,000lb gross running OTR. As far as driving style, I generally keep the speeds down (55-62) and I try to park in truck stop spots where my neighbors can back straight in so as not to hit me (which means I generally park in spots where I can back straight in).


You might try playing around with an infrared barbecue thermometer and seeing how even your tire temps are the moment you stop. Shoulder, center, shoulder... They cool fast, but you should be able to check both steers after a long day.

 

I've been lounging at home since Saturday and will set out tomorrow for Des Moines. Going to be cold. Spring is here in New Mexico. Planning to set my steer psi at 110 and see how that works. J

 

The steer axle is basically almost always loaded, even if the trailer is empty. I run 110 psi cold on the steers. After a 1 hr empty run to my pickup they go up to 120 psi. After I get loaded to just under 80k and run for another hour back to delivery, they are at 127 psi. Keep in mind this is in Chicago in 30* weather. The drives and trailer tandems I set at 90 psi cold. That empty 1 hour run and they are at 95 psi. Get loaded to 80k and run 1 hour back and they are at 105 psi.
The inflation tables call for like 75 psi to haul 34k lbs on the tandems. People put more in because if even 1 psi leaks out then you are underinflated for that load. So they put in way more to account for the loss over a longer time. At the same time, more psi increases mpg. You also have to put in consideration that a tire with more psi will be a stiffer ride. A tire with more psi is "harder" and also more prone to puncture. Basically it comes down to balance and whether you prefer a better ride or mpg, which will in turn affect the tire wear.