trailer tire pressure

redtail · 06-05-2009, 11:38 AM

What is the best tire pressure for a trailer tire. This is a trailer I pull behind the bike. Trailer is 170 lbs. empty and has 12 inch tires. What I've read is 20 psi but that seems very low. The tires read 60 psi which seems too high. By the way it's a "Piggyback" trailer. Chuckster fixed me up with a hitch that is first class and very good quality.

**coacha** · 06-05-2009, 12:03 PM

Chuckster's hitches are great.

I ran 25 in my HF trailer and it works fine. Most posts I've seen on the Delphi trailer board state somewhere between 25-35 PSI in the tires...with most at 25.

caddman11 · 06-05-2009, 12:17 PM

If I remember rightly, I ran about 70 lbs in each tire, but that was a trailer I pulled behind my car with our two bikes on it.

**Cajunrider** · 06-05-2009, 12:59 PM

I run 40 in my 5.30 x 12" tires. Max pressure is 60.

bigjohn · 06-05-2009, 01:40 PM

I too, run about 40# on my Bunkhouse. Seems to work just fine.

MarkG · 06-05-2009, 01:56 PM

I read someplace that you wet down the cement, then roll your trailer over the wet section. When you see the full tread of the tire on the ground then it is supposed to be about right.

**ringadingh** · 06-05-2009, 03:59 PM

I keep my trailers at between 40 and 50 psi, They have the 4.80-8 and 5.30 - 8 size tires.

redtail · 06-06-2009, 08:01 AM

Thanks guys. I think I'll keep it on the high side to start with and see how that rides. I also read what markg said about running over the wet pavement. I might try that.

**Cajunrider** · 06-06-2009, 08:09 AM

Going up to Tennessee a couple of weeks ago, I followed the recommendation from Avon to run 50 psig in my rear tire. I noticed a hint of sway from my trailer above 65 mph and I think the high pressure in my rear tire contributed to it. I'm going to try 46 psig in the tire for the trip to Custer.

lonewolf · 06-06-2009, 09:11 AM

i use my gravel driveway to see my tread pattern. i hav 8 inch tires and hav run them at 20 lbs for many miles. getting a sway in your trailer may not have as much to do with air pressure as weight distribution. you need to keep more weight on the tongue if your getting swaying. also tongue length will contribute to swaying.

zoom45 · 06-07-2009, 05:58 AM

I have the 4-80 x 8 and run 20 psi. I towed it many a mile with no problems. My trailer is probably lighter than most because I narrowed it to no wider than the Nomad bags.
Zoom45

MikeInFla · 06-07-2009, 06:31 PM

I run mine at 25 pounds. I took it on a 1300 mile trip with no issues.

soverton · 06-08-2009, 03:42 PM

In my 4.80x8 about 20lbs seems to do fine. Trailer is light and even loaded down is not over 300lbs total.

mrfuni · 06-08-2009, 04:02 PM

Ditto to Coach A,
25 is what I run in my Piggy Backer. Too much air and the tires tend to bounce. 25 keeps the footprint even and works for me.

