Towing on Extremely Hot Days

[LarryW]

Thank you, Fasttimes and Old Engineer. Been called worse than "hard headed!" My current TT tires are from etrailer so I follow their instructions...max sidewall pressure. Not following a manufacturer's rules relives them of liability...at least in my state.

[SarahW]

Folks, discuss the issue & stop the sniping & personal attacks as it's against our Community Rules:

Be Courteous!
Please think before you post and keep your comments limited to the topic at hand; above all be nice.

Thank you.

[bigb]

Old Engineer I think some of the contradicting advice from Roger is due to the Interply Shear issue that he says is only an issue on multiple axle trailers, and I don't believe he started recommending full sidewall pressure on these applications till more recently so I think there is still some older information written by him out there.

It seems there is a trade off for everything in the RV world. Increasing the pressure reduces the interply shear but may have other negative effects. I usually go somewhere in the middle when dealing with something like this, for instance I can see myself running full pressure or near full pressure on a smooth road at speed and airing down/slowing down on a rough road which is exactly what I do when we travel the rough roads in Mexico. I realize everyone does not have on board air so this is not an option for everyone. Also knowing the load weights and having the load and inflation information is paramount.

[LarryW]

bigb, you have brought up a good point...travel on rough and dirt roads. Not just in old Mexico but on USFS side roads all over the West. Excellent post.

[Walt523]

Originally Posted by bigb

Old Engineer I think some of the contradicting advice from Roger is due to the Interply Shear issue that he says is only an issue on multiple axle trailers, and I don't believe he started recommending full sidewall pressure on these applications till more recently so I think there is still some older information written by him out there.

It seems there is a trade off for everything in the RV world. Increasing the pressure reduces the interply shear but may have other negative effects. I usually go somewhere in the middle when dealing with something like this, for instance I can see myself running full pressure or near full pressure on a smooth road at speed and airing down/slowing down on a rough road which is exactly what I do when we travel the rough roads in Mexico. I realize everyone does not have on board air so this is not an option for everyone. Also knowing the load weights and having the load and inflation information is paramount.

Inter ply shear is another reason so many have gone to LT tires, which do not have the sesame stiff side walls and are designed for tire roll. . Nor is there any difintive data of failures from the manufacturers.

Trailer tires failures are mostly from poor care and failing to replace them. Due to the abuse trailer tires go through they say they should be replaced every 36 months. Rather then the 5 years which is recomended for motorhome tires.

How many do that? But, Roger does contradict him self and has a changing opinion from year to year. But, falls back on the Max PSI as a cure? For interplayshear .

[Phil G.]

Small diameter tires will always run hotter than larger diameter tires because their sidewalls get flexed more times per mile because the tires are rotating more times per mile.


In extreme heat - with any diameter tire: You can compensate somewhat for this internal heat generation by running at max pressure and driving at a slower MPH. Try traveling at 55-60 MPH to be on the safe side. Blowing a tire can of course be dangerous and having to spend some time along the side the road in 100+ temperatures is no picnic.


If you ever buy another RV in the future, look for tires on at least 15 inch rims for more reliability during hot weather travel.