Tire Pressure

[CaptainJohn]

I just purchased a Flagstaff VLite with Nitrogen filled tires. When I checked the tire pressure it was 40lbs in all 4 tires. The sticker on the trailer says the cold tire pressure is 50lbs. I checked them in the morning around 9:00AM and the outside temp was 50 degrees. I
don't have any experience with Nitrogen filled tires. Would the above indicate that all 4 tires are low?? Any thoughts are appreciated.

Many Thanks...

[doc73]

I have always been under the impression that yes... They are low. Air and Nitro are treated the same.

[lbrjet]

Buy or borrow an air compressor and fill them up. The sooner the better.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[phillyg]

The nitro is mostly a sales gimmick. Air your tires up in the AM to the max tire pressure, regardless of the ambient temp, and be done with it till the next day.

[CaptainJohn]

Can you mix standard air / Nitrogen or should it be topped off with Nitrogen?

[phillyg]

Originally Posted by CaptainJohn

Can you mix standard air / Nitrogen or should it be topped off with Nitrogen?

The air we breathe is 78% nitrogen, so no, the tires don't have to be topped with straight nitrogen.

[doc73]

Originally Posted by CaptainJohn

Can you mix standard air / Nitrogen or should it be topped off with Nitrogen?

I top mine off with 78% nitro! [emoji12]

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[RETCHIEF]

Tire pressure is too difficult for some dealers to understand. My truck had low pressure as did my trailer when new. Both are Nitrogen filled, or were. They are now at the proper pressure and checked regularly because I do it, not a dealer. I asked why the tires were low and got a blank stare. I was told by both dealers that tires are filled at the factory with Nitrogen and should be fine.....duh! I always check to make sure service is done because too many times is isn't.

[Airdale]

The TRA & RMA both say a tire being operated at 20% below recommended cold tire inflation pressure is in a "run flat" condition. Tires operated for any length of time in that condition should be removed from the rim and inspected for signs of internal failure.

So, you must ponder the fact that they may have came from the factory like that. Another clue is the fact that the maximum bead seating pressure was 40 PSI.

[doc73]

And between the chinabombs already on there... We wonder why we have excessive tire failures!

[Brewhedd]

When I picked my TT up it also had 40 psi pressure in the tires. Good thing I checked before leaving on my 400 mile journey home. When I pointed it out to the idiot doing my PDI with me he said the tires should have 55 psi in them. I told him the tires had a max pressure of 50 psi stated on the sidewall. I aired them up to 50 and headed out. No problems and I keep them at 50. Considering the weight of the average trailer the tires need to me kept at max pressure.

[Too Tall]

Originally Posted by CaptainJohn

I just purchased a Flagstaff VLite with Nitrogen filled tires. When I checked the tire pressure it was 40lbs in all 4 tires. The sticker on the trailer says the cold tire pressure is 50lbs. I checked them in the morning around 9:00AM and the outside temp was 50 degrees. I
don't have any experience with Nitrogen filled tires. Would the above indicate that all 4 tires are low?? Any thoughts are appreciated.

Many Thanks...

Yes, they should be checked first thing in the morning before the sun heats them up. Inflate to 50 psi. Tires don't seem to have a set temperature to inflate to the proper pressure, it"s the ambient temperature that you are operating in, whether that be 10 below or 80 above as long as it's first thing in the am before they hit the road.

The biggest cause of blowout is low tire pressure.. Second is hitting debris on the road.

[palominoryda]

Tires should be aired to the max stated on trailer, not side wall of tire.


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[doc73]

My tires are aired to the max pressure and that is what the RV called for... But that said if the RV said 40 and the tire said max of 60... I'd air to 60. These things are loaded so close to the max tire weights I would want all the help I could get for the max load.

[aufinger]

The below information is from an article posted on Nascar.com. It makes sense when you're going 180-200 mph.

"The reason NASCAR tires are inflated with nitrogen, rather than the normal air we pump into our tires, is due to the increased stability under hotter temperatures that the gas exhibits. It allows the tire pressure (50 pounds per square inch) to remain constant throughout the race regardless of the temperature, which can reach 200 degrees Fahrenheit."

[jadatis]

Originally Posted by CaptainJohn

I just purchased a Flagstaff VLite with Nitrogen filled tires. When I checked the tire pressure it was 40lbs in all 4 tires. The sticker on the trailer says the cold tire pressure is 50lbs. I checked them in the morning around 9:00AM and the outside temp was 50 degrees. I
don't have any experience with Nitrogen filled tires. Would the above indicate that all 4 tires are low?? Any thoughts are appreciated.

Many Thanks...

To little information to yudge.
First we have to know what pressure the tires need to laws of nature, so they dont damage by overheating when driving maximum speed you use and wont go over for even a minute.

The 50 psi can be a standard setting because "maximum"pressure of OEM tires.
Many trailer- and Motorhome-makers ( are we talking about trailer here?) are not tire-specialists and base their advice on general information, so for instance always "maximum"pressure.

I am able to calculate a save lowest pressure and one that gives maximum reserve but no bumping . But need more data of tires and vehicle.

Nitrogen filling is by the production process free of water( as gas) and water can make the pressurechanche by temperature chanche in tire more unpredictible.
Also the tire loosser lesser presssure in time , but effect is often exagerated by 4 times as slow , but in real a smaal 2 times , but only in the beginning.
If wanted I can copy a document I made about that filling with normal air with the water as humidity in it is even better then filling with Nitrogen.

Will give a picture about pressure chanche by temp chanche in wich assumed cold filling is for 18 degr C/65 degr F but others write 20 degr C/ 68 degr F.
Then look the 40 psi back in this list at the 50 degr F you measured it, and see what it would get at normal temp.
This list assumes zero % water in tire and no expantion or schrinking of tire by the pressure chanche. In normal conditions these effects will be marginal.

[AquaMan]

I'm a fairly smart man , but Huh? Maybe I just can't get past the typos.

[youroo]

To the OP,first to the V-Nose group! Since you are asking I would say 1st thing is Make Sure your tire Gauge is CORRECT! Most Free/Cheap gauges are OFF any how! Then fill your Tires with Air to the Max PSI COLD stated on the Sidewalls! You can carry a Little AC with you or stop at Any Tire store for Air,But Not all Places have Nitro! I would devote more time to Upgrading the O/E Tires! Youroo!!

[youroo]

Originally Posted by AquaMan

I'm a fairly smart man , but Huh? Maybe I just can't get past the typos.

Youroo!!

[WolfWhistle]

x2 (Aquaman) LOL.

It seems to me... since straight nitrogen is dry by its very nature and although the air we breath is 78% nitrogen; the other 22% is made up of all the other gases, whose molecules will both expand and escape easier than straight nitrogen. That is its claim to fame... But, until they make an inexpensive air compressor that will provide straight nitrogen, I'll keep doing what the world has done for over a hundred years. I check TP first thing every day I travel and make it the maximum stated on the sidewalls of the trailer tires or as stated by the manufacturer of my truck (or motorcycle or car). Unless it looks to be low, I never check pressure while traveling; it would only confuse me. TPMS is a good investment, no doubt.

A rule of thumb is that almost any gauge is the most accurate at around 50% of its full scale or range. So, if you were reading 50 psi, for example you would not want to use a gauge rated for 200 psi. So to... if you were reading 100 psi, you would not want to use a gauge whose full range is 100 psi, FYI.
WW