Running 80 PSI Tires at 65 PSI: Is 80 PSI Good For Tires?
When it comes to tires there is a lot to know. This is not like the days of your grandfather or great-grandfather when you just slapped a pair of tires on a trailer or vehicle and towed it to your destination. You need to know a lot more these days to have a successful trip.
One of the things to watch out for is terminology. When you see 80 PSI on the tire, look at the rest of the words. Usually, it will say something like ‘at maximum load’ which means unless you have a maximum load on your tow vehicle, you do not have to inflate your tires to 80 PSI.
To learn more about this topic, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you should get the right air pressure inside your tires. Learning everything you can about trailer tires and how to use them is essential these days.
Should I Put 80 PSI in My Tires?
There can be some confusion about tire pressure. Most people are aware that they can only inflate their tires to the recommended level written on the side of the tire. You will see a range of 28 to 36 psi depending on the vehicle the tire is on.
When you are filling your tire to drive down the road, that is the tire pressure level you are to use. But when you are loading the cargo area, and adding a trailer, you are getting close to the maximum load. That means that the recommended air pressure on the tire’s side is not the one you should use.
You will need to add more air pressure to accommodate the added weight. That is when you should get close to or stop at 80 psi. The maximum 80 psi number is the utmost amount of air pressure the tires can handle.
Anything above that while under load should cause a blowout. The maximum tire pressure listed for your tire is found at “the sidewall of the tire itself in small print near the tire’s bead (where the rubber abuts the rim)” (Per the Pirelli website).
The recommended tire pressure is usually found on the driver’s door jamb or the owner’s manual. Be careful as heat does raise the air pressure by several psi. What you think you have in your tire may be lower because it is a hot day or you have driven a long way.
Is 80 PSI Good For Tires?
For daily driving, it is not. 80 psi is very hard on your vehicle and you can raise the risk of a blowout, bad handling, or poor braking by inflating your tires that high.
Also, over-inflating to 80 psi could lead to premature wear and tear on the center of your tire and lower its lifespan significantly. Maximum load psi or 80 psi is only for temporary use and used only when you are hauling heavy loads or towing some type of trailer or another vehicle.
On the other side of the scale, tire makers usually do not place a minimum tire psi. They only place the recommended psi and leave it at that. The more dangerous aspect of the two ends of the scale is the higher psi and you should be careful with that.
Of course, if your tire loses a lot of air pressure, the rim can easily damage the rubber and you will need to replace that tire. Also, under inflation, below the recommended level, you can overheat your tires and the tread will pull away from the rest of the tire.
Plus, the car works harder and you could lose a lot of fuel mileage when you do not inflate those tires correctly.
What PSI Should My Tires Be If Max is 80?
The answer to this question is that you need to inflate your tires to the recommended level listed in the owner’s manual, the side of the tire, or the driver’s door jamb. Never go above or below the recommended psi levels unless circumstances dictate you need to make a change.
Those changes are usually in favor of a higher psi level, not one that is lower than the recommended psi. The recommended psi range will vary among cars and trucks. Smaller cars will have a lower recommended psi than say a light truck.
They will also have a lower psi than a medium size car. Check your owner’s manual and the side of the tire for the recommended psi for your specific tires. A Mini Cooper will not need the same amount of tire pressure as an SUV.
You will want to check your tire pressure on a regular basis. The reason for doing so is that if you keep your tires properly inflated, then you will get better gas mileage.
In turn, that better gas mileage saves you money because you are not buying fuel so frequently. To check your tires’ pressure, make sure to buy a good tire pressure gauge.
These do not have to be expensive, they just have to be accurate.
Running 80 PSI Tires At 65 PSI
This is okay if you are not at maximum load. The heavier weight may damage the tires if you only inflate them to 65 psi. Or it may cause you to lose fuel efficiency because your vehicle has to work harder while hauling and towing a heavy load.
You can run your 80 psi tires at 65 since 80 is for maximum load. The recommended tire pressure when cold or not towing heavy weight can be around 65 psi for many light trucks.
Check your manual to see where your tires should be inflated when you are not asking them to carry or tow heavy loads. Some people have also run their tires at 70 to 71 psi but then they are not carrying the maximum load.
Inflate your tires according to the amount of weight you are putting in the vehicle or attaching to it. When you are having your tires inflated or you are doing them yourself, you cannot under-inflate your tires and you cannot over-inflate them.
Both situations put you at risk when you are driving. When you do not have a load, 80 psi is over-inflating the tire. If the recommended tire pressure is 65 psi, then you are fine and you should not have a problem unless something unforeseen happens.
What Does 65 PSI Cold Mean?
This is not a very complicated term and it is basically short-hand to save on a few syllables. 65 psi cold simply means that is the recommended tire pressure when the tire is cold or has not been used since the day before.
This is called cold pressure and yes, air pressure will change as the tire heats up. How much it heats up is not significant but it will be a few psi at least. This also happens if your vehicle has been sitting in the sun for some time.
If you want a smooth ride, then you should make sure you inflate your tires to the right air pressure given the situation. Too much air does not produce a nice ride. It will be bumpier and rougher.
Those with trailers report having their pillows, dishes, etc. Thrown about due to the lack of a smooth ride. One piece of modern technology that will help you monitor your tire pressure is the tire pressure monitoring system or TPMS.
These are devices that may be government-required nowadays and they watch over your tire and send you a signal when something is wrong. It will also tell you when your tire pressure has fallen below the government-mandated 25% limit of recommended tire pressure.
A warning light will turn on in your dash and when you see it, you should stop and put more air pressure inside those tires.
Snow Tire Air Pressure
You will hear many people stating that you get better friction if you under-inflate your tires when driving on snow. This is not true and if you under-inflate for snow driving, you will have a harder time handling your vehicle, damage your tires, and so on.
To drive on snow, you need to keep the tire pressure at the recommended levels. If you under-inflate in the rain, you can hydroplane and have an accident. Keep to the recommended tire pressure at all times.
Some Final Words
The 80 psi is usually the maximum tire pressure any tire can hold when under maximum load. It is not the recommended tire pressure for daily driving. Look for and stick with the recommended tire pressure for daily driving and only make changes when you add weight for hauling or towing.
Watching your tire pressure and keeping it at the right levels is practicing safe driving habits. You will save money as well.
