are screw on tyre pressure monitors reliable

novice1968

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Does anyone out there knows?
screw on tyre pressure monitors, are they reliable ?
As i understand, tyres heat up while running and pressure go up and when cool down , pressure go down.
Would these monitors give false warning??
Anyone had any experience in using these things or have any knowledge of them
 
I've got a set of the TyrePal TA22X on test at the moment (TA22X Tyre safety monitoring system | www.tyrepal.co.uk)

Easy to set up and I've not had any false warnings. The only slightly annoying thing is that, as the system is motion sensitive, you have to remember to turn the monitor off otherwise it tends to wake up with a beep from time to time as you move around in the van. The only way to turn it off is by holding one of the buttons down, I'd prefer a simple on-off switch.

I also tested the TD2200 (TyrePal TD2200 – 6-wheel 180psi TPMS | www.tyrepal.co.uk) which, despite a few teething problems initially, also worked well. It has an on-off switch. Review here: UKMotorhomes.net - A review of the Tyrepal tyre pressure monitoring system

AndyC
 
I managed to get two off ebay, but they had no more at 80psi.
Seem to work ok...caps stay green if pressure maintains, change to yellow if the tyres drop 3psi, and red if they drop a further 3 psi.
better than nothing and a lot cheaper that the elctronic versions (prefered).

eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace
 
Beemer said:
I managed to get two off ebay, but they had no more at 80psi.
Seem to work ok...caps stay green if pressure maintains, change to yellow if the tyres drop 3psi, and red if they drop a further 3 psi.
better than nothing and a lot cheaper that the elctronic versions (prefered).

eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace
Click to expand...

I cannot recommend these devices.

I have tried them on my Elddis and my MG, and on both vehicles the rubber seal failed inside two caps leaving me with a flat tyre. The 'van was parked at the time, so no harm done, but on the MG it failed whilst driving and could have cost me a tyre.

These caps are poorly engineered because you no longer have the tyre valve maintaining the pressure (and these don't often fail). Rather it's just the seal inside the replacement cap.

Avoid!
 
I used to run these on my bike years ago when they first came out. The theory that you can have a quick glance when your walking around your motor or bike is good. On the bike in particular, the extra weight of the monitor seemed to overload the rubber valve at speed, bending them over and either causing them to leak or crack at the base. Add to this the fact the internal seals seem to leak, and they are more trouble than they are worth.

Stu
 
I prefer to have my tyres sealed (current tyres have Puncturesafe) so have little or no loss to worry about. My last set of tyres were treated with Ultaseal (same product I believe) and I can never remember having to adjust the tyre pressures.The balance of the tyres were always good as well. I have to come clean in that I have a vested interest here as I am now an installer of Puncturesafe
 
You can get some here but you have to remove then when you go for an ITV MOT, my Spanish friends dont like them and some of the ones with a light on you can get here the police dont like.
 
Canalsman said:
I cannot recommend these devices.

I have tried them on my Elddis and my MG, and on both vehicles the rubber seal failed inside two caps leaving me with a flat tyre. The 'van was parked at the time, so no harm done, but on the MG it failed whilst driving and could have cost me a tyre.

These caps are poorly engineered because you no longer have the tyre valve maintaining the pressure (and these don't often fail). Rather it's just the seal inside the replacement cap.

Avoid!
Click to expand...

Recommendation noted Chris, thank you...
I will be removing them from my van... the van cost too much to take a chance that the seals don't fail!
 
I've been using the TyrePal system for several months now. When the tyres are at parked overnight temperature they are all within a half psi of each other....once you move off the tyres start to heat slightly through use but you are not talking about more than a couple of psi variation. It is permanently connected to a 12 volt socket (leisure battery) and wakes up with a quiet bleep when a door is shut in the morning. Normally is is said to switch off to standby after 15 minues of no vibration such as after parking.


I have found it works well and haven't yet have to add any air....however I'm considering abandoning the system in favour of the 'TyreSeal' system which I have used before on previous vehicles when the tyres are due to be replaced...why....simply because if I get a puncture I can't be towed...I have to get the vehicle lifted if the puncture is not fixable by the aerosol inflator and I'd rather have a slow puncture and be able to drive to a tyre depot than a flat tyre which can't be reinflated.

Again I bought the system before I actually bought the van and it was intended for a larger motorhome which I previously thought was unsuitable for the TyreSeal type of system.....I have since learned that the liquid works at all pressures.
 
Comment from John at TyrePal.

As i understand, tyres heat up while running and pressure go up and when cool down , pressure go down.
Would these monitors give false warning??
Click to expand...
There are international standards for tyre pressure monitoring, and a properly designed system will cope with this. The colour indicator caps don't comply with these standards and are just an indicator.

I used to run these on my bike years ago when they first came out. The theory that you can have a quick glance when your walking around your motor or bike is good. On the bike in particular, the extra weight of the monitor seemed to overload the rubber valve at speed, bending them over and either causing them to leak or crack at the base. Add to this the fact the internal seals seem to leak, and they are more trouble than they are worth.
Click to expand...
The early bike systems from the USA had heavy sensors that led to this problem. Systems are now available (for bikes and motor-homes) where the sensor weighs just 9 grams. This overcomes the problem.

I have found it works well and haven't yet have to add any air....however I'm considering abandoning the system in favour of the 'TyreSeal' system which I have used before on previous vehicles when the tyres are due to be replaced...why....simply because if I get a puncture I can't be towed...I have to get the vehicle lifted if the puncture is not fixable by the aerosol inflator and I'd rather have a slow puncture and be able to drive to a tyre depot than a flat tyre which can't be reinflated.
Click to expand...

Viktor - I would be careful about permanent tyre sealant. It is heavily marketed, but is not recommended by motoring organisations like AA or RAC as it can hide serious tyre problems. Much better to keep the TyrePal to give you advance warning of problems. It will give you plenty of warning of a slow puncture and can even warn you before you get a blowout. :)
A post-puncture sealant that you put in only if you get a puncture will get you home in most cases when you do have a problem, and if tyre damage is so serious that it can't, maybe it is time to get help anyway.
 
screw-on tyre pressure monitors

interesting post....thanks for the info...
I've been using these cheapo caps for 2 years (got at NEC show) but had one fail which came to light with a flat tyre in the morning.
In the light of this thread and a re-think, I'm minded to bin them (and the spares) - not be lazy and use the pressure guage at suitable intervals.
I do have 'puncture-safe' but I still generally check my tyres. A mirror can be useful to check the inner wall.

I had a bulge come up suddenly once on the motorway... bomp-bomp-bomp! and had to change the wheel, but that was my old van on a re-tread.

better safe than sorry

obo:have fun:

you're never to old to learn - never too young to do it
 
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