How Hot is Too Hot for Tires?

[TucsonJim]

Well, it's a balmy 112F today in the Old Pueblo (Tucson). I just went out and measured the asphalt temperature. At 2:30pm, it read 161.6F!!! We're heading north next weekend, but we'll leave early in the morning to get up to cooler temps before the blast furnace kicks in again.

I can't imagine towing in that kind of heat. I wonder what the long term consequences would be on the tires at those temps? I wonder if they are more prone to damage such as when you hit a pot hole or have them loaded near their maximum capacity?




Jim

[Bamaman]

Do they offer 3 a/c units in a Reflection 337? Too hot to be outside, even.

[Clsfly]

Jim.... the tires start to fail at 180, you are close and haven't started moving yet

[RickTulsa]

Jim.... the tires start to fail at 180, you are close and haven't started moving yet

Not sure where you received this information. Most new tires are cured/vulcanized around 350 -375 degrees. When they are retreaded "cold" that is around 210 - 215 degrees.

Bottom line is the higher the running temp the less margin for any sudden increase. If you were to pickup a nail and develop a slow leak as the pressure decreases and the tire jounces more (sidewall flex) it will heat up quickly. The rubber you see on the road is when the tire temp has exceeded its original cure temp, thus reversing the vulcanizing process.

Myself I'd be comfortable towing up to 200 degrees albeit at a slower speed and monitoring. But you should do what your comfort zone is.

[Sirsea]

Our TPMS has a default high temp warning set at 158*. Highest we have had so far is 109, but that was in early summer in Texas and air temp was about 101.

[Clsfly]

Here is a quote from TST who is a TPMS supplier...... I assume they know something about it {The temperature default on the system is 158° F, which is the Michelin standard; tires typically fail between 180° F and 200° F.}

[RickTulsa]

Here is a quote from a post on FMCA dated back in 2010. As you can see this is what Michelin stated.

Again, like I said I would be comfortable up to 200. Keep in mid that the TST system does read up to 258 degrees for the top limit. I would think if they felt tires failed between 180 -200 degrees they wouldn't have an upper limit past failure.


"I forwarded this thread to my contact at Michelin. Here is the response:

A tire in operation will heat up until it reaches its equilibrium temperature where the heat being generated equals the heat being dissipated.

The temperature of the tire will increase with an increase in ambient temperature. There is nothing to worry about in the ranges stated, if the temperature gets above 250 degrees F then I would be concerned !"

Brett

[Cate&Rob]

WRT TPMS temperature monitoring . . . this is the temperature at the end of the valve stem. How accurately do you think this is monitoring tread temperature ? I only believe the tread temperatures that I measure at the tread, immediately after stopping at a rest area. I believe my TPMS pressure readings (because I have cross checked these against a calibrated gauge). TPMS temperature readings are a "trend" at best.

Rob

[Clsfly]

I don't trust those TPMS temp readings either, I use my infrared temp gun for tread and bearings

[TucsonJim]

I use my tpms temp readings to identify a tire that is running significantly higher than the others. If just one starts to deviate from the norm, it's time to stop and investigate.