Community Forums

pdeinc · 08-01-2018, 04:04 PM

Our new Tire Pressure Monitoring System paid for itself today! We were returning from a few days away at Fort Wilderness and traveling on 417 when I moved toward the centerline to give a some room to a disabled car on the shoulder. I heard a noise just as my left tires rode the centerline and discounted it as tire noise on the reflectors. A few minutes later the TPMS alarm sounded and I saw the left outside rear tire was down on pressure. I disabled the alarm and waited for that sensor to report again and sure enough, it had dropped a few more PSI.

I slowed my speed, took the next exit and pulled into a Walmart parking lot adjacent to a Speedway gas station. Since the tire didn't go immediately flat, I thought I could inject some sealant into it, air it back up at the nearby gas station and limp the remaining 45 miles to home.

As it turned out neither can of sealant I purchased would flow any past the valve core and since I didn't have a tool to remove it, I was out of luck on that approach. So we googled nearby tire stores and found one less than a half mile away. They didn't normally work on larger vehicles but gave it a shot with ours and successfully managed to jack it up and patch the very small hole in the tire.

The really interesting thing was that as the tire tech was removing the tire, he reached forward and pulley a knife blade out of the plastic fenderwell liner! It was a 6 inch blade presumably from some kitchen knife with the handle long gone. It had apparently pierced the tire then was flung foward where it stuck into the fenderwell. Now I knew what that noise was!

If it weren't for the TPMS, we would have been unaware of the leak and undoubtedly the inner tire would have heated up until it blew out or exploded. That would have left us stranded alongside the roadway, likely with considerable damage. Or worse, I could have lost control with even scarier outcomes!

Best money spent to date on our RV! And I should mention that it was reading about TPMS systems on this forum that convinced me to buy one.

Sky_Boss · 08-01-2018, 04:15 PM

See...this is why those that thump tires and/or check tire pressures before a trip think that is sufficient just don't get it.

Dsallach · 08-01-2018, 04:19 PM

They seem like a big expense until the first time it saves your butt. I wouldn’t be without one. I even have sensors on the toad.

kpecks · 08-01-2018, 04:26 PM

What kind of TPMS system do you have installed? That looks like a scissor.

**JohnRR** · 08-01-2018, 04:29 PM

Thank you for the input.

MSHappyCampers · 08-01-2018, 04:46 PM

Hope you've got a PI EMS! That can save your tail too!

pdeinc · 08-01-2018, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dsallach

They seem like a big expense until the first time it saves your butt. I wouldn’t be without one. I even have sensors on the toad.

On our toad and on our golf cart trailer!

pdeinc · 08-01-2018, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpecks

What kind of TPMS system do you have installed? That looks like a scissor.

EEZ and yes, you could be right.

Blastvalve · 08-01-2018, 07:53 PM

Yikes!!!!! Glad to hear you are ok, that could have been ugly!

I also just left the Fort this am, what an amazing place!

96 Wideglide · 08-01-2018, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

Hope you've got a PI EMS! That can save your tail too!

What

rkresge · 08-01-2018, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky_Boss

See...this is why those that thump tires and/or check tire pressures before a trip think that is sufficient just don't get it.

X2!

Had a very similar experience as the OP back in April. Far as I'm concerned my TPMS saved me big bucks to repair potential damages that thankfully did NOT occur.

Roger

Sky_Boss · 08-01-2018, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide

What

The post was referring to having a Progressive Industries surge protector.

96 Wideglide · 08-01-2018, 08:57 PM

Realize that. Just wondering why on earth he is posting it on a TPMS thread

!!

Forkyfork · 08-01-2018, 09:14 PM

After having a caliper lock up which could have caught the rig on fire I picked up a TPMS I figured I got lucky as I happened to have been driving behind the RV and noticed the burning brake odor. My husband was clueless and the odor filled the RV.

After getting the TPMS that same day driving home from the crappy dealer that did the caliper repair the front caliper started to drag after hard braking. We were able to make it to my regular mechanic and he replaced the other three calipers.