Can't get tire pressure reading

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Can't get tire pressure reading

October 16, 2022, 01:24:12 pm

2 days left in our 4 week 6,000 mile ramble, and this morning we wake up to a rear outside tire that looks low. Pressure reads 82lbs - normal, but I cannot get a reading on the inside tire. When I try to add air, it won't go in. Is this a simple fix or do I need to call for roadside assistance? All the other tires give me a reading and accept new air if I add it.
Update: Here's a pic or the valve stem. It does have an extension.

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #1 – October 16, 2022, 02:39:26 pm

Do you have an extension on it or just the stem?

Using a straight gauge/dual footed gauge and going straight in?

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #2 – October 16, 2022, 02:46:59 pm

I believe it is an extension. The outside wheel valve faces in and the inside wheel valve faces out. I press straight in to check pressure or add air.

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #3 – October 16, 2022, 03:14:20 pm

Dan Call me. Rudy Legett. 7 one 3. 8 one 8. 3234

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #4 – October 16, 2022, 04:34:36 pm

Extensions can give problems so I removed all of them.

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #5 – October 16, 2022, 05:13:42 pm

Update: Inside tire is flat, lost its bead. Calling around for roadside assistance. Being a Sunday, only 2 out of 8 shops even answered their phones. The ones that did were Love's, who said they don't work on motorhomes, and a local shop who wanted to put a different brand and size tire on. That didn't sound right to me so I said no.
I could go to Love's in my toad and buy a matching tire (Uniroyal LS24 275/80/R22.5), but without having pulled the old one off and looked at it we don't know that we need a new tire.

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #6 – October 16, 2022, 05:17:26 pm

Quote from: Dan & Annie – October 16, 2022, 05:13:42 pm

...and looked at it we don't know that we need a new tire.

PRESTO. Until the tire is removed and checked, you have no idea if you need a new tire.

Run flat-- you need a new tire.

Lost its air sitting at the CG-- may, repeat may be repairable. Heck, may be something as simple as leak from the valve stem.

Does it need to be removed and inspected-- ABSOLUTELY!

Most companies with road side assistance for 18 wheelers can handle this-- maybe not on a Sunday. A 22.5 tire on aluminum wheel AIN'T ROCKET SCIENCE.

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #7 – October 16, 2022, 05:34:30 pm

You could try to run the outer up on a 2x10 .
Remove the extension and valve core .
Air up and blast some air into the inner.

When the tire gets dismounted. Change to long stems that face the correct way . Loose the extensions and inside facing stems .

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #8 – October 16, 2022, 07:05:58 pm

TST TPMS shout out
Worth every penny imo and cheaper than a spare or replacement tire

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #9 – October 16, 2022, 07:17:38 pm

Yup, a requirement on any of my vehicles.

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #10 – October 16, 2022, 07:35:58 pm

Dan,

After seeing the pic. of your valve stem extension you need to consider getting a set of extension support plugs. They will support the valve stem and help stop it from vibrating which can loosen the nut that holds the stem in place which can cause a leak at the seal.

Mike

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #11 – October 16, 2022, 08:24:52 pm

If the tire has lost air and run flat even though it's on the back, you need a new tire.

That's why we never turn a wheel without a spare on board. If you have a flat, road service will stick you full price for a tire and 9 out of 10 times, it won't be the same brand/model. When we bought ours 13 years ago, the PO drove it to town to wash it and went off the road and flattened a rear tire. It cost them over $600 to have road service bring a new one out and it didn't match the others brand wise.

Even if you can't change it yourself, road service can do the job quickly.

Buy a quality gauge to check pressure. The aftermarket gauges may have difficulty reading the pressure and as in our case, damage the core. Ours leaked but I had the metal caps with a rubber seal and the core removing tool on the opposite end. When we stopped for the night, I just replaced the core and added a little air. Front tire too.

Tire pressure monitors are mandatory in many countries on new cars.

Pierce

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #12 – October 16, 2022, 11:36:03 pm

Quote from: Pamela & Mike – October 16, 2022, 07:35:58 pm

Dan,

After seeing the pic. of your valve stem extension you need to consider getting a set of extension support plugs. They will support the valve stem and help stop it from vibrating which can loosen the nut that holds the stem in place which can cause a leak at the seal.

Mike

Amazon.com: Alcoa 225393 Valve Stem Stabilizer Extension Kit for 22.5 Wheel...

https://www.alcoawheels.com/alcoawheels/catalog/pdf/brochures/alcoa-valve-extension-kits-data-and-mounting-instructions.pdf
There could be two different styles being used, difference is hole is either centered or off centered
IMO these should be replace when changing tires with the valve stems. They do get old and wear and the rubber relaxes with age.
Scott

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #13 – October 17, 2022, 07:40:55 am

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – October 16, 2022, 08:24:52 pm

If the tire has lost air and run flat even though it's on the back, you need a new tire.
Pierce

Totally agree.

