Question:
What's the correct pressure to run in your tractor and your trailer tires? Many say to run them at max pressure listed on the sidewall of the tire(105lbs.), but I've seen trailers that state 95lbs.?

Answer:
It all depends on what you do.
For example, a OTR truck should run the air pressure at what it says on the tire. But a truck that runs off road should have the tires 'aired down' for maximum traction in soft ground.
I run my steers at 110 lbs. psi. and my drives at 105 lbs. psi. during the summer months.
During winter, I'll drop them 10 lbs. psi.
All trailer tires we have are at 95 lbs. psi.Â

Answer:
Some companies like Ryder use 95psi.
Some others 100psi.
Most of the Companies I worked for used new tires not recaps, it's 100psi all around.
When I was running in the south and south west in the summer I ran 105psi. at 70, 75 mph. In the winter 100psi. These are all cold pressures on new tires.
I should mention while on the topic. You'll hear drivers talk about winter air and summer air in regards to air pressure in tires.
If you air cold pressure in Wi. with the outside air temp @ 20 degrees or so and fill tires to 100psi. If you drive lets say to Fl were the outside air temp is 85-90 degress and you measure your cold pressure tires. They'll all read 110psi cold. That's because when you aired up in Wi. in cold weather temps, air condenses, hot weather temps, it expands. You gain 10psi on your cold air pressure readings.
That's why pressure increases as the tires heat up from running. Never let air out of a tire if it been filled at cold pressure.
It's important to check tires with an air guage not by kicking or thumping them all the time. You can thump tires throughout the day after they have been checked cold. I always check all tires with an air guage in the morning after the truck has been sitting while I slept.
Keeping your tires aired propery will give you many benefits. Fuel milage, better ride, a lot less likely to get blowouts, pull the mountains easier. If your running on low tires, your just dragging your tires around with you.
After reading Hoss's reply, that 110psi on the steers rang a bell in my head. The last company I worked at we did run 110 on the steers, I forgot. the rest were 100psi.

Answer:
back in '98 i was driving for Laker Express out of Indy. after 4 mos with them & the truck being in the shop 3 times, i bought a truck tire pressure gauge & checked the tractor. all tires were 50-60lbs cold. i dont believe they had ever checked air pressure. i aired them all up to 100 lbs. turned in the store receipt for the reimbursement, since it was saving them money on fuel & tire life. i didnot charge them my labor for all the time it took to air them up. they rejected the reimbursement & after that i kept the steers aired up & let the rest of them go. figured if that is the way they want to be, i wont do anything for them beyond the call of duty.
shortly after that , due to incompetent management, apathy, etc they sold out to Landair before they went bankrupt.
in the South, they have a saying :
what goes around, comes around

Answer:
How about some tire information from a manufacturer? I would suggest EVERYONE take a look and dispel some of the beliefs posted in this thread.....
http://www.trucktires.com/index.asp
Mike
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Mike

Answer:
I agree it can be frustrating because you come away with the feeling your maintaining the entire fleet at your time expense. I know it's time consuming to check and air tires on a trailer, been there, done that, many times. My pre trips took closer to an hour many times. That hour is still a lot shorter than sitting on the side of the road for 2 or more hours. Not to forget other damage from a blowout or injury or death.

Answer:
I would suggest EVERYONE take a look and dispel some of the beliefs posted in this thread.....
Well Mike,I would say there are a few, huh? -->

Answer:
i would check with the company you run with on what pressure to use. when i was turning wrenches i didn't follow the sidewall recommendations i based it on the best wear. for local operations i ran 110 lbs all around for over the road applications i ran from 90 to 100 lbs. On recaps i ran them from 100 to 110 lbs. If you run the pressure a little low it'll be alright, but if you run a recap a little low and you'll blow the tire. Recaps are really touchy on their pressures a little low or high and they'll blow.

Answer:
Tire pressures should always be checked COLD. Doesn't matter if it's summer or winter. A 100 PSI is still 100 in summer or winter.
[Pipeman]
[I thought I had made a mistake when I realized it was an error.]
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[Pipeman]
KEEP YOUR DOLLY CRANK SECURED AND HAVE YOURSELVES A GOOD RIDE !!!!!

Answer:
If you put 100psi cold tire pressure when it's cold up north.
You get to Fl were it's warm, your cold pressure reading will be 110psi. in FL.
Use to happen to all the time. I'd pick up a tanker sitting in Wi. in the winter. I'd have to fill a low tire. Cold pressure 100psi.
Drive to FL, leave the trailer parked overnight next morning (trailers been sitting all night). check the tire. 110psi. I always used the same air gauge, time and time again same thing.
I always carried my own air gage and my own air hose. Over and Over and over again allways the same thing 100 cold psi up there, 110 cold psi in fl.
If I air all 18 tires up in WI in the winter to 100psi cold, they'd all read 110 cold psi in fl all 18 wheels. Everytime.

Answer:
I read in one thread that one had to PAY to fill the air in the tires. OK...I would have thought that truck stop would provide this facility for free specially considering the $$$ that you guys drop upon them when filling up.
However, here is my real question: Is it possible to use the Air Compressor of the Tractor and with an adaptor use it to fill the air in the tires?
If not ..why not? Not enough pressure??
Curious
NewBee..

Answer:
It is "best" to follow your company's policy and reccomendations on the "correct" cold PSI to keep in your tires. The reason for this is simple really. Some companies will try to charge you for tire replacement if it should blow or become damaged due to "improper" inflation.
If you are unsure of what your company's policy is call the shop and ask or ask one of your company shop techs next time you are in a terminal. (If you dont have a company shop ask your safety manager or driver manager.)
I have a name not a number. I am not cheap but I am resonable.
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Answer:
However, here is my real question: Is it possible to use the Air Compressor of the Tractor and with an adaptor use it to fill the air in the tires?
Yes it is and they can be purchased in truckstops or fabricated by you. Gladhand,length of hose and air chuck is all you need.
Mike
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Mike