Tires are the topic. Hi, I am Steve DuVal from Thor Motor Coach. Before you hit the
road, you make sure your tires are ready to roll. So we've enlisted the expertise of
doctor Tred to give us the ins and outs of tires...Here he comes now.
I'm Here...Hey, Dr. Trent thanks for being here, can't wait to get started but we need tires
for this right? Of course we do...Well yours are rolling away...Oh Pythagoras!
In order to check your tire pressure, you need this. That particular gage goes up to
160 psi which means what Dr. Tred? Pounds per square inch. Have you ever taken a close look at
a tire? That sidewall is chock-full of information. Here, you can find the load
rating, inflation pressure, speed rating, size, and even when and where that tire was made. Some
of that information can also be found inside the coach. On this particular
model it's inside the door jam. Now it's important to remember to check your
tires when they are cold, right Dr. Tred? Factual! Gas expands when heat causes
molecules to move faster. As heat energy is converted to kinetic energy, this means the volume
of the gas increases more than the volume of a solid or a liquid.
however gases that are contained in a fixed volume can NOT expand and so they
increase the temperature and as a result increased the tire pressure. Checking the
pressure easy peasy. Remove the cap, put the gauge on and here's your readout
remember maximum tire pressure and recommended tire pressure are not the
same. You want to go with ideal. On rear dual wheels, to locate and check that
inner tire too. If you need air, put some in but do not over invite that tire.
If you need to let some air out, you can, but never let air out of a hot tired you could under inflate it. So what happens if
you over or under inflate your tires Dr. Tred? Improper inflation?
Well, that would lead to all kinds of chaos, like
dogs playing with cats. Peanutbutter not going with Jelly, and, I will take over the
world! What are you doing?
You can't say that. What if your grandma was watching? I should smack you with this.
Okay, I'll explain this. Under-inflated tires will build up excessive heat. Over
inflation can reduce traction, braking, handling, and cause uneven tire wear. You
should check the air pressure every two weeks or at least once a month before
any major trip. Your tire pressure should be checked every morning on long trips.
As Dr. Tred said, you want to check your tired when they are cold. Now a cold
tire is one that has not been driven on for at least three hours, not considered
cold because it's chilly outside. So it's important to check that pressure after
but before you hit the road right Dr. Tred? Exactlly! Properly inflated tires include
improved handling, fuel economy, increased life the tires, and it's easily it's a
safety issue.
Air pressur e supports the entire RV, so proper inflation is important. Air
pressure and load limit go hand in hand and you never want to exceed that load limit. Overlading makes
the vehicle hard to drive and it can cause damage to your motorhome and again, it's a safety issue. Fascinating stuff
Dr. Tred. Science!
you can let go. For more useful resources visit ThorMotorcoach.com.