Community Forums

Nick1234 · 05-14-2017, 10:05 PM

Can anyone explain to me why my tires on the starboard side of my trailer run 3-5 degrees higher than the tires on the port side? I thought it was the sun, but, they seem to run hotter regardless of the sun shining in them or not. Thank you

Stever53 · 05-14-2017, 10:20 PM

Is it a TT or 5er? I would check to see if air pressure are the same in each tire. Or maybe one side has a little more weight on it than the other. These things would have some effect on tire pressure.
Good luck and safe travels

RE_Farmer · 05-14-2017, 10:26 PM

One possibility could be a weight difference between sides. When I weighed our new-used MH, I found the port(driver/DS) was ~500# heavier than the other (PS) side. Assuming the tire pressures are the same from side to side the DS, in my case, or the PS in your case would be relatively "lesser-inflated" and might run hotter. (Please note this is some what of a guess on my part as I've not tested it out.)

Nick1234 · 05-14-2017, 10:30 PM

It is a 5th wheel. All four tires are at the same pressure when starting off. Of course, as they heat up, pressures change a pound or two. As far as weight distribution, I believe the weight is evenly distributed.

Arch Hoagland · 05-14-2017, 11:09 PM

How are you getting the temperatures? TPMS or IR gun?

If you have an IR gun I'd shoot the brakes and see if one set is dragging.

I'd also check the wheel bearing temperature at the hub.

Which side is your exhaust pipe on and are the hot tires on the same side?

I've been checking my tire temps every time I stop for many years and there are a lot of things that will cause them to vary.

As others mentioned...check the weight from side to side. My toad front tires are consistently hotter than it's back tires do to the weight on the front tires.

marcham · 05-15-2017, 05:27 AM

The crown in the road makes the trailer lean slightly to the right, putting more weight on that side. How is the weight distribution inside the trailer? (fridge, stove, pantry)

RE_Farmer · 05-15-2017, 09:09 AM

I second Arch H.'s comments; I had a 5er that had a wheel bearing go bad and it heated up the wheel and tire quite a bit. However, that should only affect that tire unless both hubs are too tight or needing lube.

An IR "gun" (~$25 at HarborFreight) is a troubleshooting must have IMO and the only accurate way to measure temps. - useful for finding many things from mis-firing engine cylinder(s), to poor electrical or overloaded circuits (hot wires), to making sure the water is proper for easy chicken feather plucking and making cheese.

SkiSmuggs · 05-16-2017, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcham

The crown in the road makes the trailer lean slightly to the right, putting more weight on that side. How is the weight distribution inside the trailer? (fridge, stove, pantry)

THIS ^^^^ The right side tires tend to wear faster as well because they tend to run on the inside edge as the road falls toward the shoulder, while the left side tires tend to run flat on or perpendicular to the pavement.