Caravan Tyre Pressure & Towing in the Heat
A couple of summers ago we had the misfortune of having a blown tyre on the caravan whilst driving in France during a heat wave (approx 35 degrees). When we went to the local tyre centre to get a replacement the mechanic had stated that the British have
the pressure too high for driving in the heat. With our summer holiday back to France on the horizon and rather warm temperatures here now what would be the recommendations. Keep the tyre pressure as is (cold tyres used in checking the pressure at recent
service) or reduce slightly to allow for the heat.
Done a quick google search and most places say leave as is but would welcome any insightful info for a safe drive and no change your pants at the side of your road moments.
Many Thanks in advance.
Sarah
Comments
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The usual cause of a tyre overheating is that it is underinflated. Too low a pressure and it will be a bit more flat at the bottom than the designer intended, and as this flat moves round the tyre the flexing causes heat. Overinflated makes the tyre rounder
and harder. There is another current thread about the accuracy of type pressure measurements (which should always be done "cold").You don't say which tyre or in what manner the tyre "blew", but here the "usual" cause is damage to the sidewall by hitting kerbs. A good tyre dealer will check tyres for you before you go. Expect a fee of about £10 to £12 per tyre as to be thorough it
would need to be taken off the rim for the inside to be examined.0 -
OP's experience exactly mirrors mine! Driving in temperatures of approx 35 degrees and decending from the Pyrenees the caravan overrun brakes were also adding to the heat, and "bang". One tyre totally shredded! Had checked TP's at about 9.00am before we left the site, and they were spot on. But as the day wore on and the ambient temperature increased, I bet that the standard pressure increased quite a bit. It was in any event quite a high pressure anyway. ( From memory about 65 degrees - its quite a while ago now).
TF
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Tyre specialists are now starting to use nitrogen instead of compressed air, this keeps the tyres cooler and they lose pressure at a slower rate. Since having nitrogen put in my tyres they are running a lot cooler after a long run on hot roads. It does cost
a bit more, but I think it is worth it.0 -
Tyre specialists are now starting to use nitrogen instead of compressed air,
Not so much putting in Nitrogen as not putting in the 20% of air that isn't already Nitrogen (most of which is Oxygen).
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Tyre specialists are now starting to use nitrogen instead of compressed air, this keeps the tyres cooler and they lose pressure at a slower rate. Since having nitrogen put in my tyres they are running a lot cooler after a long run on hot roads. It does cost
a bit more, but I think it is worth it.Costco have been filling tyres with Nitrogen as standard for the past few years. Initially they fitted a stupid green valve cap to indicated it ..... Joe Public didn't like them so they now fit black
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I noted my average car tyre pressures on setting off this morning when the air temperature was around 20* 2.2 KPa or around 32 psi, on the return journey after the car had been in the sun all day and the air temperature was 31* the readings were 2.4KPa or
around 36 psi. The readings are from the tyre pressure monitor and regardless of overall accuracy the temperature difference would have to great to cause a problem unless the tyres were in poor condition. I appreciate tyre size etc etc come into the equation.0 -
The trouble is Tigi that you are only lookng at one causal factor.
In my case add to the ambient heat on the day, the added factor of the long decent, using engine and over run braking, and a Caravan 4 years old, (so the tyres were probably 5 years old), and the combination all added up to a big "Bang". You simply cannot look at one factor alone. Things rarely happen that way!
TF
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EJB, I dont think so. The ambient heat is not generally a problem, in my case it was a combination of factors. - The purpose of my thread was just to heighten awareness.
Had I removed just one of the main factors it probably wouldn't have happened. i.e. newer tyres, a slightly reduced pressure, or perhaps even a less enthusiastic decent, thereby using less frequent braking effort.
On the positive side, a big heavy 4x4, and Tyron bands on the caravan wheels, allowed me to bring the rig to a stable & safe halt. At the time I was using an Avondale Osprey so it was simplicity itself to get the spare wheel out of its well from inside
the caravan and get it fitted pronto.TF
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We have recently returned from 6 weeks on the Continent (France, Switzerland, Italy and Germany) and of course, the tyre pressures of the car and caravan varied according to the temperature. However, I always check the car and caravan tyre pressures before starting a long journey so adjusted them accordingly.
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hmm...interesting. Last weekend I checked & topped up the tyres on the missus's Polo setting the front to 39psi.
Just been on an errand in it and the Tyre Pressure Warning monitor has gone off on the dashboard. Been out to check the pressures and the fronts were up by 7 psi to 46psi.....
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