[A/S] Tire Inflation

["Harvey Barlow" <harveybarlow@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Terry,

I agree completely with your reference to the importance of tire inflation
pressures.  You should have elaborated more on the subject.

You and I have each probably seen a thousand examples of a worn out, blown
out, or tread separated tire with an owner mad, disappointed, or blaming the
tire manufacturer.  Inadequate inflation is almost always the cause.  Low
inflation pressure may result from a slow leak, a puncture while towing, or
simple neglect.  Lots of folks are apparently not aware that a tire will
support very little weight by itself.  A tire, in one way of looking at it,
is only an air container.  It is the air, under sufficient pressure, that
supports the load, not the tire sidewalls.

When a tire is underinflated its sidewalls flex continuously as the tire
rotates and even more when the tire runs over road irregularities.  Side
wall flex builds up heat in the tire carcass, significant heat in some
cases.  Eventually, under extreme conditions, heat buildup and sidewall
flexing is so severe that the tire carcass experiences cord or ply
separation and disintegrates or the tread separates from the carcass.

Ford Motor Company and Firestone are presently paying a terrible price in
replacement tires and public trust because of the recent rash of tread
separations on Ford Explorers using Firestone tires.  Many of those
accidents could have resulted from simple underinflation but Ford and
Firestone will be blamed anyway.

Tire failure could happen to anyone but the likelihood of it happening can
be drastically reduced with proper inflation and frequent use of a tire
pressure gauge and visual inspection during pit stops.  I have never
experienced a failed tire in "several" years of driving and using
automobiles, pickup trucks with heavy slide-in campers, and trailers.  Now
that I made such a bold statement I'll have to be even more careful about
proper inflation pressures.

Well, that's my speech for this early morning.

Happy trailering,
Harvey