Tire Temperatures

[Bob_Roller]

Does anyone know anything about tire temperature heat range ratings?

One member mentioned road surface temperatures in the Dallas area, being 145 F. (63C.) in the past few days .

Living in a suburb of hell (Phoenix,Aridzona), the road surface temps on a typical 'hot season' day of 105-118F. (41-48C.), run 170-197F. (77-92C.) on relatively fresh asphalt .

So far in 18 years here, I've never had a tire failure due to heat (I check tire pressures at least once a week on all of the vehicles), but with the carcasses of so many tires strewn about the urban expressways and rural interstates in this region, it seems to be quite common for both heavy trucks and passenger vehicles alike .

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Passenger tires throwing tread?  
I've only heard of that happening on semi-trailer truck re-treads, which is why they only put them on the trailers, rarely on the rear of the prime movers and NEVER on the front.

[Bob_Roller]

Yeah Rob, it's not uncommon to see what is commonly referred to here as 'alligators' (thrown tire cap) on the roadway from passenger vehicles and light trucks .

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Recaps on passenger vehicles in the Southwest - now I've heard it all!
I really like good tires on my car.

[Bob_Roller]

No Rob, these are not recaps, they are 'first run' tires .

Running underinflated tires in these conditions are not kind to any tire !!!!

[Barry]

It's not hard to find reference to sidewall markings for car tire temperature ratings - an indicator of how well the tire withstands heat buildup. "A" is the highest rating; "C" is the lowest but I can't find anything in the technical literature for motorcycle tires.

Tires will throw a tread when they get back up to the vulcanising temperature at which they were made but I don't know what that temperature is for sure. Something in the range 150 -180 Deg C according to section 12 of this document which also says a running temperature of 80 - 100 Deg C is OK.

http://www.gwocgb.co.uk/documents/tgw_mc-tyres.pdf

I suppose all you can do is keep the speed down and pressures up towards but not beyond the rated maximum to minimise the usual dynamic heat generation. I suppose in these circumstances you don't quite want the 10/20 rule to apply.