Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Wavery · 03-27-2010, 02:53 PM

I just came across these on eBay. I have NO idea if they are any good or not, so take it for what it's worth. For $20, I figured that I couldn't go too far wrong.

These do not read out a constant tire pressure. They only warn you when the pressure gets low. I have no real desire to "Monitor" my tire pressure anyway. I just want to know if I have a sudden pressure loss on the trailer. You could drive quite a long distance without even knowing that you had a blow-out. This should warn me if I have low pressure or a blow-out and that's all I want.

I'll let you know how they work when I get them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SECUT...item563ac1b47a

03-27-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ebay Ad

Works on cars that have a normal tire pressure of 35-50psi. Sounds alarm at 28 psi.

Wonder If It Will Work On Tires Where A Higher Max Pressure Is Used??

Wavery · 03-27-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gocntry

Wonder If It Will Work On Tires Where A Higher Max Pressure Is Used??

If I get an alarm @ 28#, I'm very happy with that.

All I care about is if I get a nail in the tire and the air leaks out while on the road or if I have a blow-out. I don't mind checking the pressure before I leave.

The thing that I want to avoid is having some guy pull along side of me honking his horn....then pulling over to find the tire shredded and the plumbing (and other stuff) damaged on the TM.

You really can't feel when the tire goes on the trailer, in most cases.

03-27-2010, 04:16 PM

The Part About The 50# Is I'm Running The 15" Marathons With 60# In Them

I Wonder If That Will Set An Alarm Also??

Wavery · 03-27-2010, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gocntry

The Part About The 50# Is I'm Running The 15" Marathons With 60# In Them

I Wonder If That Will Set An Alarm Also??

I couldn't find much more info on these things. When I receive them, I'll post all the specs.

I have the same concern...... that the things may blow apart (or something) @ higher pressure. My TM tires are 50# cold but I'm sure that they are much higher when they are hot. I just figured.....for $20.......I'll put it on the car if it is risky on the trailer.

**ShrimpBurrito** · 03-29-2010, 08:37 PM

Having had a blowout on the TM, I can tell you that it would difficult to not notice it. The TM handles pretty well for a single axle trailer with a flat tire, but I think you'd have to be asleep to not notice. Or at least that was my experience that one time.

Dave

**Bill** · 03-29-2010, 09:04 PM

In my experience, this is not always the case, largely because, as you say, the TM handles so well. On our first blowout, I heard the loud "POP!", and recognized the sound. On another occasion, I happened to look back in the mirror and see smoke from the tire. Another motorist flagged me on a third occasion. On another, I felt the trailer pull to the side, as we were rounding a sharp curve when it happened - this was quite noticable. I've forgotten what the fifth one felt like. But depending, I guess, on the type of failure - instant blowout, slow leak, tread toss - there seem to be varying degrees of action reflected up to the driver.

Just my experience.

Bill

Wavery · 03-29-2010, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShrimpBurrito

Having had a blowout on the TM, I can tell you that it would difficult to not notice it. The TM handles pretty well for a single axle trailer with a flat tire, but I think you'd have to be asleep to not notice. Or at least that was my experience that one time.

Dave

Dave,

What you don't know (I assume) is how long the tire was below 25PSI or how far you drove (below 25PSI) before the tire blew.......

If you would have had some warning that the tire was low. there is a pretty good chance that a blow out may have been avoided........assuming that it was not an instantaneous, catastrophic failure.......which would be rare, IMHO....

03-30-2010, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill

On our first blowout, I heard the loud "POP!"....On another occasion.... Another motorist flagged me on a third occasion...... On another, I felt the trailer pull to the side.... I've forgotten what the fifth one felt like. Bill

5 Blowouts??

Were All These On Your TM? Any With The 15" Tires Or All On The 14"?

03-30-2010, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harveyrv

Dave,

What you don't know (I assume) is how long the tire was below 25PSI or how far you drove (below 25PSI) before the tire blew.......

If you would have had some warning that the tire was low. there is a pretty good chance that a blow out may have been avoided........assuming that it was not an instantaneous, catastrophic failure.......which would be rare, IMHO....

That is exactly the reason that I run a TPMS. If the tire blows out from 50 lbs., then you don't have a warning until the tire blows.....but the TPMS should immediately warn you to pull over. But, I wonder how many of those "blowouts" are actually a low tire over many miles finally giving up the ghost ?? Or if just before a actual blowout, the tire pressure goes down 10 pounds or so as a pre-warning? A TPMS should definitely help with the last 2 scenarios, and get you off the road quicker in the 1st if you don't hear or see the problem.