Why Do Trailer Tires Have Thicker Side Walls and Should They Always Be Inflated to Maximum PSI  

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Expert Reply:

The manufacturers for the majority of trailer tires do recommend that they always be inflated to the listed maximum psi, regardless of how the trailer is actually loaded. This just ensures that the listed weight capacity is maintained and that they aren't unknowingly overloaded, which can lead to excessive heat and tire failure.

With that being said you are absolutely correct that some trailer tires, such as the Goodyear Endurance line that you mentioned, use a chart that breaks down weight capacities based on air pressure. This type of method can allow for a smoother ride if the tires have a much higher capacity than the weight of your trailer (since you would be able to deflate them a bit to better match the load), but it can also lead to the above-mentioned scenario since it's difficult to keep track of exactly how much your trailer weighs each time it's loaded before a trip.

The Provider ST235/85R16 Radial Trailer Tire # TTWPRG235R16 that you were looking at has a maximum load of 4,400 pounds at 110 psi. Taskmaster does recommend always inflating their tires to the maximum psi.

Now as for the thicker side walls that distinguish trailer tires from those on standard passenger vehicles, this is simply to help better support heavier vertical loads. Since a trailer tire's primary job is to simply hold a large amount of weight without breaking down, a greater emphasis is put on construction/durability like with a thicker side wall. This is compared to a passenger tire that may have a couple different areas of focus, such as performance and maneuverability.

I have attached a short video review on this particular tire along with a couple of good articles on trailer tires that you might find interesting.

expert reply by: Chris R

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