Do Xl Tyres Need Higher Pressure

The load capacity of a reinforced tyre also decreases with decreasing air pressure so xl tyres need higher air pressure.
Do xl tyres need higher pressure. The difference between a reinforced tyre xl and an sl tyre is that the xl tyre meets the standard requirements for its size whilst also offering the possibility of using a higher pressure and consequently has an increased load capacity. The stipulated tyre speed rating and load index of your xl tyres can normally be found in the last characters on the sidewall. The tyres will be much stiffer in the sidewall than the standard tyres so may require lower pressures. Also the tyre pressures will be off.
And one last thought but one that doesnt apply here. When nitrogen replaces oxygen less air can escape from your tyres and your inflation pressure stays higher longer. So they really need to have higher pressure to see any benefit. The correct tire for this plus size application should be a euro metric there is a difference 25535r20 97h xl extra load tire which has a load index of 97.
This marking is usually found on lower profile tyres used on large cars. Get the pressures wrong and you may wear them rapidly. Lets say you installed this tire which we now know is correct but you used the oe air pressure of 32 psi. If a non xl tire is used when an xl tire should be used the risk of a blowout increases significantly as the sidewall cannot withstand the capacity of the load especially under fast driving conditions.
Unfortunately there are other possible causes of leaks tyrerim interface valve valverim interface and the wheel so theres no guarantee of maintained pressure with either air or nitrogen. For example if the maximum tire pressure is 44 psi like it is for my car you can safely fill it up to about 40 psi. This is the only way to ensure a higher load bearing capacity. The higher rated xl tyres maybe too firm and give you a bumpy ride on a lighter car.
The fact that the tire in question is an xl version doesnt change the load vs inflation pressure relationship. In all cases where an xl tire is specified for use this should not be ignored. The other downside people dont realise is the load carrying capacity below roughly 26 bar is lower on an xl tyre than a normal tyre of the same rating.