Hot weather towing
'22 GMC Sierra 2500HD, 6000lb trailer. Will be heading to Denver Co from Vancouver BC in a week or so. Have towed this route a number of times in the past, mostly in spring or fall, so the tempe...
Forum Discussion
dedmiston wrote:
I have zero science to back this up, so feel free to treat it as the ramblings of a superstitious native...
I always check/fill my tires the night before a trip.
One time we had two blowouts as we towed though a hot desert (100°+). I attribute this to filling the tires "cold" the night before when it was probably in the 60s and then the tires expanding when the daytime heat got into the 100s.
So now I factor this in when I know the next day's drive is going to be a hot one. I'll back off 5° below my usual target PSI to give some wiggle room for expansion.
Now excuse me while I go toss another virgin into the volcano.
Heat will damage tires, nobody can deny that. Now maybe there is some magic to RV trailer tires that makes them act different, but a under inflated tire flexes more, and will build up more heat. While that extra heat will increase pressure, that is engineered into the sidewall pressure, and is to be set cold
Millions of miles has taught me that in hot weather tires less likely to blow if set at, (or a little above) sidewall max.
And about that check the night before; If you have been driving all day, make sure tires have cooled to ambient before you check. Personally, I would rather get up early, know they are as cold as will get.
Driving in hot weather, (or any time going long distance, IMHO), stop before you feel your about to drowned. As soon as stop, go around touching every tire and hub. If 1 is hotter than others, mark it, then go take care of your body. Find out the why of the extra heat before you leave.
