Will Increasing Tire Size Decrease Trailer Hub Temperatures

Question:

Will going wth a larger tire reduce temp on the hub assembly and what other factors play into this that could be tire related only

asked by: Tim

Expert Reply:

The tire should have some heat in it from the friction with the pavement, but changing the tire size won't have an appreciable effect on the temperature of your hubs.

How hot are your hubs getting? If they are too hot to touch, then there's very likely something wrong. Look for dragging brake shoes, or worn/damaged wheel bearings to be the cause of overheating hubs. Also check the spindles for nicks or discoloration. If the spindles are damaged, replacing the axle is usually easier and sometimes less expensive than having new spindles welded onto the axle. An overloaded trailer can also cause excessive heat build-up in the hubs.

When the hub is installed on the spindle, if the castle nut is over tightened, it can also cause the bearings and hubs to overheat. There's a fine line between over tightening and getting the castle nut not tight enough. I'll link you to a video showing the correct way to tighten the castle nut.

You'll also want to make sure your bearings are fully packed with grease. I'll link you to a video showing how this is done, in case you're not familiar with the process.

expert reply by: Mike L