Opinions wanted on tire monitors

[icanon]

Considering on buying these Tire pressure valve stem monitor. Anyone here used them?
What are your opinion? Gaget yes or no?

[pawpaw47]

dbbls wrote:
They might be better than nothing but you have to look at them before you start towing. You could use a gauge to do the same thing. I like the monitors that let me check the pressure while going down the road. It also gives me a audible warning if one gets low. TST is the brand I have but there are other good ones also.

X2 for the TST brand.

[Ron3rd]

TST 507 with metal valve stems for me for the last 5 years. Great system.

[Phantom_fixer]

I've been using the Tire Traker tire monitoring system on the four wheels of our 26 foot travel trailer for two trips, one 5500 miles and the second 7600 miles and one year apart. Two things I found was that the 1632 batteries need to be changed each year and the cost of those batteries is super high if purchased at Home Depot (as an example) and cheaper if you get them Techno RV. The second item is the O-Rings on the sensors that screw onto the tire valve stem. My latest trip had the system working OK but the monitor kept indicating that a sensors had problem's. It turned out to be old cracked O-Ring seals. After I replaced the seals with ones I purchased at a hardware store, the sensors worked great for the last 4000 miles of our trip across country. So keep in mind Batteries and O-ring seals.

[ford_truck_guy]

jjrbus wrote:
I thought those dohickys were the slickest thing and bought a set. All you have to do is look at them and you know if you have an issue! Modern technology is coming closer to science fiction every day, just amazing!

Then one of the things leaked and almost cost me a tire. Whats the odd's one in a 100,000 of getting a bad one??

I almost lost a $400 tire on my motorhome due to a valve extension leaking! Those were the big buck fancy ones. Whats the odds?

So no more dohickys for the tires, good enough for my grandpa, good enough for me. With the exception of the type that can be monitored.
JIm SW FL

I had the same exact issue.. Had 1 tire keep going down slow... could not figure it out,,, finally realized it was that cap... took all 4 off

[LarryJM]

I've been running the TireMinder system on my trailer for two years now and a couple of comments based on my experience.

1. I didn't replace my valve stems and the TireMinder system sensors are light enough that IMO that is not needed. Now I do use high pressure stems and have metal valve stem covers mainly because of my aluminum wheels.

2. I don't see any value in balancing tires on a trailer since they are an unmanned vehicle and I even have a onboard remote camera to monitor the goings on inside the TT whicle while driving from the driver's seat and with the torsion axles I have it's surprising just how well behaved the inside of the trailer is. Our last trip over the holidays we had a 3' high Xmas tree with ornaments/etc. sitting on the dinnette table and there was surprising little movement even from the ornaments for the most part while driving.

3. While a TPMS is not foolproof for the minor cost the potential for it to prevent major $$$ damage from a tire destructing is well worth the insurance valve of the system.

Larry

[The_Next_Hill]

I now use the TST product on 10 wheels, towing a Prius with a Navion IQ and would not travel without them. I always check tires when stopped, but the TPMS sure offers a peace of mind when underway. I leave all tires set at 150 degrees for the high temp. warning. When not traveling with the RV, I use the same TST units on the Prius. Be sure to replace any flexible rubber stems with steel and balance all wheels with the TPMS attached. For a wide selection of custom made dual wheel extensions, check out The Tire Man in Arizona.
Hope this helps. Dave (The Next Hill)

[NMDriver]

If you use the back of your hand to sense the temp on all tires you will know if one is hotter than the others on that side. The sunny side is usually warmer so you compare the tires and hubs that are on the same side. You can do this check as you get out of the cab and walk back to the rear of the unit then back up to the passenger side. Touch each tire and hub briefly, and note if one is not "normal". It is also a good time to check doors, windows, tie downs, etc.

Like I said TMS are fine to let you know if you have a slow leak, but they are no good with increases in pressure or heat. You may have an increase in pressure or temp due to altitude change or just because the tire is on the sunny side of the vehicle or you could have a bad tire, the only way to know is to stop and check. You still stop and check it out and if it is a bad tire you change it. BTW I have never had a slow leak in a trailer tire. Truck tires yes but not the trailer.

With TMS I get to many false warning, especially driving in the desert and mountains. TMS is like the kid calling wolf. You begin to ignore it and have to fall back on the more reliable self inspection.

