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Tire Temperature
Tom and Pam Brown:
The gators are the result of using poorly made recaps. Not new tires.
Again, if folks feel the need by all means temp test. I was just trying to put some who read these posts minds at ease.
Sean Donohue:
I had a low tire blow on a travel trailer many years ago. I touch the remaining shreds and they were pretty hot to the touch. I can not say it was low pressure but after that, I check the tires by hand. It they are warm enough to comfortable touch then I assume they are OK. If they are hot, which knock on wood they have never been, I would guess I'd have to have a cup of joe and think about the issue and wait till the tire cools a bit to check the pressure. I guess this thread is making a great aurgement for auto tire sensor systems...
@ Tom, would overspeed recaps make gators too? And are the truckers I see hitting the tires checking for an underinflated tire, I sure see a lot of them doing it in the truck stops on their walk arounds. And while I hopfully have your expertise, what did or would, you look at when you walked around your rig? I ask just to be educated...
Dick Simonis:
Hitting the tires checks for under-inflation. Under-inflation causes high temps as the belts start to flex and rub across each other. A properly (or even an overly) inflated tire for the load will not overheat unless something else is going horribly awry inside the belts which is why most good TPMS systems have that function. On the other hand, if you don't have a TPMS checking the temps may alert you to an under-inflation condition.
I know a lot of folks so check temp but no one has every mentioned that they found a "hot" tire. I'll use the back of my hand on the wheel which can warn of a dragging brake or a bearing problem but have never found anything so it's just in my "feel good" wheelhouse.
Tom and Pam Brown:
Sean, my walk around includes using a tire knocker to detect a low tire. I touch them as well to check for excessive heat. I also check toad connections and proper settings in the toad. I scan underneath the engine compartment for obvious leaks and make sure the belt is still on. I check the compartment doors as I make my way around as well. Finally I get the DW to operate all lights especially the brake lights on coach and toad to make sure they are functioning.
I also before I move the coach I give a light toot on the horn to make sure no one has approached from blind spots before I release the brakes. Then I grab a beer and drive on! (Ha,ha)
Nothing too glamorous just want to make sure everything is aired up and closed before I depart. I do this at every stop even if I have been there only a few minutes.
As far as overspeed causing gators it's hard to say. They are required to cap ties with like rubber. I guess not all do. Most of the gators are from poor prep on the casing or taking the tire out of the oven before its cured. Or just plain poor quality.
Tom and Pam Brown:
I personally like tire equalizers for the rear tires. Excessive heat can be the result of one tire being more inflated than the other causing more load on the tire with more air. It also when inflated to the correct pressure will give you a slight increase in fuel economy. Not to mention you have only one air fitting to inflate both tires. And yes there are check valves that prevent both tires from going flat.
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