Tire Temps measured

[BGlidewell]

Towed my ~15k 5W about 200 miles. After I unhitched, I measured all six truck tires. All rear tires measured within 1 degree of each other at 106F. The two front tires measured 127F. All tires had exactly 60PSI in them.



I had one trailer tire 4 degrees hotter than the other three trailer tires @ 119F.

Tire pressure varied on the trailer tires as my battery powered compressor failed during a fill on these tires , but they were all within 10lbs of 125PSI max.

The ambient temp was ~77F and my cruise speed was 65Mph.

 

[LesStallings]

Tire temps tell me a lot. Until I got my GN trailer almost completely level, the front axle tires would run a few degrees cooler than the rear axle tires. Once everything was level and I'm guessing all three axles carrying the same weight, the tire temperatures were almost equal.



Any of the six trailer tires that are even 5 psi low will show with a higher temperature. Needless to say, I'm a big believer in measuring tire temperatures, especially during fuel stops when the tires are hot. Quick, easy, and the numbers don't lie.



If I find a hot tire, I look for the problem. Both times it was a nail and a very slow leak. Neither time was the tire visually low.

 

[cdenn]

where do you get a tire temp gauge?







thanks chuck

 

[JBlock]

Temp guages for $25

Here a place that sell tire temperature for as little as $25.



http://www.tempgun.com/order.html



Joe

 

[Prairie Dog]

I'd suggest one of the lazer temp gages so you can measure your wheel bearing temps at the same time.

 

[Ron Bissett]

Reason front tires hot, they were under inflated . DRW ,you could carry 60 to max psi . Front should have close to max 75 to max . Also a IR thermometer ( check while traveling is best) . I use one and check at fuel stop or pit stops. Under inflation will cause tire to flex and cause heat. When checking psi on the road sunny side will read ten or more degrees than the shady side ,check the trailer tires too . Check before during and after the trip. Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville KY

 

[LesStallings]

RadioShack usually has a decent IR thermometer for around $40. It's small, black, digital readout. I keep mine in the door compartment alongside of the gloves I use while refueling.



I try to keep the IR thermometer a few inches away from the tire tread, and square to the surface. Push the button and read the temp.



Like Ron said, sunny side tires will be hotter than the shaded side. After using the thermometer for a while, it will become natural to analyze what you read. I've pulled up to truckstops and while waiting to pull up to a pump, I'll jump out and get a quick check on the tires. Several times trucker have asked what the little device was. One said that was a better method than hitting a tire with a hammer...

 

[BGlidewell]

#ad




http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/ncap/Tires/pages/TireRatTemperature.htm

Tire Ratings - Temperature



Temperature grades are an indication of a tire's resistance to heat. Sustained high temperature (for example, driving long distances in hot weather), can cause a tire to deteriorate, leading to blowouts and tread separation. From highest to lowest, a tire's resistance to heat is graded as “A”, “B”, or “C”.



Of current tires:



*



27% are rated “A”

*



59% are rated “B”

*



11% are rated “C”

ok, so WHAT is the dangerzone for temperature readings on A, B, and C rated tires?

 

[B.G. Smith]

"RadioShack usually has a decent IR thermometer for around $40. It's small, black, digital readout. I keep mine in the door compartment alongside of the gloves I use while refueling. " I went to Radio

Shack recently and they didn't have the IR thermometer nor could they find it in their catalogue. Bought mine at Sears, $50. 00. bg

 

[msimmons]

I just purchased a SmarTire Trailer Voice tire pressure monitoring system for my TT and plan on installing it next weekend. The TP sensors that mount inside the rim also have temp sensors built in that monitor ambient temp inside the tire and has an alarm function that is adjustable to sound an alarm if the temp exceeds a preset limit. The factory default temp setting is 176 degrees F. Does anyone else have any experience with the SmarTire system?



Mike

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Also check the load on each wheel. Many are surprised to find that their trailers are overloaded on one wheel because the interior designers put appliances where they wanted, or storage spaces have heavy items, etc.



I am running 225-75-15D tires with something like 2560 lb rating on each tire on my little 21' Airstream (GVW 5500). The new Towmasters run cool at 75 mph and the truck tires are slightly warm to the touch. I have gotten worried because I had ply separations a couple yeras ago, so I check by runing a hand over the treads at stops to check for bulging.

 

[OTRPU]

Guess I need to get one of those thingys, had a tire blow on each of two the my last four trailers. I check tire pressure and torque the lugs as part of my pretrip. Don't know if it will tell me much before anything happens, but can't hurt knowing more information.



Cheers,

Steve J