Air in drive tires

[John316]

This might sound dumb but, I checked the pressure in the tires and they were about 90 psi. We recently had the all the rims changed and the guy obviously filled them all up to 90, instead of looking at the tire and filling them up to 120. I have a standard inflater attachment for the air compressor (maybe 4 inches long), but it is just barely to short to reach the inner drive wheel valve stem. Do I need longer stems on the inner drives, or a longer inflater attachment? I also have a clip on inflater attachment, but I can't get my hand between the wheels to hook it to the stem.

Ideas??

God Bless,

John

[Blacksheep]

I think 90 would give you a softer ride where as the 120 is a mfgr recommendation.

As for airing them I would opt personally NOT to use a clip on air chuck! Back in the day  (a teen) when I did that for a job, I had one clipped on and it wouldn't come off. This was coupled to a large shop compressor and the final result was we had to trip the main breaker to shut things down! What appeared to have happened was that the chuck had been used so many times that the inside got all gawed up and somehow wedged itself (with my help I'm sure) onto the valve stem! Even after the breaker was tripped, the compressor off, we had a HECK of a time getting it off the stem! A frantic moment for sure when the compressor WAS running! I forgot to mention that this was back when most everything was split rims with tubes. Yes it was in a cage but still scary! I'll never forget the feeling of being in a shop, alone, radio blaring, compressor running and can't remove the air chuck!
Just food for thought!

Ace

[tekebird]

120 would be the max inflation not the manufacturer recomended inflation PSI.

there are charts for manufacturer recommended PSI by axle weight.

I suspect you have a good tire guy who knows they are supposed to be around 90 PSI

[John316]

The tires say," Max load is.... ( I'm not sure what the max weight it said) when inflated to 120. Is that the manufactures recommendation or is that just the max air that the tire can handle?

Thanks,

John316

[RJ]

This might sound dumb but, I checked the pressure in the tires and they were about 90 psi. We recently had the all the rims changed and the guy obviously filled them all up to 90, instead of looking at the tire and filling them up to 120. I have a standard inflater attachment for the air compressor (maybe 4 inches long), but it is just barely to short to reach the inner drive wheel valve stem. Do I need longer stems on the inner drives, or a longer inflater attachment? I also have a clip on inflater attachment, but I can't get my hand between the wheels to hook it to the stem.

Ideas??

God Bless,

John

John -

Your tire guy was smart - he's obviously familiar with buses.

Do you have any idea how much your coach weighs?

No?

Why not?

Reason I ask is because you set your tire's air pressure based on the weight being carried, not by what's printed on the sidewall of the tire - that's the manufacturer's MAXIMUM inflation pressure for that particular model, and the MAXIMUM weight that tire can carry at that inflation pressure.

So, off you go in fully "ready-to-roll" trim to the nearest truck scale, and pay your ten bucks to have each axle weighed individually, plus the total weight of the coach.

Armed with this info, you now divide each axle's weight by the number of tires on that axle, to get the average weight per tire.  Add 200 - 300 lbs for "stuff" that you'll accumulate on your trip, and you've got a realistic number to use when referring to the tire manufacturer's inflation charts.  Use them!

Most of these charts are on the web, but if you can't find it, a local truck tire dealer that carries your brand should have hard copies.

Adjust your tire pressures to what the chart says, and you, your coach, and your passengers, will thank you!

Or just inflate everything to 120 psi and enjoy a rock-hard ride and reduced suspension component life. . .

FWIW & HTH. . .




PS:  In answer to your other question, go to a HD truck parts house and get one of the long, double-ended tire inflation tools.  Here's an example:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FNPL1U?smid=A1RVGQT9T7RRK5&tag=shopzilla_rev_123-20&linkCode=asn

[VAN]

  Kinda makes me wonder which tire charts obama was using when he told the nation to pump em up.

       LOL LOL
        Van

[John316]

RJ, good point we will weigh as soon as we conveniently see a scale this next trip. After we weigh I will adjust the pressure.

Thanks for the help, there's a lot that is still needed too, since I'm still learning .

God bless,

John

[Bob Gil]

You can walk around your bus when you first stop after you have been driving for a while and feel each tire with your hand or temp gauge and you can tell the hoter ones are the ones that need air normally. 

This can be done on about any vehicle.  Not the most acurate but it will let you know you are in trouble if you don't check the presure every stop.  Who can check it every time you stop.

If you have read some of the guys have the infrared thermometers and can check the temps real easy every time they stop.  helps some times.  Remember a bad tire will devlope heat and get hoter than normal even if it has the proper amount if air in it.

Just my $00.00002 worth not much!

Bob

[jjrbus]

 With an tmepature gun you are going to get differences in tire tempatures. The tires on the sunny side of the bus, will be warner than the shady side. The inner dual on sunny side will be cooler.  Hot day, tires are hotter, We are not looking for exact tempatures, but for differences. HTH Jim

[John316]

Another good idea. We need to get a temp gun anyways. Which model do you all like best? Do I just get a HF one or a better quality one? 

Does anybody have any experience with a remote tire pressure monitoring system?

Thanks,

God bless,

John

[VAN]

I do it every 150 mi regardless ,keeps you awake and aware even if you only stop for 5 min and are in a hurry you won't lose that that much time .

[JackConrad]

With an temperature gun you are going to get differences in tire temperatures. The tires on the sunny side of the bus, will be warmer than the shady side. The inner dual on sunny side will be cooler.  Hot day, tires are hotter, We are not looking for exact temperatures, but for differences. HTH Jim

In town stop & go traffic will also cause higher than normal tire temps.  

When you are traveling, watch the truck stops such as Flying J, TA, Pilot, etc. If you see a large sign that says CAT SCALES, they will have a certified scale that will weigh per axle.  

When looking for a temp gun, first, look for one that has a red LED dot that shows where you are checking the temp. Another thing to look at is aspect ratio. A 6:1 aspect ratio means that at 6" distance, you are averaging the reading from a 1" diameter area where the red dot is. At 12" you are getting a reading from a 2" diameter area, etc.  The bigger aspect ratios allow you to shoot the temp of a smaller area from a greater distancesuch as shooting the individual tubes in a radiator, or a quick check of a questionable electrical connection.  Jack

[redbus]

I have the Pressure Pro on bus & toad & love it. When we get ready to leave in the morning I just scroll through tire pressures witout getting dirty.

[John316]

For the Pressure Pro, is $190 for the display and $50 for each sensor a good price or is there a better place to get it ( if we decide to go with it)?

http://www.tirepressuremonitor.com/tire-pressure-monitoring-system2.htm


Thanks,

John

P.S. Jack good point on the aspect ratio, I will keep that in mind.

[redbus]

I think you will find there are no discounted pressure pro units.