Forum Discussion

goufgators's avatar
goufgators
Explorer
Nov 29, 2019

Another ‘dadgum’ post re: tire PSI…please bear with me…

I know and agree with posts relevant to ‘have your coach weighed’ and I have done so although not four-corner weights. Axle weights indicate 80 psi for all tires. In the title, I said this post was about tire psi and that is, at least, partially correct. But, it’s also about that age-old problem of steering wander. Let me explain, if I can. Wandering has been a problem since the coach was new (2017). I’ve added rear stabilizer, front stabilizer, steer safe and had alignment adjusted to 5 degrees camber (not sure that’s the correct terminology for the alignment). After all the add-ons and alignment, the problem still exists. Here’s the interesting part. As you know, as tires turn they build up heat and psi increases. When I start out on a trip, the tires are at the cold 80 psi and steering at that psi is beautiful (Cadillacish good)…well maybe not quiet that good, but no wandering. No wandering continues until psi reaches about 90 psi or slightly above. That’s when the steering wheel gets a work our along with the driver (that’s me). After all of the above, here’s the question: In order to keep the tires’ psi from increasing quickly to a point of ‘wander’, would it be safe to reduce the cold psi to say 75 (remember Goodyear says, based on weight, cold should be 80). In our Florida very warm weather, the tires, starting at 75, would rather quickly heat up along with the psi and exceed the cold 80. But, in so doing, the psi might not reach the wandering problem. At least not as soon. Comments welcomed!
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Last summer I went from 95° in Moab to 50° in Colorado and NO I didn’t change my tire pressures. I would not worry about 5 psi one way or another. I would temp the tires and would not have them above 140 degrees in the bottom on the tread...hottest spot. I might go with the next size larger tires when it’s time to replace the current ones so you can run less pressure in them.
  • Cold PSI means just that. Lowering PSI so the tires heat up to the recommended cold psi defeats the purpose of setting cold psi in the first place. They will be under inflated. As I am sure you are aware, low psi is the primary reason for tire failure - aside from a puncture. The F53 is notorious for poor handling. It's not going to handle like a car or a DP - ever. We had 2 gassers over the past decade and both were rather exhausting at the end of a long day in the saddle. Constant corrections. I would consider different tires, cheap handling fix or another model RV. Lowering psi below the tire manufacturers recommendation is not the proper way to handle the issue. You'd be borrowing risk. That of course is my opinion and I usually err to the side of caution. I am sure there are thousands of people out there driving on under inflated tires by 5 psi and either don't know it or don't care. I am confident however your tires will generate more heat.
  • What is Winnebago's recommended tire inflation for your Motorhome? If you're not sure, you'll find the manufacturer's optimum or recommended tire pressure for your MH on the sticker on the drivers side door, or if no door, on the wall below the drivers side window.
    If this is different than the 80 lbs indicated by Goodyear, I would reset your tires to the door sticker specs and see if this solves your issue.
    Also, I noted that you set your tires to the same 80 lbs all around which i suspect is part of your issue. With the two Winnebago MH's we've owned, the rear tire pressure has been less than the fronts. In our current 38 ft Suncruiser, the Front tires are 100 lbs, the rear are 90 lbs. It drives perfectly when the pressures are set to Winnebago's recommendations.