Tire question, yes again

[wolfe10]

Originally Posted by TonyMac

If I'm at my sidewall weight for the tires, requiring the sidewall pressure, I'd rather upgrade my tires, to give me some safety margin.

Very good answer. Never want the tires to be the "weak link"!

[Kid Gloves]

Originally Posted by TonyMac

The pressure on the sidewall is the min pressure to carry the max weight, some Tireman told me. If I'm at my sidewall weight for the tires, requiring the sidewall pressure, I'd rather upgrade my tires, to give me some safety margin. I'd rather run at the lowest pressure consistant with my actual weight and a personal safety margin. For my rig, I started by getting my actual weights, which are under the placard weights, and inflating to my placard pressures. Suprise! The ride is great, so that's where I run them.

You’ve added a condition to your previous statement “NEVER fill to sidewall limits.” That condition may not exist for everyone. If actual weights call for 110psi and the maximum sidewall pressure is 120psi, an owner might choose to inflate to the maximum sidewall pressure rather than buy a new set of tires. In that case the tires would not be operating at 100% of their load capacity, yet they would be inflated to the maximum sidewall limit. That might actually be a wise decision and it would allow for precious resources to be wasted elsewhere.

[TonyMac]

Originally Posted by Kid Gloves

You’ve added a condition to your previous statement “NEVER fill to sidewall limits.” That condition may not exist for everyone. If actual weights call for 110psi and the maximum sidewall pressure is 120psi, an owner might choose to inflate to the maximum sidewall pressure rather than buy a new set of tires. In that case the tires would not be operating at 100% of their load capacity, yet they would be inflated to the maximum sidewall limit. That might actually be a wise decision and it would allow for precious resources to be wasted elsewhere.

Agree

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by wolfe10

Very good answer. Never want the tires to be the "weak link"!

If you are at the load limit for your tires is that based on a scale reading of the axle weight? That would be the GAWR number. If so then you really need to off-load some stuff as the tires are not the only part you are running "at the limit".
Many parts make up the GAWR limit with tires just one of the many parts.
I agree it's not good to run the tires right at their limit but what about wheels, hub, springs, shackles, bolts and axle tube itself?

[Kid Gloves]

It might not be unreasonable to conclude that an OEM tire which is being operated at its maximum load capacity, would be located on the end of an axle which is being operated in excess of its gross axle weight rating. That being the case, we would already have an item or two on the weak link list, prior to adding the tires to that list.