(and a terrific story for the Trailing forum. U-Haul rentals were just discussed in another thread, too.)
Just bought a 2003 26M and need towing advice!!
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Frank C
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Catigale
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JJ - tires being warm or even hot to touch is normal
My tires on my
trailer go from 50 psi to 60 psi on trailering, which means about roughly 20% increase in absolute temperature while trailering..this is quite a bit, so Im not surprised the tires would feel hot.
I describe it as hot to touch but not burning hot like a kettle
On edit for the more analytical types
IF we assume the gas in the tires is ideal, which is a decent assumption at these pressures, then the 20% rise in pressure I have measured means the tire gas pressure goes from 25C (roughly room temperaure) to 85C
(You have to use absolute temperatures to calculate ideal gas law behaviour, so 25C = 298 Kelvin, and thus a 20% rise in absolute temperature is about 60 Kelvin (298* 0.20)
One degree Celsius is the same as one Kelvin btw.
And 85C is about 185 Fahrenheit...hot!!!!
The tires dont get as hot as the air in the tires of course, since they have much more heat capacity, and are also being spun in relatively cool air.
Market idea
I have always thought it would be good to have real time monitoring of the wheel temperature while trailering - it would give you advance warning of bearing or tire failure...wonder what products are out there??
My tires on my
trailer go from 50 psi to 60 psi on trailering, which means about roughly 20% increase in absolute temperature while trailering..this is quite a bit, so Im not surprised the tires would feel hot.I describe it as hot to touch but not burning hot like a kettle
On edit for the more analytical types
IF we assume the gas in the tires is ideal, which is a decent assumption at these pressures, then the 20% rise in pressure I have measured means the tire gas pressure goes from 25C (roughly room temperaure) to 85C
(You have to use absolute temperatures to calculate ideal gas law behaviour, so 25C = 298 Kelvin, and thus a 20% rise in absolute temperature is about 60 Kelvin (298* 0.20)
One degree Celsius is the same as one Kelvin btw.
And 85C is about 185 Fahrenheit...hot!!!!
The tires dont get as hot as the air in the tires of course, since they have much more heat capacity, and are also being spun in relatively cool air.
Market idea
I have always thought it would be good to have real time monitoring of the wheel temperature while trailering - it would give you advance warning of bearing or tire failure...wonder what products are out there??
Last edited by Catigale on Wed Dec 20, 2006 4:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
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kmclemore
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As a part of my regular 'walk-abouts' during my trips with the Mac in tow, I check the trailer lights, the hitch and chains, the lug nuts and the winch and the boat's tie-down strap... then I put my hands on the tires to ensure they are not too hot but more importantly to ensure they are the same temperature (the difference being important, as this will clue you in quickly to a damaged or underinflated tire), and I also lay my hands on the bearing hubs... the latter should be only slightly warm - if they are any hotter than that you need to have those bearings serviced and lubricated promptly.
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Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL
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