Normal and Maximum Tire Tread Temps?
Came back in from a fairly short, 170 mile trip at no more than 65MPH. We experienced no problems, but for grins and giggles, I decided to take out the trusty laser-temp gun and measure the tire trea...
Forum Discussion
Tire pressure is more important temperature for normal operation. Also it is important to remember that setting pressure in trailer application is very different than in Motorhome or other motorized vehicle operation.
For Motorhomes you need to know the actual loads on each end of each axle. Very few RVs are balanced side to side at 50/50. Some can be 1,000 off balance.
Once you know the heavier end use that weight to learn the MINIMUM inflation for the tires on that axle. To avoid the need to chase your tail every day as normal ambient temperature changes result in tire pressure changes it is suggested you use a +10% above the MINIMUM as your Cold Inflation set pressure. All tires on an axle should run the same cold inflation pressure.
With a good TPMS you will see your pressure go up and down a couple of psi but with the 10% cushion you don't have to worry about adding 1 or 2 psi every few days. As you monitor your pressure over the weeks of travel you will eventually see you have dropped about 5% so it is then time to top off the tire pressure to get back to your 10% number.
RE temperature
The earlier post about needing a needle probe to get meaningful tire temperatures is correct. Bearing and brake problems that generate heat will get the wheel hot before the tire. Rubber is a good insulator so doesn't transmit heat as well as metal objects. A metal valve stem will get warm from the wheel heat and this will probably trigger the TPMS high temperature warning which is normally set at about 158F in many TPMS.
For Motorhomes you need to know the actual loads on each end of each axle. Very few RVs are balanced side to side at 50/50. Some can be 1,000 off balance.
Once you know the heavier end use that weight to learn the MINIMUM inflation for the tires on that axle. To avoid the need to chase your tail every day as normal ambient temperature changes result in tire pressure changes it is suggested you use a +10% above the MINIMUM as your Cold Inflation set pressure. All tires on an axle should run the same cold inflation pressure.
With a good TPMS you will see your pressure go up and down a couple of psi but with the 10% cushion you don't have to worry about adding 1 or 2 psi every few days. As you monitor your pressure over the weeks of travel you will eventually see you have dropped about 5% so it is then time to top off the tire pressure to get back to your 10% number.
RE temperature
The earlier post about needing a needle probe to get meaningful tire temperatures is correct. Bearing and brake problems that generate heat will get the wheel hot before the tire. Rubber is a good insulator so doesn't transmit heat as well as metal objects. A metal valve stem will get warm from the wheel heat and this will probably trigger the TPMS high temperature warning which is normally set at about 158F in many TPMS.
