Tyre Preasure Monitoring Systems

Colin.

The short answer is yes.
Will probably save you from trashing a tire and the inconvenience of losing a spare when you may need it most.

regards

Co-incidence - I just wrote this for club newsletter




TYREDOG REVIEW

Recently we have fitted a Tyredog tyre pressure monitoring system , and my brother has fitted a similar but different Tyredog model.

We are undecided as to wether or not they are worthwhile just yet because of the system response times.

This sytem consists of 4 lightweight (11g) sensors that screw onto the valves stems of each wheel and transmit a radio signal to a neat little central module thats sits on your dash.
The central module can then read out the tyre pressure and temperature of each tyre.
Low limits can be set for temperature or pressure and if a tyre drops below this then the module sounds an alarm.
The whole system runs off internal batteries so installation is quite simple, but it can also be wired to your battery.
One of the cute things all 5 pieces do is shut down when there is no movement , this preserves the batteries.
And if you leave your car parked for an hour an jump back into it, the system turns back on , and beeps you -cute !

Issues- My system takes a while, up to 3km before one of the wheels registers on the display and I suspect that it has a weak radio signal but can't be sure.
You can move the display module around to improve reception but so far this hasn't seemed to help.

The idea of these things is to save a tyre from complete destruction after a puncture so reliable readings every few seconds must happen other wise they are useless acept to indicate a slow leak.
In practise the system does seem to work well, mine is set to alarm at 20psi.
Last time on a drive I let my tyres down to 22psi, then we stopped and the tyres cooled to 19 psi, and sure enough the alarm rang and warned us.

The main question with these things in 4wding would be vunerablility. They look easy to damage but so far they have survived well - it will be interesting to see if they survive our Canning trip.
There are different versions - I got the standard 4 wheel kit via a cheap ebay purchase ($182) and my brother got a new Australian version sold by Repco which also includes a spare sensor but its a lot dearer at $400.

Robin Miller

I have a similar type of system but a different make.

Whilst it didnt stop 2 tyres ruining themselves it did tell me they were starting to do it and gave me an opportunity to slow down before any major problems eventuated.

I have 8 sensors 4 on car and 4 on van.

It also has a little relay box (as in radio signal relay) for the rear sensors as in my old van the left ones dropped out a bit. This fixed it.

They also tell the temperature and whilst some people say they dont tell the true internal temp they do tell you what the cold temp has risen to.

When I had a full width stone guard on the car my rears got up to 65deg one day.

Took the guard off and they went back to 43deg.
Never put the guard back on again.

Went on some off road tracks in our travels and through hub deep water and they still work.

For the $450 the setup cost me I think it was well worth it.

Hi colin,

just bought the Tyredog system off ebay for our up coming 3 month trip so will get to test it then. The seller is from O/S but sells brand new units in box for around $165 delivered depending on exchange just scroll down to international sellers on ebay. It's a 4 sensor unit I have put two on the van and two on the rear car tyres.

http://shop.ebay.com.au/tiffany280/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340


Christian

Hi Colin

After finding a nail in our caravan tyre last year (which held air perfectly until we got somewhere to repair it), we researched systems. Part of the research here;

Tyre Pressure Monitoring thread 2009

Although we still haven't purchased, we decided Sensatyre internal was the best way to go, with separate receiver on caravan hard wired to car to avoid transmission loss. It costs around $1,000 without instalment costs for the whole set up. Still thinking about that one.

We did have a blowout on the caravan later in the trip; something not easy to know about. There was just a soft pop sound and all looked true in the mirror. We were on a road where stopping at that point was not a good idea, and had to travel on the rim a couple of kilometres or so before being able to pull off. Luckily no damage to rim.

It is just a matter of weighing up cost versus loss of tyre and rim.

Temperature gauge would also be of benefit for times like when our breakaway pin on the caravan was somehow knocked out whilst travelling. First we knew was stopping to find very hot smoking and smelling brake drums. A temperature alarm could have let us know sooner.

Motherhen

Definitely worthwhile.

Only has to save you the cost of one tyre and it has paid for itself, not to mention the inconvenience and safety benefits.

In the past we have had the Sensa tyre system which was good but not as versatile and easy fitting as the Tyredog system which we now have.

We used the 'Tyredog' on our outback trip last year, travelling some 3,500ks
including Coober Pedy (Painted desert) - Oodnadatta, then down the track, up the Birdsville track, down the Cordillo Downs track, out to the dig tree and then further down the Strezlecki and it behaved perfectly.

Would definitely recommend it.

True Blue

just to add to the case for tyre monitoring. We run a PressurePro system which has six sensors, 4 on car 2 on KK camper. They are similar to tyredog with external sensors on the valves. We had the system on when we did the Canning last year and have done the Simpson and Hay River with them fitted and have never had a problem with the sensors being damaged. I have also fitted a system to my motorbike as a flat tyre when you only have two on the road can be quite scary.
Ross

I have a Tyredog system on my van. I have found to my cost that the rear tyres on the tandem axle are the ones that pick up the sharp things and deflate. Having lost two tyres, I bought the system, and so far has saved me twice - my purchase price covered already.
However, if i lose a wheel (have done that as well), tyredog wont help you. It has a transmission range of 10-15m, BUT only registers when the tyre pressure alters, hence the "slow registration time" on other members gauges. I have driven away from my van, and still had the tyre pressures registering.
Is it worth it, I believe the answer is yes.

cheers

The ones i have take a few minutes to register in the morning but update constantly.
According to the instructions when vehicle is moving they update every 4 minutes or faster if the pressue drops suddenly.

IE 0.8psi within 8 secs


They also alarm if the pressure is 15% below the normal and again blink faster at 25% below normal.

Also alarm if temp goes over your preset level.