To TPMS or not TPMS....

[Boostable]

... That is not the question!

I know there has been many conversations here regarding TPMS both pro and con. I thougt I would share a recent set of events that really highlights some pros and cons of not having and having a tire pressure monitor system. Hopefully it will help someone else in a strange way.. Lol


Chapter 1:
As my sig states I drive and tow a 2015 Rubicon which has a built in TPMS from the factory. About two weeks ago I am crushing down I4 in central frorida my TPMS starts going off telling me I am losing pressure in my right rear. NO WAY, I just left home, but it keeps going down so I get off at the next exit and sure enough tire going down. I pull it off, inspect it.. Nothing. No hole, nail, screw, nothing. I go ahead and change it and back on my way I go. I take the tire to my my local guy and the valve stem started to tear on the back. Weird, but don't think much of it. TPMS does it job and saves the day!

Chapter 2:
A few days later the wife and I load up to head up to the Gatornationals towing the Jeep. Leave home, drive about 15 miles to a supermarket on the way to grab a few things. Before we leave I do a walk around check and even have the wife check the lights (forgot before we left home). Everything is great and we are on our way. We get about 8~10 miles down the road and this guy comes flying around me waving me over! I pull over on the side of the narrow road we are on, he gets out and tells me I have a flat! NO WAY... I have a Tire Minder TMPS in the RV that monitors the RV and the Jeep..... And then it hits me! The tire minder allows me to "disconnect" the jeep from being monitored while I'm not towing it. Guess who forgot to reconnect it when I hooked up the jeep! I get out and it's the left rear on the jeep.. Shredded!! I will post a picture later. I change it and again we are back on the road. My message here.. If you have a TPMS system, be sure the damn thing is on and configured properly, cause the one time you don't? It could of saved me a tire!

Chapter 3: ~~ I know right!!!
So we make it up to the Nats about two hour ride, no other issues, but I get to thinking. What are the chances of having two tires go down in four days! I mean these are 35" Toyo AT's with under 10k miles on them. So I get to looking at the tire that blew on the way up and sure enough the valve stem on this tire is separated in the back, just like the one four days ago. I check out the two front tires and holy crap these valves stems are doing the same thing. Now I'm starting to worry as we are leaving the Nats and heading directly to the keys towing the jeep. No way I would pull this thing six hour the way these things look. I make a bunch of calls and the managed to get a tire shipped up and all the values stems change to little short metal valves stems the next day. It took all day to get it done and it was raining so we didn't miss any racing and it is good to go, problem solved!

However, here is my theory on this whole ordeal. The tire minder as with many other TMPS uses screw on style senders that screw directly onto the valve stem. It is my belief that the weight of these sensors is what caused the failure of the valve stems. The spare I had mounted on the back had the valve stem installed at the same time as all the others, but was in perfect shape (my placebo). I believe the centrifugal force of the wheel in motion was enough to force these stem out ever so slightly and over time began to tear the rear of the valve stem.

So at the end of the day my advice is this.
~ Get a TPMS they will save your butt!
~ If you have a TPMS make sure it's on and configured properly before leaving!
~ If your system utilizes screw on sensors, you should SERIOUSLY consider getting metal valve stems!

Sorry for the long post, but had to tell my story and hope that someone else doesn't fall victim to similar issues.

[TonyDi]

I agree that TPMS should not just an option for your MH. While they won't warn you about a blow-out. They will tell if you are losing air or overheating a tire in time to take step from it becoming a bigger problem. A tire that is shredding can do unbelievable damage to your MH.

You didn't say what brand TPMS you have but most will have different types of sensors and they are different in weights too. That may be a temporary solution.

When I last replaced tires I had metal stems put in.

[Boostable]

I run the Tire Minder from Minder Research Inc. TireMinder® TPMS - The #1 Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) in America - Minder Research Inc.

Their sensor only weigh like 4oz., but must have been enough. Here are a couple pics.



And the culprit.

[Mr_D]

Nice "rim protector" in the picture above! Wheel looks great.

TST recommends not using the sensors on rubber stems, just solid metal ones for exactly the reason you found.

[ByeTheWay]

I much prefer Pressure Pro

[lynnmor]

Originally Posted by ByeTheWay

I much prefer Pressure Pro

How would they be any different?

The metal valve stems have been discussed many times before, I guess the message isn't getting out.

Now does anyone know of a good source for stainless steel valve stems?

[ransil]

I have TST sensors 5 plus years, had new tires and valve stems replaced 2 years ago, last year I had 2 valve stems fail. One when it was parked in the garage, the other on the interstate in a construction area.

I picked up metal valve stems just need to get them installed.

[Boostable]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Nice "rim protector" in the picture above! Wheel looks great.

And that's exactly what it did. Remarkably the rim or Jeep didn't sustain any damage. Luckily the guy stopped me when he did or that might not have been the case.

[Dale & Mark Bruss]

+3 on metal valve stems. On the Equinox, we couldn't find metal valve stems but we did install reinforced rubber valve stems which are as rigid as metal stems.

On my PressurePro, when the towed vehicle is away from the truck/trailer, those sensors on the towed vehicles go quiet without having to "disconnect" them.

Would not be with a TPMS. Had a piece of road shrapnel cut the right from Equinox tire. The alarm got us to the shoulder of the road with 10 lbs still in that tire. Tire was gone but the rim was still in fine shape.

[Smokyjoe]

I've had Pressure Pro since they were invented. Never had a problem with the standard rubber valve stems.

[Boostable]

I think ultimately its not so much what TPMS you run, but it really depends on the vehicle and the angle of the stem itself. My after market wheels certainly have a more outward lean on the stem then the stock wheels do. It would make sense that the longer more angled stem would be prone to failure by extra weight on the tip. A more vertical stem would not have that pull, or as much of it.

[Boostable]

Here are one's like I put in. I off road some, so the shorter the better!



http://www.gemplers.com/product/1713...160401125600:s

[lynnmor]

Gorilla makes several types, but they are not stainless and will rust. Be aware that the real short VS402 may not have enough clearance for the sensor, it didn't on my wheels. I used the VS401, with the nut outside, but they started to rust.
Gorilla Automotive Products - Lug Nuts, Wheel Locks, Auto Security, Wheel Accessories

[dieselclacker]

I don't know the brand, but mine are nickle plated brass.