On Topic!! At LAST!! :-) "Hitch Worries"/Stupid Question

[Cudedog]

First of all, thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread!

I find I have another question. When going down the road, I can see my trailer tires in the bottoms of my rear-view mirrors (due to the extended, clip-on mirrors that I "clipped on" to my regular van mirrors, I have three rear-view mirrors on each side, both left and right. So I adjust the lowest mirror on each side to take in my trailer tires).

So, as I am driving down the road (my eyes roving checking my gauges, checking my speed, checking traffic, etc.), I also have a quick glance at my trailer tires as part of my normal, eye-roving thing. So I could immediately tell if my trailer tires looked "soft" or had any kind of "wobble" - which would indicate low tire pressure, or some other kind of tire or rig problem.

My understanding of a "blowout" has always been this: a sudden, unanticipated, tire failure. One thing that might cause a blowout, for example, is if one ran over something that suddenly punctured the tire. The Google definition is pretty close to mine: "a sudden rupture or malfunction of a part or an apparatus due to pressure, in particular the bursting of an automobile tire".

Ok, ok, the question is coming - LOL - soon, I promise!

. . . A slow loss of tire pressure (which, of course, could eventually lead to a blowout) can usually be observed if one is watching one's tires (they will begin to wobble, and no longer track straight), as I do, by watching my trailer tires in my mirrors. And, yes, I do also check my tires and do a "walk-around" of my rig every time I stop - even if I am just pulling to the side of the road for a quick pee.

Here it is, finally, LOL!! The QUESTION:

How can tire pressure sensors warn - in advance - of an impending blowout? Again, my definition of blowout (and I could be wrong here, please correct me if I am) is something sudden and unexpected, that cannot be forseen.

Thanks!

Anne

[Colliemom]

Tires build up pressure from just rolling along the road and also outside temperatures, trailer weight on them etc. Those who have tire pressure monitors built into their vehicles as I do, will notice that. When driving it’s not uncommon to see a slight rise in pressure as the tires warm up. Tire pressure monitors will alert you to a tire that is low or exceptionally high and that’s what might save you from a blowout or a flat tire. My truck has done that for me a couple times when I picked up a screw and had a very slow leak. The argument among those who don’t use them, is they are constantly changing with the conditions and therefore cause unnecessary worry unto themselves, they aren’t that accurate, they are prone to failure, and as you stated, hitting something that causes immediate blowout. I guess it’s a matter of personal choice and whatever makes you feel more secure. Maybe those who use them will chime in here.

While we are on the subject of tires, those who do not use their rigs a lot or have them parked in one spot for a long period of time, should move them periodically so that the tires are not sitting in the same spot all the time. This can cause a bit of a flat spot in a tire from the wright pressing down on the same area. The ground on which they are parked can also play a factor in deterioration as some types of ground covering will suck the petroleum based products out of the rubber or cause it to rot. Asphalt is supposed to be the worst. You should also keep tire covers on them when parked for periods of time to prevent UV deterioration. My trailer is parked on grass/dirt in my yard between trips but It is used frequently. During the winter I park it on boards so the tires don’t freeze to the ground and put tire covers over them and the trailer as well. A friend parks hers on rubber patio mats so there is rubber to rubber contact when parked. Neighbor has theirs on board with rubber mats on them as well. Plastic mats or cement paver stones are also used by some. Some have used horse stall mats. You can look up tire manufacture websites for info on that stuff.

www.goodyearrvtires.com. Here’s an interesting link to Goodyears take on RV tires. I have Goodyear Endurance on mine.

[Bethers]

I was told no tire pressure monitor would have warned about my blowout. My "wobble"came only a couple seconds before the total blowout. But I learned several things... Rv's sitting for long periods of time is terrible on the tires... So now I drive mine at least monthly. I know how important age is whether rv tires look worn or not and save to change every 4-5 years no matter how many miles I've driven, etc.

I'm not going to tell anyone whether they should or shouldn't have a tire monitor system. If it gives those with one peace of mind, go for it. Since my only two bad tire experiences wouldn't have been stopped with one, I'll continue without.

[OregonLuvr]

I have always had a tire pressure monitoring system on my Motorhome and Toad. I am on my second one now. It definitely will not alert you to an immediate blowout. It will however alert you to a low pressure or high temp (mostly due to low pressure) that can cause a blowout. I also like it because I can check my tire pressure easily by just turning on the monitor and scrolling thru the tires. I do visually inspect my tires also and get them checked at my local Les Schwabs at no cost to me. As most things I guess it is a personal choice. I have never had a blowout but I have been alerted to a low tire before I left one morning so that was a plus. I have 10 sensors that give me temp and psi on my RV and toad so that gives me peace of mind. Not so foolish to not realize that an immediate blowout can happen but not for the low tire pressure reason.

[MelissaD]

Most tires fail due to over or under inflation. The over inflation is pretty simple, too much air the balloon pops. Now with an under pressure, there is added stress to the tire sidewall. This causes it to flex more and build up heat in the side wall. At some point this will fail. Normally the tire will just ride lower until it pops. You see them all the time on the road, they're called "Gators" (mamma and babies) cause they rip the air lines and such out of the underside of a truck.

Over loading will also cause the sidewall to blow out.

I actually takes a lot today to puncher a tire through the belts and into the tire; than in older tires. Side wall are often damaged from rubbing curbs ETC.. You can also "burp" a tire by bumping a curb, breaking the bead (tire to rim seal) and getting an instant flat or just letting some air out of the tire. Which can lead to a blown tire.

Sometimes if you hit a sharp edge hard enough, like a pothole, you can damage the belt inside the tire and it will later fail.

Should always check you side walls for signs of cracking, cuts, blisters as well the tread condition. Also check the manufacture date and replace your tires as required by your manufacturer.

As I learned in my 22 years of driving semi's, sometimes they just blow....

FYI, if a semi tire has been run 10% low (100# in a trailer tire, so 10# low) it's considered flat and will be replaced. Sidewall damage is accumulative.

[BarbaraRose]

Thanks Melissa! Good information!