Tire Pressure Monitor Saved Our Life

[oshacon]

One of the items that I had installed when we purchased our Class C a few months ago was a tire pressure monitoring system. Although not an inexpensive add-on, the system proved invaluable last weekend as we returned from a trip. Fortunately we were about 25 miles from home when the alarm began to chirp, indicating a loss of pressure which was identified on the inside rear passenger tire. We were able to make it home without incident and when I brought the rig to my service person on Monday he discovered that I had a large slice in both rear tires, although the cut hadn't yet penetrated the outer tire, yet. In my opinion, without this system we would have been rolling the dice when we ventured out on our next trip, it was only a matter of time before I would have had a catastrophic blow-out, I don't even want to think about the consequences. So for anyone who has ever given thought to buying a monitoring system but may have hesitated due to the cost, my advice is to go ahead, spend the money and it very well could save your life!!!

[wa8yxm]

Yup, TMPS one, coronor zero. always a good score.

[hoppers4]

I agree wholeheartedly! It took me a couple of years to bite the bullet and buy a TPMS because they are so expensive. However it has paid for itself by notifying me when the extension to the inside tire came loose and started leaking.

[Rick Long]

I wish I would have had it... Would have saved me $350 for a new Michelin XRV when one went flat because of an airless valve extention!! Yah.. the one's that aren't supposed to leak!!

ps... that tire only had 810 miles on it...

[Nick Russell]

We would not travel without our PressurePro tire monitoring system. To me, it is as important as fire extinguishers in terms of safety equipment.

[oshacon]

Nick; I couldn't agree more. While both an extinguisher and TMPS are designed to protect life and property in my opinion, one of the benefits of having a TPMS is the fact that without it you wouldn't even know that a tire pressure may be dangerously low. No one can dispute the importance of fire protection but generally you're going to have ample warning of an on-board/engine fire, not so with a slow leaking tire especially if it's an inner.

[StevePav]

It's events like the above mentioned ones that brought me to purchase a TPMS manufactured by TST (http://www.tsttruck.com/). I just installed it two days ago (although I still have to change over to metal valves on my steer tires) and I'm just happy to have it and will certainly put it to good use. Installation couldn't have been easier.

Steve

[Baby Bear]

I just put the TST system on and yes it works as advertised. Senses both pressure and temperature.
And how did I afford this: Obama sent me a check, yes , it finally came so I figured if he was good enough to send me money I could help him by stimulatuing the economey!

[oshacon]

Originally Posted by Baby Bear

I just put the TST system on and yes it works as advertised. Senses both pressure and temperature.
And how did I afford this: Obama sent me a check, yes , it finally came so I figured if he was good enough to send me money I could help him by stimulatuing the economey!

Way to Go! I couldn't think of a better way to stimulate our economy, and potentially helping to curb health care costs, God Forbid.

[DandS]

While I can't argue the benefits of a TPMS, I have one - I am constantly amazed that people think they are "life savers". The biggest danger is a steering tire blow-out at speed which can have life threatening results if not handled properly. I have yet to see a TPMS that will warn of a blow-out ?? To me, the real benefit is knowing tire pressures are correct at all times without manually checking. If psi is maintained, then the chance of a blow-out is greatly reduced.

[StevePav]

Originally Posted by DandS

I have yet to see a TPMS that will warn of a blow-out ?? To me, the real benefit is knowing tire pressures are correct at all times without manually checking. If psi is maintained, then the chance of a blow-out is greatly reduced.

When I bought my used RV and drove off the lot, I got about 30 miles up Interstate 95 before I had a blowout on the outer drive tire on the driver's side (Michelin). It was most likely due to improper tire pressure (the rest of the tires had between 75-80lbs on a 36' Southwind). If I had a TPMS unit at the time the blow out might have been avoided. However, checking the tire pressures myself instead of trusting the dealer would probably have done as much in preventing a blow out.

Steve

[oshacon]

When I used the term Life Saver, in my original post I did so because of the following circumstances. An inner rear tire had experienced rapid pressure loss, which was later found to be the result of a deep cut along the tire. Since that tire was not in plain view and we were still traveling at 55 mph, without the warning I would not have known to excercise caution and to immediately seek a causal factor and replacement upon return to home. While true that the system itself does not save a life, I consider it's presence to be a source of comfort. One could theoretically check tire pressure at every stop along the route of travel, but without that continuous method of detection and warning I would have been at risk of peril. Consider the analogy to a fire extinguisher; while prevention is the ultimate source of protection having an extinguisher can certainly minimize risk of injury.

[sgtjoe]

While we are on this subject again I have often wondered if prior to a tire blow out, due to tire failure not road hazards, is their a drastic change in tire temperature?

[DandS]

I don't think there is anything but a tremendous/instantaneous loss of pressure !!