Trailer Tire Pressures?

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sleak

Rank II
Launch Member

Enthusiast I

404
Helena, MT
First Name
Scott
Last Name
Leak
Member #

5866

Service Branch
Army
In the course of my quest for knowledge, I have read threads about tire pressures that describe how they've aired down the vehicle tires for different conditions. So far, so good.

When they say they've aired down their trailer tires as well, a large imaginary question mark appears over my head. Why? Doesn't a fully-inflated tire have less rolling resistance? Is there a need for more "traction" on a wheel without power? I can see if you're going too fast on a bumpy road, it would bounce a bit. Maybe that's it.
 

Anchor Mtn

US Rocky Mountain Region Member Rep
Launch Member

Influencer II

3,664
Venice, FL, USA
First Name
Justin
Last Name
Gilbert
Member #

3935

In the course of my quest for knowledge, I have read threads about tire pressures that describe how they've aired down the vehicle tires for different conditions. So far, so good.

When they say they've aired down their trailer tires as well, a large imaginary question mark appears over my head. Why? Doesn't a fully-inflated tire have less rolling resistance? Is there a need for more "traction" on a wheel without power? I can see if you're going too fast on a bumpy road, it would bounce a bit. Maybe that's it.
Lower trailer tire pressures make them tow smoother offroad. The more bumps the tires can absorb, the less work the suspension has to do.