My tire dealer always says run them to the posted PSI on the side wall to get the most life out of them. Anything less over heats the tire when under load. I always run to max PSI and have never had a problem. Those Load Range G are the same ply tire on some of my semi trailers and one of my road tractors all the rest are load range H which are 16 ply tires. None the less those tires will never wear out for you which is a good thing because they can be pricey.

 

I wasn't recommending using nitrogen in pick up truck tires they are only 80 psi max cold and not 110psi cold, and I don't use nitrogen in ANY of my vehicles either. However the FAA and Transport Canada both mandate the use of nitrogen in commercial aircraft tires so there must be something to it, all I know is after a 200+ psi tire goes BANG there's not much left.

 

That holds true for any LR-G tire, be it ST or LT.

One not commonly known fact is that most ST-rated tires have shallower tread depth than LT tires of the same size, due partially to the SQUIRM factor, and partially just because they can get by with it.

If you are unable to compare tires side-by-side, most tire companies have data tables that list various criteria, such as total weight of the tire.

A heavier tire is going to have more goodies in it's construction.

 

Tire pressure for a HD tire doesn't affect wear as much as with a tire of lighter construction. The carcass of the HD tire is much more rigid, and hence it doesn't deform as much at lower tire pressures.

In other words, there's no real benefit in terms of treadwear to running lower pressures in HD trailer tires.

If there was a substantial benefit to varying TP in higher load tires, then commercial trucking would employ some kind of onboard air system that tapped into the brakes to vary inflation pressure based on load. A 40' van trailer can vary HUGELY in weight from as light as 18K or so to the full legal weight.

Yet you don't see trucking companies scrambling to save tire money by varying tire pressure on trailers. They just air them up to 110 or so and call it good no matter the load.


On your pickup, there is a reason to match TP to load, because the tires are of comparatively much lighter contruction. But with HD trailer tires, just air them up to match the heaviest load you'll use and leave them there.

JMO

 

My trailer tires are ST's I looked when I got home.. Now I have 110 PSI and ready to go!!

 

Nitrogen is superior to air for filling heavy aircraft tires for a few reasons:

... in the event of catastrophic tire failure - usually of an explosive nature - compressed air would promulgate/accelerate combustion of the flammable material typically present, while nitrogen would act as a buffer/suppressant in the same instance.

... at high altitudes (and low ambient pressure), nitrogen "leaks down" more slowly than compressed air, which is a significant advantage in view of the substantial pressure differential.

... and of course, because anything aviation-related must be more complicated and more expensive.

 

I believe the tire manufacturers take this into consideration when designing a tire. They wouldn't design a tire to blow up due to expanded air if the tire spins faster than it's speed rating. Yes, this is the idea of using Nitrogen in tires. The trucking industry is using it to HELP prolong tire wear due to constant changes in tire press. due to temperature fluctuations. It's not a gimmick. I don't remember the #'s for sure, but I think that I read once that tire press. can change as much a 2 psi +/- with every 5 degree change in temperature.

 

Aircraft wheels have "blow out plugs, if the temp gets too high they blow out and release the nitrogen so the tire won't explode. I know of cases where 32 ply tires have exploded because of over inflation not high temp. In one case it was only a small DC9 nose tire that blew and splattered the remains of two guys against the side of a building. If a 32 ply tire can explode because theres too much air in it, what makes you think a 10 14 or 16 ply tire can't do the same thing especially since theres NO blow out plugs on trailer wheels to protect against high temperatures?

 

Each year, many are killed or maimed by tires/rims letting loose under pressure.

A plain old car tire has enough pressure to kill someone, and has numerous times.

Steel-belted radials are by far the most likely to blow apart, due to their extremely weak side-wall construction.

 

Guess everyone has an opinion about the nitrogen. I filled the tires on 2 trucks and on my 36 ft. gooseneck. The gooseneck has dual tandem axles. I replaced the tires on 1 axle and used nitrogen. Left the others with compressed air in them. Haven't used a thermometer to check the temp., but the ones with the nitrogen sure feel cooler. Running load range E at 80 psi.

 

I have posted this before. Check it out.

http://www.powertank.com/truth.or.hype/

 

Thanks for posting that, Pauly. The NASCAR folks are getting taken to the cleaners because "if it's good for Jr., it's good for me."

I've personally seen a difference of 10psi in tire pressure between the left side and right side of my truck. The difference was it was early morning and the one side was in the bright sun and the other was in the shade. Once I drove the truck a few miles (3 to be exact) tire temps equalized and so did pressures.

 

A tire doesn't necessarily have weak sidewalls just because it's a steel-belted radial. There are weak radials and there are radials that are almost bulletproof.

jh