We don't know if the tire when flat at the CG or while driving. A TPMS would have given that information.

At this point, a total dismount and inspection is needed.

And, if the "good" tire carried all the weight (its mate out of air), it too needs to be replaced.

If there is any doubt, replace it/thm.

Depending on age/condition of front tires, assuming they are the same size as the rears, may be a good time to replace both front tires and move both them to the back. That way, new tires on front AND two tires that match on that side in back (IMPORTANT that tires on a side in a dual configuration are the same diameter/height)! THIS IS WHAT I WOULD DO.

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #14 – October 17, 2022, 10:12:48 am

Update: Road service arrived just before dark, pulled tire off, didn't find any damage. Remounted it, installed new stem (without extension this time) and we let it sit overnight. Still looked good this morning so we took off and are now back in the road.
PS: We do have Tire Minder TPMS but 2 out of the 6 stopped working on this trip and one of those happened to be on this tire. I moved one of the good ones onto this tire this morning.

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #15 – October 17, 2022, 10:19:27 am

Dan, remember to change the tpms transmitter batteries every 9-14 months. Jim.

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #16 – October 17, 2022, 11:18:20 am

With the dual balancer between the rears , the visual along with the tps works very well
Air up at one fitting
Well worth the 159$

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #17 – October 17, 2022, 07:28:26 pm

Dan, curious, do you have the TPMS repeater installed anywhere on the coach ? I had mine set up on a switch in the mid storage compartment. Something shifted while driving and hit my switch turning it off. 2 of my sensors quit reading then. Switched it on and all was fine. Without the repeater, you may be losing the signal.

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #18 – October 18, 2022, 10:38:49 am

Quote from: Protech Racing – October 17, 2022, 11:18:20 am

With the dual balancer between the rears , the visual along with the tps works very well
Air up at one fitting
Well worth the 159$

But, if something goes wrong, you could need two new tires.

Pierce

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #19 – October 18, 2022, 12:44:42 pm

I believe there is a regulator in the system that prevents both tires going down in a fast leak situation.

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #20 – October 18, 2022, 12:50:41 pm

The balancer shuts off with one failure. Not sure at what value , I'd have to look . But yeah, keeps both tires the same, easy to visual , easy,t o fill, uses one TPS .

Edit ; I have a 70Psi balancer that shuts off at 55# or so. Tire chart for my tires calls for 74 # . I run at 84 rear and 94 front .
I also has the TPS tell me that I had a stem leaking on the inner wheel .

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #21 – October 18, 2022, 07:20:39 pm

Update: Drove yesterday on the re-mounted tires. Watched the TPMS all day, no issues, but then after 400 miles the TPMS warning/alert sounded. Tire temp too high - 175 degrees! We immediately got off the road, and I wanted to see if the problem was with the TPMS instead of the tire by switching that TPMS out with another, but I couldn't even get at it as the aluminum wheels were so hot I couldn't touch them. We cooled off for a while then made it into a Walmart parking lot, where I called Dave Ward and ordered two new Michelin Xline Energy tires. Got them installed first thing this morning, on the front of the coach, and we moved the good fronts back to the rear.
Now, question about tire pressure. The placard on the coach, on the wall next to the driver seat, says front tires should be 97 psi and rears 83 at max GAWR. I've been running Uniroyal LS24's with numbers a few pounds below this (as per the Uniroyal charts and my actual weight) for 19,000 miles. The coach last weighed in at front axle 10,840, rear axle 17,020, and would be slightly more with fuller fuel, water, and holding tanks.
What does the group recommend for cold tire pressure, especially since my fronts are now Michelin and the rears still Uniroyal?

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #22 – October 18, 2022, 07:57:28 pm

Quote from: Dan & Annie – October 18, 2022, 07:20:39 pm

, but I couldn't even get at it as the aluminum wheels were so hot I couldn't touch them.

Dan,

You need to check to see if you have a brake caliper locked up and not releasing as that is well beyond normal.

Mike

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #23 – October 18, 2022, 07:57:59 pm

Regarding the hot wheel: my first thought would be that the brake was hanging up on that side.

Re: Can't get tire pressure reading

Reply #24 – October 18, 2022, 08:01:35 pm

If it is a tire problem the tire should be hotter than the rim. You didn't mention how hot the tire
was. I go with brake problem too.

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