[whatsnewell]

I have not yet installed any kind of a pressure monitoring unit for my tires. Initially I got out at every other stop and touched each tire with my hand. Any tire that felt a lot hotter than the others I checked the air pressure. This worked pretty well, but I got tired of having to wash my hands each time, so I bought an handheld infrared temp gun at Autozone and now get out and just aim at each tire. Typically on the steerer tires the temps run around 109-110 just after I stop. The drive tires run a little higher at probably 113-114.....I have noticed that the inside tires usually record higher temps than the outside tires, and I am imagining (theory #1) this is because the are catching the heat from the outside tire, and not cooling off as fast. On the load range E, 10 ply radial trailer tires I get temps around 115, and if one is beginning to have tread separation the temps go up 20 degrees, or higher. After having the left rear read 135+ degrees a couple of times I pulled it off yesterday to get a good look at it and sure enough the tread was separating, so I made a quick trip to the local Firestone shop and had that one replaced. I have now replaced the right rear (2,000 miles ago) and the left rear. My theory (theory #2) on why those are going bad is they get "scrubbed" more when I am turning (kind of like the tag axle tires get scrubbed) and seem to take more punishment because of that. The two front tires continue to do well, and show no signs if tread separation, and look as if they will go another 5,000 miles.

Your thoughts on my two theories would be greatly appreciated. At this point I'm not sure I will go with a pressure monitoring system. I get out of the coach every couple of hours to stretch my legs, and walk around the coach anyway, so I just take the infrared gun with me and check the tires as I walk. This process has worked well, with the exception of me not noticing the lugs coming loose on the right rear a few weeks ago....