I dread checking air pressure in MH tires.

[Triker56]

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

Equal Balancing Powder will cake-up with any little moisture that is introduced to the tire while adding unfiltered air.

Completely NOT true.

Equal does not absorb moisture in any manner. Equal is a plastic polymer granule, and thus water or moisture will not change its composition.

Moisture that accumulates inside the tire will evaporate due to normal driving conditions and therefore is in contact with Equal for a very short time. Equal, when in contact with large amounts of water--to the point where it is actually floating in the pooled water--will do just that, float.

This will interfere with the ability of Equal to optimize the given tire in the way that the tire dealer or fleet had intended when installing the product. Simply, this means that although Equal will never damage the tire in any way, if it is in contact with large amounts of water, it cannot perform its job.

Again, it is important to reiterate, that in most cases, moisture will evaporate due to the heat build up in normal driving, and once the moisture has evaporated, Equal will perform as it originally did.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by George Schweikle

Agree with the need for good valve caps. Long ago, I removed a tire that I thought had a slow leak and had it checked at a tire store. They submerged it in a tank of water and pronounced no leak, but said it earlier probably had a partially stuck valve stem and a plastic valve cap. The guy said the plastic valve caps are no good, and to use metal versions with a gasket inside.

Yup, the plastic is called dust caps, and will not prevent an air leak if the valve core fails.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by Triker56

Completely NOT true.

Equal does not absorb moisture in any manner. Equal is a plastic polymer granule, and thus water or moisture will not change its composition.

Moisture that accumulates inside the tire will evaporate due to normal driving conditions and therefore is in contact with Equal for a very short time. Equal, when in contact with large amounts of water--to the point where it is actually floating in the pooled water--will do just that, float.

This will interfere with the ability of Equal to optimize the given tire in the way that the tire dealer or fleet had intended when installing the product. Simply, this means that although Equal will never damage the tire in any way, if it is in contact with large amounts of water, it cannot perform its job.

Again, it is important to reiterate, that in most cases, moisture will evaporate due to the heat build up in normal driving, and once the moisture has evaporated, Equal will perform as it originally did.

Where does that moisture/water go? Once introduced, it cannot escape unless you have an air leak.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Where does that moisture/water go? Once introduced, it cannot escape unless you have an air leak.

I have same question. The air chamber is a closed system. Thinking the water will evaporate from the tire air chamber is like thinking the moisture in containers in you cupboard will evaporate. I guess i just have never waited long enough for a can of soup to dry out

[LarrytheBear]

Well, I pulled my "Gator Caps" off today and the one that almost always leaked after checking had about a dozen tiny white particles (about the size of salt) on the inside. I left the Gators off and put metal caps with gaskets back on.

I assume the white particles is the balancing powder and I must not have correct valve stems to keep the powder from clogging the valve. There is no red mark or line that I can see on the valve stem. I haven't talked to Camping World yet. (They installed the tires.)

The back tires were within .5 lb of the correct inflation.

Thanks for all the info and responses.
I'm looking forward to a TPMS.

[Dr4Film]

Larry,

If it were me I'd spend the money to get rid of the powder, install new Borg stems onto the wheels and put Dyna Beads inside. You would be good for the life of those tires until they need to be replaced, 6-7 years out or so.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[1ciderdog]

You can check the tire pressure every morning before you head out but I do like the ability to monitor the tire pressure when traveling. I was traveling down the highway and the TPS alert came on and I was able to get off the highway check the tire, confirm, it had lost air and then head to a tire shop. Without a TPS I would have lost that tire. Works for me.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by LarrytheBear

Well, I pulled my "Gator Caps" off today and the one that almost always leaked after checking had about a dozen tiny white particles (about the size of salt) on the inside. I left the Gators off and put metal caps with gaskets back on.

I assume the white particles is the balancing powder and I must not have correct valve stems to keep the powder from clogging the valve. There is no red mark or line that I can see on the valve stem. I haven't talked to Camping World yet. (They installed the tires.)

The back tires were within .5 lb of the correct inflation.

Thanks for all the info and responses.
I'm looking forward to a TPMS.

IMO If Camping World installed the balance powder it is their responsibility to also use the proper valve filters.
Here is a post showing just how small a particle can allow air to leak past the valve core.

[Tireman9]

My review of "Gator extensions.

[LarrytheBear]

Originally Posted by Tireman9

IMO If Camping World installed the balance powder it is their responsibility to also use the proper valve filters.
Here is a post showing just how small a particle can allow air to leak past the valve core.

I am going to contact CW (Chattanooga) and see what they say.

My front valve extensions are the Alligator brand, just like the picture in your review, but they did not have caps and the metal caps I bought for the back tires do not fit, nor do the plastic dust cover caps. There must be a special cap for the Alligator extensions.

Caps would not have solved my leaking problem (but they may have helped) since the powder is apparently the problem. The powder passed through the valve core into the Gator extensions. This means I still have the problem, it is just not leaking right now. I was able to put metal caps on the stems without the Gators.

[jergeod]

One thing I found was if the stems are at the top of the rim when checking pressure you don't get the stuff in the valve cores or the gator extensions normally, I have these also. It could still happen but nowhere near as often. I had the same problem with my new tires last year but couldn't find filtered valve cores, if anyone has a place to get them let us know.

[WDW]

OK ... I'm new at this, and I appreciate the importance of proper inflation. But short of damage to a tire I would think daily checking of PSI is more of a cause for air loss. Or is there something I'm missing? There seems to be a real fixation on this topic. I doubt school bus drivers places as much emphasis on this topic than RV's do.


Taking in the sights with our Trolley ...but life is always better under a Palm Tree
2015 JAYCO 31FK

Western New York

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by WDW

OK ... I'm new at this, and I appreciate the importance of proper inflation. But short of damage to a tire I would think daily checking of PSI is more of a cause for air loss. Or is there something I'm missing? There seems to be a real fixation on this topic. I doubt school bus drivers places as much emphasis on this topic than RV's do.


Taking in the sights with our Trolley ...but life is always better under a Palm Tree
2015 JAYCO 31FK

Western New York

You're correct. Too many fixate on daily air checks. Sticking valves can cause air loss. Since I run TireTrakker TPMS I don't do a manual air check unless the readings go outside the normal variation range of 3 to 5 psi around my "Set" pressure of 70 psi. Other than the start of my travel season, I may only do a manual check once a season.

Now if you don't want to run a warning system then a manual check each travel day is the only way you can know there is a slow leak. If you wait till your "thumper" bat makes you suspect low pressure or your IR gun makes you suspect high temperature you may already be too late and might have done permanent structural damage to the tire and shortened its life by many months or even years.

[Dr4Film]

Originally Posted by Tireman9

You're correct. Too many fixate on daily air checks. Sticking valves can cause air loss. Since I run TireTrakker TPMS I don't do a manual air check unless the readings go outside the normal variation range of 3 to 5 psi around my "Set" pressure of 70 psi. Other than the start of my travel season, I may only do a manual check once a season.

Now if you don't want to run a warning system then a manual check each travel day is the only way you can know there is a slow leak. If you wait till your "thumper" bat makes you suspect low pressure or your IR gun makes you suspect high temperature you may already be too late and might have done permanent structural damage to the tire and shortened its life by many months or even years.

You can take what Tireman9 stated above ALL the way to the BANK.

He is absolutely 100% correct in regards to setting and checking air pressures plus if running without any TPMS.

However, "You can't teach an Old Dog any new tricks unless they are really smart." Use your intelligence wisely.

Dr4Film ----- Richard