Mike, most of those sites push that particular barrow cos they don't believe people could understand the way pneumatic tires actually work as just one part of the trailer suspension load carrying task &/or they want to sell more trailer tires or trailer replacement parts.
ALL pneumatic tires should be run at a pressure appropriate to the load they are carrying, even 'Special Trailer' construction tires (altho it might be less important for heavier construction tires, it's still got some bearing!) - it's the combination of the tire casing & the air volume inside it that carries the load, prevents dangerous handling characteristics, & prevents premature wear/failure. If that
wasn't the case, then you could just as well run solid rubber or even solid steel tires & you'd never have a blow-out as well as being able to get get far better ride & tire life from them. :shocked: But since it
is the case & we don't run solid rubber or steel tires on our trailers, then if you want to get the best performance out of your pneumatic tires, you will need to run the correct pressure for what they are doing & the load your tires are carrying; and in addition to varying according to different loading, that pressure will vary somewhat depending upon a range of variables that includes (but isn't restricted to) things like the road surface you are running on, the construction of the tires (ST vs P, bias ply vs radial, different load ratings, etc) and to a certain extent, the speed you are driving at & the ambient temps you are operating them in.....
But if anyone out there wants to believe the '
one pressure works best all the time regardless of anything else' furphy/sales gimmick about
always running their pneumatic trailer tires at their maximum pressure/maximum load rating regardless, then maybe I could interest you in this slightly used bridge I have to sell?? :thumbup:
