The importance of a TPMS Tire Pressure Monitoring System

[Hoerschel]

Author's note: In response to justified criticism that my original headline was 'over-the-top,' I have modified it to more accurately reflect my experience. Thanks to all for their opinions.
I recently bought a used 30' Class C with 111k miles on the clock. Prior to sale I had performed the perfunctory safety checks, especially on the tires, ensuring they were within 3-5 years from manufacturing date, had good tread, no sidewall cracks and were aired-up appropriately. However, the coach lacked a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)--and I thought NOTHING of it. "No big deal," I told myself. I'll religiously check the pressure prior to every trip and that's good enough. That is, until the fateful day recently when I discovered, while parked at a rest stop, that my outer right rear dually looked mighty low. It was a Sunday and I was in Penrose, CO. Fortunately, I found the owner of a tire shop working on his day off and he kindly agreed to put some air in my tire. "Whoa," he said. "Your outer tire is low because it's bearing all the weight that should be shared with the inner dually. And THAT tire is flatter than a pancake. Unrepairable."
Whaaa...? Folks, only minutes earlier, I had driven down a treacherous mountain road out of Westcliffe, CO. One with lots of curves, aggressive drivers and a need for reasonable speed. How and where that tire failed I have no idea. And my ignorance of the situation needlessly imperiled me and everyone else on the road. One failed tire could easily have led to two, loss of control and--well, your imagination of a disaster is as good as mine. As I listened to the tire man I began to shudder with the thought of the catastrophe I had miraculously been spared. And how a TPMS is no longer a luxury in my mind. It is an absolute necessity. I'm no longer a indolent wise guy. I got a clue. And I hope you do, too.

[klutchdust]

The best response I read so far...."And probably most importantly, I can easily feel when one tire is low among the rear duallies because the motorhome's handling definitely feels "way off" - soft, squishy, wobbly, etc. - if a rear tire is low or flat. This is from experience, as I've had it happen once and it was obvious that something was wrong. "

[BobsYourUncle]

Shoulda Coulda Woulda.....

I think a TPMS would have saved my TT from total destruction on this one.

Stove, fridge, shower, shore power, cabinets, floor, gas lines, wheelhouse, more plus the obvious in the pics, all destroyed.
I didn't feel a thing even after the mirror check where I saw smoke and pieces flying off....
Not sure how far I drove like that, a few miles I guess. I drove back 2 miles picking up parts off the highway.

It was a write-off on its maiden voyage after I had fixed it all up nicely. Oh well, brown stuff happens! :E:E

[BB_TX]

Grit dog wrote:
^The “most importantly “ part is very well stated.
I’ll sound older than my years here, but all these crutches effectively make a lot of people feel comfortable, at least initially, operating machinery they likely don’t have any business getting behind the wheel in. …….

Same goes for vehicles, if a person is “scared” that they might crash if they have a rear tire blowout while driving, they don’t have the experience or knowledge to be competently doing what they’re doing.

“Don’t have any business”? “Scared”?

Wow! Where did that come from. I use a TPMS because it might save me from being on the side of the road with a shredded tire because I continued driving on a low tire without knowing it. Might save a couple hundred for a new tire plus having to change it on the side of a busy highway.

And I want my vehicles to have air bags, anti lock brakes, seat belts, and all the other safety features. Not because I don’t belong behind the wheel. Or am scared. But because I want myself, family, and friends protected as much as possible. And in the case of TPMS, possibly spared the inconvenience on a destroyed tire on the side of the highway.

[Walaby]

^^^^^This^^^^^

I do have TPMS on my trailer (and of course, my tow vehicle), but the "I should be dead" is a tad over the top.

I do question the situational awareness of basically two flat tires and apparently not noticing anything different until stopped.


Mike

[Lantley]

stripit wrote:
I learned a long time ago some folks are just set in their ways and no matter how you explain the benifits of some devise, they will come up with a way to say it isn't needed. Those of us that see how something "could" keep us safer, might jump at the chance to purchase said item. I know from first hand experiance that tire pressure monitor systems can and do help in many situations, and I am a beliver in owning a system. As I always say, you get to spend, or not spend your money anyway you want. The original poster has seen the reason so many of us have decided to buy what makes us feel safer.

I agree that TPMS is a worthwhile feature, however the idea that one should be dead without a TPMS as the title of this thread implies is a bit over the top.:h TPMS are not quite that important....Being without TPMS is not like being without brakes!:R

[stripit]

I learned a long time ago some folks are just set in their ways and no matter how you explain the benifits of some devise, they will come up with a way to say it isn't needed. Those of us that see how something "could" keep us safer, might jump at the chance to purchase said item. I know from first hand experiance that tire pressure monitor systems can and do help in many situations, and I am a beliver in owning a system. As I always say, you get to spend, or not spend your money anyway you want. The original poster has seen the reason so many of us have decided to buy what makes us feel safer.

[Grit_dog]

^The “most importantly “ part is very well stated.
I’ll sound older than my years here, but all these crutches effectively make a lot of people feel comfortable, at least initially, operating machinery they likely don’t have any business getting behind the wheel in.
It’s not someone’s god given right to have a 40’ 5th wheel. Heck the pickups and big 5ver travel trailers are basically the semi trucks of a previous generation.
I know my limits of what I’m comfortable with and qualified to do. I wouldn’t just jump into a Friction rig crawler crane and start swinging loads around a construction site (anymore), because I’m not qualified (anymore).
Same goes for vehicles, if a person is “scared” that they might crash if they have a rear tire blowout while driving, they don’t have the experience or knowledge to be competently doing what they’re doing.

[pnichols]

I intentionally don't have a TPMS on our Class C, but here's some comments:

1. TPMS systems are just another level of complexity that can cause air leaks themselves, or eventually fail to accurately indicate, or otherwise let one down such as in forgetting to periodically replace their transmitter batteries.

2. I carry along a tire-fill air compressor and a trucker's nozzle for the compressor's hose so as to deal with the rear duals.

3. I carry along a rubber-head hammer to quickly check the inner tire of the rear dual sets for firmness whenever stopped.

And probably most importantly, I can easily feel when one tire is low among the rear duallies because the motorhome's handling definitely feels "way off" - soft, squishy, wobbly, etc. - if a rear tire is low or flat. This is from experience, as I've had it happen once and it was obvious that something was wrong.

[Grit_dog]

^Thank you for bringing the story back to real life. Everyone was (like usual here) getting a little Sara Bernhard about it….

[klutchdust]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

rlw999 wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
How many have TPMS on their daily vehicle??????

Everyone that drives a car or light truck (< 10,000 lbs) in the USA built after 2007 has one since that's when they became mandatory.

Sept of 2007 (2008+ models) Less than 10,000 GVWR....that leaves out a whole lot of trucks used for daily commutes, work, towing

We did just fine without them. I don't understand how losing both tires leads to such mayhem as described. The coach won't flip over, your brakes still work. Slow down and pull over to the side. Sure it will lean a bit but I've seen plenty of rigs weighing much more than a motorhome losing both tires even losing the hub, drum and tires. If driving something larger than your car is a concern look into a safety course or driving course to help you to understand and know what to do if that situation occurs. Be safe out there.

[Grit_dog]

rlw999 wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
How many have TPMS on their daily vehicle??????

Everyone that drives a car or light truck (< 10,000 lbs) in the USA built after 2007 has one since that's when they became mandatory.

I'm 2 for 6 on vehicles and 0 fer 2 on trailers under our roof. Would be 3 if I reprogrammed the big truck to work properly rather than what the mfg "thinks" is the right pressure.

[Grit_dog]

Mr. Hoerschel, you do have a way with words, and dramatic recounts of non-events, but oh, what on earth did we all do before TPMS were invented?

I agree that TPMS is handy. It doesn't work on our new pickup as OEM systems don't allow for "proper" tire pressure, but rather only mfgs recommended pressure, and the systems are now not able to be re-programmed by the OEMs, but rather only expensive aftermarket software. Of which I haven't done yet to turn off the low tire monitor light.

Not making light of a safety feature. Each person has their priorities and opinions and yours is valid.

[Old-Biscuit]

rlw999 wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
How many have TPMS on their daily vehicle??????

Everyone that drives a car or light truck (< 10,000 lbs) in the USA built after 2007 has one since that's when they became mandatory.

Sept of 2007 (2008+ models) Less than 10,000 GVWR....that leaves out a whole lot of trucks used for daily commutes, work, towing

[Lwiddis]

X2, Lantley.

[ReneeG]

I could tell a story too on ignorance of tires that resulted in tire failure, but in our case the TPMS did not save us. The TPMS will warn of a slow leak not when the tire fails quickly which ours did. Now, we faithfully go through the hassle of taking our FW at the start of every season to have the tires inspected. That's the key point here. Don't rely on the TPMS entirely.