Diagnosing a hot tire...

[talltigeguy]

So I went to Lake Powell and had a great time.

Trailer is a 2006 Extreme TA with 2007 Maxxis tires and torsion axles and 4 wheel disc brakes.

The stretch of road from Lake Powell to Kanab, Utah is brutal. Rough as crap, 100+ degrees at the time we are leaving, and 70 MPH the whole way (OK, I was only supposed to go 65).

We stop at the Pizza Hut in Kanab for grub. I do a walkaround on the tires because the road has already taken tires from me before. I find that my right front tire is very hot, noticeably warmer than the others. The tread is bulging in the center all the way around the tire. So I figure I caught her just before she was about to blow. I change her out in the parking lot and figure all is well. Previous owner had told me the tires were only a year or two old. I notice the numbers indicate that the tire was manufactured in 2007.

The wife then says: 'I meant to tell you that when I parked the trailer at the marina, I thought it wierd the right rear tire was off the ground, even though the trailer was on a completely flat parking surface'. Hmmmm. I won't be able to test this out until I get to our local lake, and unload the boat, which might be a week or two from now. When weighted with the boat, I cannot tell a difference.

When I get home, the right front tire is again noticeably warmer than the other tires, but thankfully it did not blow, or get funny looking.

I am theorizing that my rear torsion axle is failing and all of the weight is on the front tire on that side, thus producing more heat and stress. I do drive with a slight downward slope on the trailer, but it is not severe. If that were the culprit, I would expect it to occur on both sides. The affected wheel rotates freely when jacked up. Both tires on the other side feel like they are the same temperature.

Is that possible, and is there a way a guy with moderate mechanical experience, and ordinary tools can check out this? Or is it better left to a dealer?

[robert theisen]

So I went to Lake Powell and had a great time.

Trailer is a 2006 Extreme TA with 2007 Maxxis tires and torsion axles and 4 wheel disc brakes.

The stretch of road from Lake Powell to Kanab, Utah is brutal. Rough as crap, 100+ degrees at the time we are leaving, and 70 MPH the whole way (OK, I was only supposed to go 65).

We stop at the Pizza Hut in Kanab for grub. I do a walkaround on the tires because the road has already taken tires from me before. I find that my right front tire is very hot, noticeably warmer than the others. The tread is bulging in the center all the way around the tire. So I figure I caught her just before she was about to blow. I change her out in the parking lot and figure all is well. Previous owner had told me the tires were only a year or two old. I notice the numbers indicate that the tire was manufactured in 2007.

The wife then says: 'I meant to tell you that when I parked the trailer at the marina, I thought it wierd the right rear tire was off the ground, even though the trailer was on a completely flat parking surface'. Hmmmm. I won't be able to test this out until I get to our local lake, and unload the boat, which might be a week or two from now. When weighted with the boat, I cannot tell a difference.

When I get home, the right front tire is again noticeably warmer than the other tires, but thankfully it did not blow, or get funny looking.

I am theorizing that my rear torsion axle is failing and all of the weight is on the front tire on that side, thus producing more heat and stress. I do drive with a slight downward slope on the trailer, but it is not severe. If that were the culprit, I would expect it to occur on both sides. The affected wheel rotates freely when jacked up. Both tires on the other side feel like they are the same temperature.

Is that possible, and is there a way a guy with moderate mechanical experience, and ordinary tools can check out this? Or is it better left to a dealer?

A trailer specialist or a frame shop is what i would recommend.They are trained to take manual measurements to see if everything is in alignment and nothing is bent.Putting tires on is a band aid as you have already stated.

[TeamAllen]

Could it be similar to this other thread?
http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11201

And are the tires bias ply?

[talltigeguy]

Could it be similar to this other thread?
http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11201

And are the tires bias ply?

Not sure exactly about the type of tires. They are Maxxis 8008. Herehttp://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...re&typ=Trailer

The other thread has springs instead of torsion axles. I really wondered if I can check the torsion axles without unloading the boat to get a head start on this. My wife might not have observed that the trailer was not on a flat surface like she thought it was since she was not really paying attention.

