This paper assesses the prediction performance of explicit algebraic stress and heat-flux models for reduction of heat transfer coefficient in a strongly-heated vertical tube. Two explicit algebraic stress models and four explicit algebraic heat-flux models are selected for assessment. Eight combinations of explicit algebraic stress and heat-flux models are used in predicting the turbulent gas flows with intense heating, which yields the significant property-variation. The results showed that the two combinations of GS-AKN and WJ-mAKN predicted the Nusselt number and the axial wall temperature variations well and that the predictions of Nusselt number with WJ-combinations spread in a wider range than those with Gs-combinations. WJ is the explicit algebraic stress model of Wallin and Johansson and GS is the model of Gatski and Speziale and that AKN is the explicit heat-flux model of Abe, Kondoh and Nagano and mAKN is the modified AKN.