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Topic: Tire Temperatures....maybe for Andy? (Read 3 times) previous topic - next topic
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Tire Temperatures....maybe for Andy?
Yahoo Message Number: 23455
Andy,

I adopted your idea today of using a remote RF thermometer to check tire temperature when I stop while on the road.

The temperatures are pretty consistant in back for the inner and outer tire on the same side of the rig but, even though I began the day with identical cold pressures, the passenger side rear tires run 4 degrees hotter than the driver's side.

I think I'm pretty well balanced so could this tempeture variation be due to road crown?....or is that difference too much to be accounted for by crown?

The ambient temp was 85 degrees and the left side temps were 121 while the right side temps were 125.

Thanks for your wisdom on this.
Re: Tire Temperatures....maybe for Andy?
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23460
"I adopted your idea today of using a remote RF thermometer to check tire temperature when I stop while on the road....but, even though I began the day with identical cold pressures, the passenger side rear tires run 4 degrees hotter than the driver's side."
 I hope you meant 'remote IR thermometer'--if your tires are radiating in the RF band, they are *much* too hot! ;-)
 You raise a good question. I've seen some side-to-side temperature variation in my tires, but pressures have been pretty consistent.
 Of course, it is possible that your load is not as evenly balanced as you think-- the only way to rule that out is to get the rig weighed, which is a good idea in any case.
 On the other hand, it could be something as simple as the sun shining mainly on one side of the coach. If that is the cause, your inner dual tire will be a little cooler because it's shaded--I've seen this once or twice.
 One thing I did when I was first experimenting with a non-contact IR thermometer was to take *both* temperature and pressure measurements the first few times, until I was sure that the two were consistently tracking each other. You might want to try doing that until you get a feel for the readings you're seeing.

This temperature-measuring technique is probably best regarded as a substitute for a tire baton--that is to say, it's not as accurate as taking pressure measurements all around, but it can give you a quick overall picture of the state of your tires.

Andy Baird :-)
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Tire Temperatures....maybe for Andy?
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23462
Quote
The temperatures are pretty consistant in back for the inner and outer tire on the same side of the rig but, even though I began the day with identical cold pressures, the passenger side rear tires run 4 degrees hotter than the driver's side.
Is the front tire also hotter on that side than the other? If so, I would put the sun as the likeliest culprit, with the hot side facing south more than the other.

However, if your travelling direction can't explain it, and particularly if the front tire differential is not there, then I would investigate mechanical problems (dragging brake, bad axle bearing, worn shock) or uneven load distribution. The latter can of course be checked at any commercial scale that can measure one wheel at a time.
 Note that problems are usually monitored via air pressure - you don't say if these tested higher on the hotter tires. Also read carefully the istructions and caveats on the thermometer - you could be getting an inaccurate indication.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Tire Temperatures....maybe for Andy?
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23479
"the passenger side rear tires run 4 degrees hotter than the driver's side."
 If this is on a Ford E series chassis the passenger's side would run a bit hotter because the exhaust pipe is close to the passenger's side tires and terminates just behind them. The fact that it runs so close to the passenger's side tires and the entire exhaust system is on the passenger's side could explain a difference in temperature.

"On the other hand, it could be something as simple as the sun shining mainly on one side of the coach. If that is the cause, your inner dual tire will be a little cooler because it's shaded--I've seen this once or twice."
 Although the sun could affect the outer tire temperature and make it hotter it is typically the inner dual that runs just a bit hotter than the outer. This is because of less cool airflow over that tire.
The reason duals have lower weight carrying capacity than a single tire of the same size and rating is that the duals don't get the same cooling airflow as a single. Typically the inner duals will run just a tad hotter than the outer because much of the airflow over them has been heated by the exhaust and drive train.

Many people theorize that these may be reasons why the inner passenger's side dual is the most common to have a tread separation or blowout. It could be a factor as could the fact the passenger's side tires are the main drive tires and the inner actually get more of the torque due to road crown and other reasons. It also often gets over loaded and stressed when people run the outer tire off the side of the road because it sticks out farther than the front or rear inner. There are many more theories on why it happens but no proof as to which cause is the true culprit or if it is just one or more likely a combination of a few of them. The fact remains that whether you're discussing a truck or motorhome the inner rear dual is the tire that most frequently suffers a tread separation or blowout. It also happens to be the same tire with the rear trailer duals of 18- wheelers as well.
 "This temperature-measuring technique is probably best regarded as a substitute for a tire baton--that is to say, it's not as accurate as taking pressure measurements all around, but it can give you a quick overall picture of the state of your tires."
 This is most certainly true and one must remember that when the tires are hot the pressure will be higher than the cold inflation pressure you started the day with. You should NEVER remove air when the tires have been driven and heated up because you think they are now over inflated because that is normal. If you take the pressure or temperature and there is a big difference in them when they have heated up that would be cause for concern, however a small difference should be considered normal just as a small difference in temperature or pressure should be considered normal including a small difference in inner and outer dual temperature or pressure.

Mike R.
 
Re: Tire Temperatures....maybe for Andy?
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23515
Andy and Steve,

You're right.  Tire temperatures measured in RF would be scary!
 Guess all these wireless technology acronyms get scrambled in my head or in my typing fingers.

I was heading South in the afternoon so the sun was on my passenger side wheels.  Didn't notice a difference between inside and outside tires on the hot side.   And didn't measure the hot pressures in the tires.

That's the trouble with getting a new measurement tool...you start measuring things with it....then you start worrying about the measurements :)

I'll use the remote IR themometer as a "Tire Baton" and use real pressures to measure pressure.

Thanks