I do not drive 400 miles between stops. We stop to eat, pee, walk the dog, take pictures, etc. etc. every 1-2 hours but maybe that is just me. If I go 400 miles all day that is a day I am pushing to get home.

Anyway, I do not claim I have never had a blowout but I will say the TMS I have has never prevented a blowout nor alerted me to a overheated hub. Checking at each stop has allowed me to change tires before a blowout and get an axle serviced before it burned out the bearings.

Some people use one thing and others use another. If you are happy with your TMS and rely on it for all your info then have fun. I carry two spare tires and a set of bearings, grease, and an appropriate size socket 🙂

[spoon059]

NMDriver wrote:
TMS are fine to let you know if you have a leak, but I find them just about useless for a blowout or bearing overheating. I still check the temp of my tires and hubs at every stop.

By the time TMS registers a tire pressure is up due to heat the tire is wasted and needs to be changed anyway. I have pulled over due to the tire pressure being high and found chunks of my tread missing. So maybe it saved the actual blowout but it did not keep me from rolling around in the sand and cockle burrs at 110 degree to change a tire.

I check my tires each morning before I roll and, as stated, feel for temp changes on hubs and tires at each stop.

A TPMS that measures temp and pressure will let you know if your tire is heating up. Nothing prevents you from still manually checking your hubs and tires at the gas station... this system allow you to check on the 400 miles driven between gas stations. Your pressure could be perfect in the gas station... then you pick up a nail in your tire on the way out. Your lose a pound of pressure per mile... I'd rather know 10 miles out that I lost 10 lbs of pressure as opposed to suddenly have a blow out in the worst possible location.

[icanon]

NMDriver wrote:

I check my tires each morning before I roll and, as stated, feel for temp changes on hubs and tires at each stop.

Good point but how can you "feel for tire temp' while rolling, isn't when overtemp conditions occurs during the driving time and how can you tell what is an acceptable temp by hand? I'm not discrediting you I'm trying to understand. As everyone who posted I RESPECT all replies.

[NMDriver]

TMS are fine to let you know if you have a leak, but I find them just about useless for a blowout or bearing overheating. I still check the temp of my tires and hubs at every stop.

By the time TMS registers a tire pressure is up due to heat the tire is wasted and needs to be changed anyway. I have pulled over due to the tire pressure being high and found chunks of my tread missing. So maybe it saved the actual blowout but it did not keep me from rolling around in the sand and cockle burrs at 110 degree to change a tire.

I check my tires each morning before I roll and, as stated, feel for temp changes on hubs and tires at each stop.

[icanon]

I be ordering this spring when I pick up my TT.

[Teacher_s_Pet]

Have the TST on the Phaeton with a TST repeater mounted in the bedrooom closet and our old PressurePro System on or B+ and eventually our 2011 Miata, I am setting up to tow. I have had to replace 4 of 10 sensors in the PressurePro System, but they are 8 years old. Bought the TST system due to being able to cange the batteries and temperature also given by the sensor.

[Ron3rd]

Nunyadamn wrote:
Not to hijack your thread, but I had TST and didn't like them for my trailer. They would work for a little while, then loose contact with my trailer. I have a Silverado and my trailer was 21ft long. I would pull up to the trailer and every single time, one or more tires would not register. I would have to go reset that/those tires. I would be driving down the road and get a notification that I was low or hot on a tire. Get out, check with IR gun and check pressure, no problems. It sent them back. I felt I had more issues with the TST system than I had with the tires. I know others have had no issues, but my personal issues made me not want them anymore. If I were going to go do it again, I would get the monitors that go into the rim on the backside of the stem. I hear those have better antenna's and will monitor better.

I had that problem with my TST when I went from a 25 to 35ft trailer. Solved the problem by mounting the monitor higher on the dash and never had another problem. TST systems are generally trouble free.

[Ron3rd]

I don't see the value in those types of monitors so I would not waste my money on them. I have a TST TPMS system like others here and would not leave home without it. The valve stem monitors you posted the link to will not alert you to a problem making them useless IMO.

[BB_TX]

Most people do not have a signal problem with TST even on trailers 35' and longer. The ones who do typically add a TST booster antenna and it solves any loss of signal problem.

Mine works fine on my 35' 5er.