TPMS - At what Temperature do I worry?

writer2011 wrote:

pkunk wrote:
Tst will alarm at preset high & low pressure & temperature as will at least several others.

The difference with the TST system is that you set your own high and low pressure alerts.

You can set up to 4 axles. There aren't any preset PSI alerts. They recommend 20% above and 10% below what you run in a given axle. And the high temp alert is set at 158 degrees. Hope this info helps :)

I guess 'preset' wasn't the right word. I meant operator set. :W

pkunk wrote:
Tst will alarm at preset high & low pressure & temperature as will at least several others.

The difference with the TST system is that you set your own high and low pressure alerts.

You can set up to 4 axles. There aren't any preset PSI alerts. They recommend 20% above and 10% below what you run in a given axle. And the high temp alert is set at 158 degrees. Hope this info helps :)

Tst will alarm at preset high & low pressure & temperature as will at least several others.

....there are a few things that I discovered with TPM systems:

typically, most (not all) TPM systems only alarm when tire pressure is low, and will not indicate a dangerously-high tire pressure. Make sure you know specifically what your brand of TPMS can/can't do.

Another thing that should concern drivers is: everyone's tires had/have/will be checked at different "cold" temperatures (i.e. one guy will fill/adjust cold pressure when vehicle is rested for 3 hours or more at say 9F in winter; 63F in spring; 102F in summer; and 51F in fall. So, when the "cold" resting temperature of the tires (no matter where on the weather scale you are at) is checked and brought to spec at that x temperature, and the temperature changes as the day progresses: there is a relationship between ambient air temperature change, and the resting temperature of your tires: as ambient outside air temps change, so does the tire pressure in your vehicle's tires.

If you set your tire pressure in the hot summer, your TPMS may alarm when the cold fall arrives months later (as your tire's air contracts due to cold fall ambient temps); etc, etc. Also, as you drive, the tire friction on road, increasing daytime temperature, and incoming solar radiation striking your tire will all conspire to increase the pressure inside your tires.

I always readjust our cold resting (vehicle stopped for at least 4 hours in total shade) tire pressure as the outside ambient air temperature rises or falls significantly (from season to season; or from high mountain cold environments to low-land hot environments over short driving periods).

The issue of extreme hot weather driving and resultant potential over inflation and tire temperature over spec has to be addressed by each and every manufacturer (and tire model) individually!

I have a TST system with the internal sensors which are more accurate with the temperature reading. I will consistently show, on a sunny 90degree day, internal tire temps of 135 degrees and a 15 lb pressure rise from 100 lbs cold on the rig in my signature. The alarm upper limit on the temp is set at 155 degrees.
I do have a 2000lb safety margin on the trailer tires (scaled trailer axles 13000, max load on all 4 tires is 15000) which can only help.

Kennedycamper wrote:
TST says to set their system to 157 degrees if I recall correctly.

Thanks to all. The TireMinder system has an alarm at something like 167 (or 165), and that seemed high. I have emailed both the TireMinder folks, as well as the tire manufacturer, still waiting. This info lets me know that at 118 air inside and 145 sidewall, while hot, they were not on the verge of exploding.

Long story short: had the trailer weighed on the previous trip. The GVWR is 3000#, and with the two trailer tires on the scales, it weighed 3000#. Not good. The scale was not set up to easily weigh just one tire, unfortunately. We are re-thinking everything that we bring, and also modifying what goes in the trailer, (and where it goes in the trailer), and what goes in the Suburban, as well as where it goes in the Suburban. Thanks again! -Dave

On my fiver I have four tires, so all I am concerned about is that the pressure is in the happy range, and that the tire temperature is about the same on all tires. Of course the tires on the sunny side will always read a little higher, but you get the drift. I have gone many a year without a TPMS as they werent available but now that I have had one I would never think about going without. Yes I know many say, but I always check my pressures. I don't doubt that, but all it takes is to pick up something from the road in a tire and it doesnt mean squat that you always checked as you are in for a hard time. Thats my take on it, so take it for what its worth. BTW one tire and rim will cost you way more than the TPMS and then if you don't catch it right away ythe damage to the unit can easily go into the thousands.

TST says to set their system to 157 degrees if I recall correctly.

Michelin states that tire damage does not begin until tires are at 180 degrees. TPMS that mount on the valve stem may not read the exact tire temperature so I would be concerned if I saw temps in the 150 range.

I have done a lot of digging on that same question and the answer eludes me also. But from my perusing I did find there is no magical number. It seems the most common answer is a tire that is not consistent with the others. For instance if all your tires are running 125 and you have one running 150 you probably have a problem with that tire. There are other factors you have to remember like the sunny side. If your running on the highway and the blazing hot sun is on your left or drivers side cooking the left side those tires will be somewhat hotter than the ones on the right side. How much?? Take a SWAG. From my experience with a digital infared thermometer about 20 degrees. So if my shaded tires are running 120 and my sunny side tires are 140 to me thats normal but if you have the same scenario and one shaded tire is 140 that tells me there may be a problem.
If any tire gets next to the 150 I would let them cool, but thats just me and not based on any scientific information. I think from experience that would be about my safe limits.