Checking tire temps

[Groover]

Does anyone here use a laser thermometer to check tire temperatures? It seems to me that checking termperature rise right after pulling off the highway would be a good way to spot inflation issues without having to even bend over, much less get dirty. Isn't avoiding excessive tire temperatures the main goal of maintaining timer pressure? That raises the question of What temperature rise should be expected? One my coach checking all six wheels with a pressure gauge would probably take 20 or thirty minutes since the front wheel covers have to be removed to do it. A laser would probably get used more often and might clue me in to other issues.

[JimM68]

when we had the 1999 gasser, I used an ir gun every time we stopped. I also checked the tire pressures every time we stopped.
It was a pain.
One time (not counting the times we had catastrophic failures...) we woke up in the morning in the middle of nowhere on a sunday, and my preflight check showed an inner dual dead flat....

When we bought our DP, a $350 TPMS system went on before we went on our first trip. It has paid for itself all ready, and I'll never be without again.

[ArchHoagland]

I use an IR gun every time I stop. I check tires and brake temps along with the rear end hub.

There is no set temp you will see, what you are looking for is a consistent wide variance between tires. Sunlight and wind direction will play a part.

While I am checking temps I accomplish a couple things...good walk around inspection, check tow bar connections, good exercise, hoodlums in the parking area, etc.

After you do it several times you will get a feel for what is good.

I have a IR gun that has a little red laser dot that you use to aim it.

They are about $50 give or take. Well worth the investment because you can use them for testing other things...faucet water temp, etc.

[jerseyjim]

I really have no idea what the tire temps SHOULD be....but I use a laser gadget I bought at Sears some years ago. It works. What I do look for is DIFFERENCE in temps on the rear tires and some kind of consistancy on the two front tires.
5-6 degrees on the rear pairs...that's OK. 10 or more, I think might be a problem happening. Then...IF I do have that,I get out my pressure gauge and work from there.
So far, all's well.

[path1]

And also read instructions that comes with it. Because big difference in taking temp at 6" away and 2 feet. So to keep the same distance everytime reading temps. I stand with my arm straight against the rv. And other arm with gun. That way I feel I'm getting a consistant reading everytime I check tires. I also do it just after stopping as much as possible. I also do a visual of the tire for bulges outside and inside as much as practical and make sure my (problem) valve extenders are centered and at same time listen for air leaks and look to make sure no new shiny metal at lug nuts.

And if I was still truck driving or if I had room on rv, I'd beat on the tire tread once with hammer and listen for a little "bing" noise. Ones that don't "bing" are little suspect and need a watchful eye.

[FuzzyKnight]

Yes we do. It is a piece of mind thing for me. Running an older gasser which are prone to inner rear problems I feel better knowing what the tires are running. Made a set of tubes that run along the frame rails from the front back to the rear tires. Cools the inside dual as well as keeping the brakes a bit cooler. My inside rears run about 10 degrees warmer than the outside.

[bsinmich]

They are really infrared thermometers. I get out and just walk around with mine to check the MH & toad. Usually the front wheels onthe toad are the hottest with the sunny side of everything always a few degrees warmer. I read sidewalls so I can reach through the openings in the rear wheel to get the same reading spot on the inner wheel for comparison purposes,

[sd1209]

I use one and check or try to on every stop.....I have a general idea of what the temps should be but what I am looking for more than that is a big difference between tires....There will be some diff ie the sunny side and shady side....But if one tire is way out on either the MH or the toad that gets my attn....

The answer really is a temp monitoring system and eventually I will get one....But in the interim I do use a laser temp and it works...

[lanerd]

Your best bet would be to get a TPMS that measures both temps and pressure so that you can monitor them 100% of the time you're driving. Having a laser temp probe won't to you any good when a tire blows from high temps when you're driving.

Ron

[bgum]

I check both the tire and the hub. Checking the hub will alert you to a bearing problem.

[gbopp]

Tire Temps

Tire Temperature