Towing in hot weather
This may sound daft, but has anyone else had difficulty with stability during this hot spell? Coming home on the M42 - M5, the van was very unstable. Very little winds, not speeding. Is it because of hot tyres or the air pressure?
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If the tyres were at the correct pressures at say 15 degrees. When running on scorching tarmac in 30 degree air temperatures they will be significantly higher. Under normal conditions ours go from 60 to 68/69. I have not towed in the current extremes, so not sure how high they would go, or what affect it would have. Although I assume a harder tyre would mean a harder ride for the van, as it only has limited suspension.
As to air pressure, I would not think that would have as much affect as air density. Warm air can support more water vapour, so I suppose might be thicker than cooler air. Wether that would have a difference I have no idea.
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In hot temperatures the density of air decreases as it expands. This causes some problems for airplanes where there is 'less air' flowing over the wings and hence less lift produced for a given speed. That shouldn't affect towing as caravans don't produce any or little lift and even if the did there would be less of it and you'd stick even more to the road. I haven't heard of those who tow in very hot countries complain so I would think the extra pressure in tyres wouldn't account for too much. There will be less air resistance so that might account for something
Maybe the dry roads affected the friction between tyres and the road surface?
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In dry hot conditions the surface of the road changes. The tar will soften and diesel and petrol residues will not be getting washed away. Not to mention the tar splashes onto the paintwork.
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Today on the Mosel cycle way it was 31c, towing no problem just stopped off to cool down in a bar.
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We were towing back home from Devon last Sunday and Monday (with an overnight stop at Broadway) with the temperatures around the 30 degree mark. Normal 35 psi pressure rose to 40-42 and tyre temperature from normal low to mid twenties up to 44 degrees at one point. (TPMS fitted). That said, the van towed absolutely normally.
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