Tire pressure monitors

Ralph Cramden wrote:

punomatic wrote:
I would look for a system that allows you to change the batteries in the tire sending units. I had a TST system that worked very well, until the batteries started going. Replacing them required sending the senders back to the manufacturer. Instead I replaced the system with a Tire Traker system. I can change the batteries, but I have had a lot of problems with the senders cutting out, which makes the system less than worthless.

I may go back to TST, which now has a system with owner-changeable batteries. I am also considering a model that allows for adding air to the tires without removing the senders from the valve stems. Good luck with your search. As ryder said, now is a good time to change your valve stems to metal ones.

TST is a great system but the flow through sensors seem to be prone to problems. I gave them a try for a season and went back to the the standard sensors that have been 100% issue free. I had two of the four flow throughs leak back through the valve, one kept dropping signal for some reason, and they all seemed to burn through batteries faster. The standard sensor batteries last all season or longer, not the flow throughs. I had to replace batteries after about 5 months. The flow throughs are also a lot heavier than the standards so if you use them be sure to balance the wheels with them installed.

I also have the TST flow-through sensors and have had good luck with them. I do take mine off in the winter, and that might explain why the batteries in mine last several years. The sensors expend battery power as long as they are on the trailer. I have had no issues with leakage on any of my 6 sensors. I've had them for about 5 years.

OTOH I can't really recommend the flow-through sensors. The amount of air flow is severely restricted and it takes a considerable length of time to add as little as 5 psi.

I don't think that the few ounces the sensors weigh will throw off the tire balance enough to make much difference. But that is strictly my opinion. I had my tires balanced with the sensors installed so I cannot say for sure.

The only thing I have bad to say about the TST system is the length of time it takes for a dropped sensor to show on the monitor. An hour is an inordinate amount of time. However I have read that the system now comes with an repeater so dropped signals shouldn't be an issue.

Not disagreeing with Ralph Cramden, just another data point.