Troubleshooting One Trailer Tire Heating Up Internally Faster Than The Other

Updated 06/14/2023 | Published 06/13/2023

Products Featured in This Question

Westlake ST235/75R15 Radial Off-Road Trailer Tire - Load Range D

(80)

$315.64

Infrared Thermometer

(7)

$29.02

Question:

I too have an Epro 19FD with Westlake ST235/75R15 load range C dot date 4521, CTP 50psi. It also came with TPMS that I started using this year. Only drove 40 miles on highway at 55-60 at noon, ambient air 70 degrees at 5,000 elevation. One of the 2 tires internal temp rose more than other…up to 124 degrees where other was about 98. Default high temp alarm is at 158. Should I be worried about this tire? Last year I only put 100 miles on it and tire covers over the winter. It sure rattled my nerves. I’m a newbie to TPMS. The psi went up only as expected and within normal limits. I think of possible reasons….there was a rock in the tread, the trailers appliances are all on that side, calibration of internal sensor?

asked by: Carolyn T

Expert Reply:

With the temperature of the Westlake ST235/75R15 Radial Off-Road Trailer Tire # WST54FR rising so much higher than the other tire it worries me that there is something off with one of the tires. Trailer tires will typically rise the same temperatures unless there is something causing more friction on one tire than the other. This could be caused from the spindle being bent, hub bearings not set correctly, or even a case of one trailer brake dragging or not engaging properly. I recommend first checking the hubs for any excess play by raising the trailer off the ground and attempting to both move the wheel and tire on the hub and spinning the tire on the hub. If you can visibly see play in the hub the bearings may have gone bad or the castle nut may have not been tightened properly. If you spin the wheels and one drags to a stop faster than the other the brakes may not be set correctly or the castle nut may be to tight. You can use a Infrared Thermometer # PTW89722 to also measure the hub temperature to see if that is what is causing the wheel/tire to heat up faster.

expert reply by: Bud M