Thanks for the advice, Robert. I have to find out if there is someone around here who has good experience with trailers. The local Supreme dealer did a good job on the master cylinder and solenoid, so maybe I will go to them first. They are just very busy, and likely cannot get me in for a while.

[majestic]

Not sure exactly about the type of tires. They are Maxxis 8008. Herehttp://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...re&typ=Trailer

The other thread has springs instead of torsion axles. I really wondered if I can check the torsion axles without unloading the boat to get a head start on this. My wife might not have observed that the trailer was not on a flat surface like she thought it was since she was not really paying attention.

Thanks for the advice, Robert. I have to find out if there is someone around here who has good experience with trailers. The local Supreme dealer did a good job on the master cylinder and solenoid, so maybe I will go to them first. They are just very busy, and likely cannot get me in for a while.

Have you tried calling Extreme? I have noticed that my Extreme trailer is bouncing a lot more than usual and I know nothing about torsion axles.

[mls6722]

I know nothing about torsion axles, but there are a couple other things to check.


I would make sure the tires are not over inflated. I trashed two tires on a single axle trailer by having them 3 psi over the max cold press. They were less than 1 year old and they bulged and split down the center.
I would feel the wheels when you stop, although you say they spin freely, so probably not a bearing or dragging brake.

[shawn74]

If your tow vehicle is capable I would try no trailer brakes to make sure your calipers aren't sticking ,torsion axles are great when they're good but bend easy when turning tightly on low tires

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

A trailer specialist or a frame shop is what i would recommend.They are trained to take manual measurements to see if everything is in alignment and nothing is bent.Putting tires on is a band aid as you have already stated.

Im with Robert on this. Sounds as if the axle is misaligned. I have one whole side that gets hot and wears wrong. The frame shop said they can straighten it out and that trailer axles are prettyrough when it comes to alignment.

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

If your tow vehicle is capable I would try no trailer brakes to make sure your calipers aren't sticking ,torsion axles are great when they're good but bend easy when turning tightly on low tires

If they were sticking.. his brakes would be glowing orange.

[Moki]

Hmmm, Driver error? Are all the bolts in place on the leaf springs and axle mounts?

[urbanstd]

Take a tape measure and measure center hub to center hub on both sides of the trailer to check for alignment.

Maybe a bent spindle or axel out of alignment.

Just throwing this out there... Wheel bearing adjustment or lack of grease, maybe due to seal damage from grease pressurizing from heat build up? Dragging caliper causing heat build up in that tire raising the air pressure and temperature of the tire.

[talltigeguy]

Take a tape measure and measure center hub to center hub on both sides of the trailer to check for alignment.

Maybe a bent spindle or axel out of alignment.

Just throwing this out there... Wheel bearing adjustment or lack of grease, maybe due to seal damage from grease pressurizing from heat build up? Dragging caliper causing heat build up in that tire raising the air pressure and temperature of the tire.

It is possible the caliper is sticking, although it is obviously not stuck now, the tire rotates freely when I jacked it up.

I measured the axles and the hot side is 1/4" closer together than the other. I am not sure if this is significant. Should they be more precise than that? I measured twice thinking it was user error, but got the same results.

Tried to contact Tony at Extreme today and he did not pick up.

[robert theisen]

1/4 " is alot.Now measure from the center of the front axle tires on both sides and compare that measurement to the center of the same tires at the rear.This will tell you if they are toed in too much.

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

Getting one side of tires today. After this weekend, Im taking it in to get the trailer aligned. I hope it's not the torsion equipment that is causing the issue.

[talltigeguy]

I got to the lake on Saturday. The wife was mistaken. The rear tire was not off the ground when the trailer is on a flat surface without the boat on board. But I am still not quite letting go of the theory that something is wrong with one of the axles on that side.

The lake is 17 minutes from my house (irregular speeds from 35 to 65) and the right front tire was warmer than the others. Not scorching, but clearly different again, so I am still sure there is a problem, just not sure what it is yet....alignment or torsion axle failure looking like #1 and #2 possibilities.


The angle of the torsion axle between the hub and axle is not exactly the same, even when the trailer is level. So I still think something is amiss. I will be talking to either the boat dealership, or a trailer shop tomorrow.