Tyre pressure monitor

[spigot]

While we’re on the subject of tyre pressures,
Where do you lot pump up your tyres?
All the rip-off machines in garages seem to stop at 50psi, I need 65.
I have an industrial compressor in the workshop but it’s a shag running a long airline down the garden.

 

[Nabsim]

I use a12v tyre inflator that came in one of my cars instead of a spare. It has no problem putting 4.5 bar in my tyres

 

[Canalsman]

The temperature readout is useful in other ways.

For example a sticking caliper causes the temperature to rise dramatically, or a dodgy wheel bearing. The first of these happened to me.

I keep an eye on the temperatures and the front and rear axle readings should be pretty much the same.

 

[Canalsman]

While we’re on the subject of tyre pressures,
Where do you lot pump up your tyres?
All the rip-off machines in garages seem to stop at 50psi, I need 65.
I have an industrial compressor in the workshop but it’s a shag running a long airline down the garden.

The garages I use all allow high pressures because HGVs are catered for.

I used to bemoan paying to pump up the tyres but the machines do seem to be well maintained and calibrated.

That didn't use to be the case. Remember those airlines with a gauge near the end? Often knocked about, grubby and inaccurate.

 

[SimonM]

when You set up the system you need to input upper and lower pressure warning values for all 4 (or 6) tyres. Then you do the same with the temperatures.
as you drive along you will Notice the pressures and temps rising to a constant that you will become accustomed to.
you will get a loud warning from the unit if either the pressures or temps go outside of the range you set.
you won’t miss the warning! Promise!
it is a bit of a pita that if you drive away first thing with a low tyre pressure you won’t get a warning for a couple of hundred yards once the system has powered up. But it does warn you, how many of us actually check tyre pressures before every trip?
I also had a few bogus warnings high up in the Pyrenees a couple of years ago, low air pressure and high brake temps probably. However I didn’t have any issues last year in the Alps.
overall, a very worth while £100 or so invested.

 

[mfw]

I use a12v tyre inflator that came in one of my cars instead of a spare. It has no problem putting 4.5 bar in my tyres

I've got a 12v tyre inflator over about 40psi it struggles pulls a lot from battery seems to go nowhere - so also have double chamber footpump hard but works - thought about a cheap airbrush compressor and inverter still pull of battery - struggle with electrical issues all i know is my 12v tyre compressor just keeps going and gets nowhere apart from draining battery

 

[Mobilvetta]

when You set up the system you need to input upper and lower pressure warning values for all 4 (or 6) tyres. Then you do the same with the temperatures.
as you drive along you will Notice the pressures and temps rising to a constant that you will become accustomed to.
you will get a loud warning from the unit if either the pressures or temps go outside of the range you set.
you won’t miss the warning! Promise!
it is a bit of a pita that if you drive away first thing with a low tyre pressure you won’t get a warning for a couple of hundred yards once the system has powered up. But it does warn you, how many of us actually check tyre pressures before every trip?
I also had a few bogus warnings high up in the Pyrenees a couple of years ago, low air pressure and high brake temps probably. However I didn’t have any issues last year in the Alps.
overall, a very worth while £100 or so invested.

Out of curiosity what would be classed as normal tyre temperature if everything is ok and what temperature would it have to rise too for you to realise there is a problem.

 

[Mobilvetta]

The tyre inflator kit that came with the motorhome is a 12 volt one that can also inject puncture foam into the tyre, that seems to works fine as an air pump only up to 80 psi and I have a compressor in my garage with an air pump when at home.

 

[Mobilvetta]

The monitor will not give accurate readings until you have driven the van a short distance. This may impact on the ability to set the low pressure alarm although I cannot recall the adjustment being difficult, just a bit fiddly. I cannot recall what I did regarding the temperature range, sorry, I have a vague notion I left it at whatever default setting was.
My monitor sits about 2’6” away from me and I have to say that the temperature figures are difficult to read. The PSI figures are fine and in my humble opinion the critical ones as I assume the temperature will only become critical as the pressure has dropped causing the sidewalls to flex and generate heat.

Davy

Thank you I will give that a try.

 

[SimonM]

Out of curiosity what would be classed as normal tyre temperature if everything is ok and what temperature would it have to rise too for you to realise there is a problem.

I can’t remember what I set mine to, but a couple of days ago I had my tyres swopped over onto some freshly powdercoated spares. Checking the tyre pressures as we were driving along in the rain I saw temps of only around 20C. That seems low.
I’ll try to remember to look when we go out again.

 

[Nabsim]

The tyre inflator kit that came with the motorhome is a 12 volt one that can also inject puncture foam into the tyre, that seems to works fine as an air pump only up to 80 psi and I have a compressor in my garage with an air pump when at home.

This is the type I have, you can fit a canister of gunk or use it just for air. I kept mine when last Astra went back. It certainly takes my tyres up to 4.5 bar okay. It does slow down a little around 4 but keeps going fine.
Not noticed a problem with battery pulling down as @mfw states. Before the slow puncture on the motorhome blew out (yes I know I should have done something) I was using it regularly.
I would think if you were fitting new motorhome tyres it would be useless though, to take a tyre from completely flat to a high enough pressure to pop the bead in place would be too much. Not tried it but fairly sure that would be the case