06-05-2009, 11:38 AM	#1
redtail Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Mauldin, S.C. Posts: 78	trailer tire pressure What is the best tire pressure for a trailer tire. This is a trailer I pull behind the bike. Trailer is 170 lbs. empty and has 12 inch tires. What I've read is 20 psi but that seems very low. The tires read 60 psi which seems too high. By the way it's a "Piggyback" trailer. Chuckster fixed me up with a hitch that is first class and very good quality. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-05-2009, 12:03 PM	#2
coacha Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haysville, KS Posts: 6,259	trailer tire pressure Chuckster's hitches are great. I ran 25 in my HF trailer and it works fine. Most posts I've seen on the Delphi trailer board state somewhere between 25-35 PSI in the tires...with most at 25. __________________ Ron "Coach" Allan, Haysville, KS 1999 Nomad Wine and Red "KawaTanker" 2009 BMW R1200RT 2003 BMW K1200LT "Magic Carpet" DOA 11/7/2015 VBA #00291 IBA # 41995 DS #320 '08 Elkins, WV; '09 Helen, GA; '09 Custer, SD; '10 Stanton, VA; '11 Maggie Valley; '12 Townsend, TN; '13 Estes Park; '13 Blairsville, GA; '15 Eureka Springs; '16 Helen; '18 Custer, SD
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06-05-2009, 12:17 PM	#3
caddman11 Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 890	trailer tire pressure If I remember rightly, I ran about 70 lbs in each tire, but that was a trailer I pulled behind my car with our two bikes on it.
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06-05-2009, 12:59 PM	#4
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	trailer tire pressure I run 40 in my 5.30 x 12" tires. Max pressure is 60. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
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06-05-2009, 01:40 PM	#5
bigjohn Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lenoir City, TN Posts: 417	trailer tire pressure I too, run about 40# on my Bunkhouse. Seems to work just fine. __________________ BigJohn Price 2006 V2K Bagger Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-05-2009, 01:56 PM	#6
MarkG Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 1,255	trailer tire pressure I read someplace that you wet down the cement, then roll your trailer over the wet section. When you see the full tread of the tire on the ground then it is supposed to be about right. __________________ Mark Griffin 2021 Manhattan Metallic K1600GTL 2016 Silver K1600GTL - sold 2015 Red/Blk Cross Country Tour - sold 2008 Red/Blk Nomad - sold KE7HG VBA 00176, IBA 65686, MOA 211564 Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Maggie Valley '11\|Kanab '12\|Estes Park '13\|Red Lodge '16\|Custer '18
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06-05-2009, 03:59 PM	#7
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	trailer tire pressure I keep my trailers at between 40 and 50 psi, They have the 4.80-8 and 5.30 - 8 size tires. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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06-06-2009, 08:01 AM	#8
redtail Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Mauldin, S.C. Posts: 78	trailer tire pressure Thanks guys. I think I'll keep it on the high side to start with and see how that rides. I also read what markg said about running over the wet pavement. I might try that.
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06-06-2009, 08:09 AM	#9
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	trailer tire pressure Going up to Tennessee a couple of weeks ago, I followed the recommendation from Avon to run 50 psig in my rear tire. I noticed a hint of sway from my trailer above 65 mph and I think the high pressure in my rear tire contributed to it. I'm going to try 46 psig in the tire for the trip to Custer. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
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06-06-2009, 09:11 AM	#10
lonewolf Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: central mn. Posts: 545	trailer tire pressure i use my gravel driveway to see my tread pattern. i hav 8 inch tires and hav run them at 20 lbs for many miles. getting a sway in your trailer may not have as much to do with air pressure as weight distribution. you need to keep more weight on the tongue if your getting swaying. also tongue length will contribute to swaying. __________________ Kawanow # 370 2007 red and titanium nomad Darksider
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06-07-2009, 05:58 AM	#11
zoom45 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Terry, Mississippi Posts: 1,434	trailer tire pressure I have the 4-80 x 8 and run 20 psi. I towed it many a mile with no problems. My trailer is probably lighter than most because I narrowed it to no wider than the Nomad bags. Zoom45 __________________ Bobby Risher Terry, MS Kawanow member # 124 South Central Group 2000 Nomad 1500 (carbed) 128,000 miles
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06-07-2009, 06:31 PM	#12
MikeInFla Advanced Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bushnell FL Posts: 611	trailer tire pressure I run mine at 25 pounds. I took it on a 1300 mile trip with no issues. __________________ Mike Morrison KawaNOW #00454 IBA# 42214 2007 Nomad 2008 Concours
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06-08-2009, 03:42 PM	#13
soverton Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Grand Prairie, Texas Posts: 112	trailer tire pressure In my 4.80x8 about 20lbs seems to do fine. Trailer is light and even loaded down is not over 300lbs total.
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06-08-2009, 04:02 PM	#14
mrfuni Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Naples Florida Posts: 1,301	trailer tire pressure Ditto to Coach A, 25 is what I run in my Piggy Backer. Too much air and the tires tend to bounce. 25 keeps the footprint even and works for me.
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