Tires/pressures/temperatures

[mrkane]

See:
<http://www.bridgestonetrucktires.com/publications/02v7iss1/ra8.asp>

While running, the pressure increase is chiefly controlled by friction with the road and the flexing of the tire raising the internal temperature, not ambient conditions. Tires and wheels are designed to handle the higher pressures resulting from the 'working', when starting from the proper cold setting. Insufficient air pressure results in excessively high temperatures, which result in failures from damage to the tire structure.

I never change the air pressure during a days running, if it was set properly for 'cold' conditions. That is, after having been parked at least 3 hours and before moving more than one mile.

However, I do monitor the tire, wheel, and hub temperatures with a non-contact IR thermometer at each roadside break, (typically every 1.5 hours for Mena.)

M.R.Kane
1987 PT40 'Sleipnir'
currently near Livingston, TX