Will a flat trailer tire make the air pressure on a truck's brakes slow to build up?

I find it hard to believe that you can't hear an air leak that bad. Rev it up to get it to 120, then shut it off and walk around. When your hat blows off, you're in the area.

 

Well, let's see. I think the OP mentioned the unit (trailer) has a tire inflation system. I don't think there is an air hose that runs from the trailer to your home terminal's shop. So I think we can assume that the tires must get their air from the tractor/trailer air supply system. I also think we can assume that if there is a leak in the system, be it a tire or a brake chamber or hose, that this would put an additional load on the truck's air compressor/supply system. A bad leak (such as the tire has broken the bead on the rim) is going to consume all the air supply. Furthermore, it would seem that perhaps a safety valve on the TIS is bad and not shutting off the air supply to the bad tire/wheel that can never reach the prescribes pressure.

 

check this out:

http://www.truckinginfo.com/blog/trailer-talk/story/2011/10/werner-outfitting-entire-trailer-fleet-with-tire-inflation-systems.aspx

 

You definately have a problem. I've had trailer tires go completely flat on psi systems (tire inflators) with 1/2 inch sized hole, and a properly functioning air compressor will still put out nore than enough air to release the tractor/trailer brakes and air the bags up.

 

Most of the tire inflation systems are designed to deactivate around 95 PSI, that way a flat tire on a trailer with that system wont completely strand you. I knew I had a problem due to A. Warnining light on outside of trailer B. Secondary air gauge kept dropping like a rock going down the road, and building back up.

 

What's more amazing to me is that 2 mechanics couldn't easily explain it to op

 

i am a company driver too
dont do the work myslf either but i dont drive with a flat
i hear tell truckstops have shops that fix them