Increase tire pressure?

[Meadows11]

Should you increase your tire pressure when pulling your camper? I'm pulling a 2013 x23b with a Ford Expedition 5.4L. My tires call for 35 lbs. in each tire for everyday use. Thank you!

[Murff]

Passenger tires (designated with a "P" before the tire size) should be inflated to the maximum on the tire side wall. If you have light truck tires, you can add 10 more psi.

If I owned your Expy, when it comes time for new tires, I'd check to see if there were light truck tires that would fit if you do not already have them.

My opinion only and I am sure others will weigh in.

Murff

[ALJO]

Mfg's have a recommended tire pressure aimed at a soft ride. Look at the tire it self and see what the maximum tire pressure is. Then increase with 5 psi if allowable and keep an eye on the tires. Be sure to rotate the tires when towing every 6500 - 7000 miles.

[DocBrown]

Years back when they put "P" rated tires on 'Burbs and Tahoes they were no different than the one's on your Buick. Today's truck/SUV "P" rated tires are not the same ones your family sedan has on it. They are have stiffer sidewalls and can take a greater PSI. There is generally no need to get LTs for towing mid size and small trailers. Typical truck/SUV "P" tires can take 41-52 PSI depending on brand, style, etc. My current Kumhos can take 51 psi. When towing my X20E I run the rear tires at 45 PSI and it tows very nicely. I run the fronts at 37. I tried 40 in the front but it feels squirrelly with that much air.

[spoon059]

You will get a better ride with more air pressure. They will stiffen up the sidewalls and have less flex. Less flex means less sway. Less sway means a more comfortable ride.


My Tundra came stock with E rated 17" tires. I air them up to 65 to tow my Jayco. Way overkill, but it creates a solid towing platform and really limits any bounce or sway.

[jadatis]

Needed tire-pressure is all to give the tire a deflection for the load on it , so it will not damage by the 10 to 20 times deflecting and flexing back of every segment of the tire.

So if you know weights on tire , I can calculate a lowest save pressure at wich no damage. If you estimate the weights you have to keep to more reserve

When towing you have more weight on rear axle , even if you use a Weight distribution Hich ( WDH).
So you would expect a higher pressure needed to give the tire a save deflection.
But because nowadays pressure advice is given for even higher loads then the 2 tires on the axle are allowed to carry by law ( GAWR= Gross Axle Weight Rating),you maybe end out with a advice of not higher then 35 psi.
35 PSI is the AT-pressure of a P-tire, also called reference-pressure/ maxloadpressure/ pressure needed for the maximum load up to maximum speed of tire or if lower 160 km/99 m/h.
For lower speed ( you will use when towing) the maximum load is higher for the same AT-pressure///.

The AT-pressure is not the maximum pressure of the tire, as they give on P-tires and XL/extraload/reinforced, From C-load ( AT-pr 50 psi in USA system) they give AT-pressure on sidewall and you so are allowed higher then that.

So try to give as much possible data of car and tires, and I will calculate.

Greatings from a Dutch Pigheaded Self-declared tirepressure-specialist

[chuckworkb]

This link may be helpful. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=55

Personally I switched to load range E tires years ago for the stiffer sidewall, and I never went back.