SMARTIRE monitoring system

[Ted Constantine]

I am thinking of installing a Smartire monitoring system in the truck. Does any one have any experience with it. Is it worth it?



TIA

Ted

 

[Fireman]

Ted,



I'd like to know too.



Fireman

 

[gsmith1]

The last time I checked with them they were still trying to develop a system that would work on a truck pulling a trailer. For about a year they have been telling me it was "close". Still no cigar to date. Evidently they do have systems for cars or vehicles that are a solo units. I am now looking inot PressurePro. They say they will have their product out in July that will work with trucks pulling trailers.

 

[Ted Constantine]

I did a search and found a thread in the towing forum. Grandpappy is using it on the wheels of his 5er but not on the truck. Bill Swail has it in the earthroamer truck. It does not seem the comercial version is out yet and I assume that is the one that can handle more wheels. It would be a huge piece of mind I would think.



Ted

 

[SmokinJoe]

Originally posted by Ted Constantine

I am thinking of installing a Smartire monitoring system in the truck. Does any one have any experience with it. Is it worth it?

I am using it with, SmarTire Gen II with the LCD interface. It has only screwed up 3x in the last 10,000 miles. Two times I got E3 error and once it said my right rear tire temp was 214 degrees F! All three times unplugging the power and plugging it back in it worked. The 214 degree thing really scared me, but looking at the tire pressure it was fine. That meant that it was a false temp reading. I had a high speed blowout on my eagle talon and do not want any blowout on the RAM.



this was a very good addition for my truck.

 

[rweis]

TTT,



Anyone have any information on the PressurePro tire monitoring system?



It is 2 years later from the last post and surely there has been some changes in two years.



Thanks,



Bob Weis

 

[Deezul1]

make sure it will monitor pressures as high as you need to use

 

[rweis]

The SmarTire system does not go high enough for my RV tires.



The PressurePro system goes to 150 psi which will cover both the truck and the RV.



The SmarTire system also monitors temperature, the PressurePro does not.



The PressurePro system comes in various models from 4 to 34 tires. Right now I have 6 on the truck and 4 on the RV, but in the future could have 6 on the RV and some 5ers have double duallies for 8. So could be as many as 14.



In our RV club 2 different members have had motorhomes towing a car and tire problems this year. One the towed car trashed both front tires right to shreads. The other the motorhome had a inside flat and trashed the tire because apparently the tire had been flat for quite a while.



Just trying to get opinions from TDR members. I know some of these guys tow a LOT of miles a year. Some of them run OTR operations. Trying to not make a $700 mistake.



Bob Weis

 

[gsmith1]

I have been contacted by pressure pro and they are ready to market their units for rv trailer pulling. Will get one in the near future.

 

[rbattelle]

Is there any system out now that will display the temperature and pressure of all the tires (or at least 4 of them) continuously?

 

[John - K5AWO]

Hey Guys!



Check this out.



http://www.intellivalve.com/



Their web site says six and more wheels are in development/testing and will be marketed soon!



I like their approach, just replace the valve stem. Done!



Display is nice also.



John

 

[rweis]

SmarTire will do pressure and temperature. PressurePro only does pressure, but will do up to 150# and 34 of them. Those that have PressurePro seem to like them. I asked on a couple fo RV forums as well and gotten favorable results from those with PressurePro.



I have not made a final decision yet.



The problem with Intellivalve is with duallies as I see it. you would have to extend the valve stem to be able to air it up.



The problem with PressurePro is you have to take the sensor off to change air pressure. Again the duallie problem.



I don't extend my duallie stems so as to not add any more air pressure connections than I have to. However I might have to reconsider some other method if I go with a screw on sensor like PressurePro, or extend the stem like Intellivalve.



The jury is still out on this one.



Bob Weis

 

[rweis]

I just talked to PressurePro about two things:



1. The sensors ar $50 @. They talk about the batteries lasting 3 years. What then? Their answer is send the sensor back for refurbishment and new batteries. Exchange cost = $15 - $20.

2. What about inside duallie tires. THey have an extender for 21. 5" wheels but not 16" wheels. They gave me a number at HALTEC which is apparently a major national air products company and they are faxing their line of extenders.



There is the problem with PressurePro of theft which does not exist with internal mounted systems like IntelliValve.

PressurePro has its system good for 100' from the transmitter to the receiver. They also have optional remote antennas for RV's pulling toads to get the toad readings.



What is the battery setup on SmarTire and IntelliValve? Can the user change the battery? Yes they have to be dismounted, but that is readially available at tire shops.



The IntelliValve page said the sensor had to be within 20' of the receiver. That would not do for an RV, however John indicates an RV version coming.



Anyone else have comments?



Bob Weis

 

[John - K5AWO]

Hello Bob,



Yes, I have had the same thoughts on the dually applications as I own one of the critters. Also having thought about the problems of airing the tires and extra vavle stems to off balance things..... I dropped a note to Intellivalve. Here is the reply

================================

John,



The sensors are waterproof, but to my knowledge they have been never tested with anti freeze. We have never been asked this before. I would imagine that they would be fine.

Thanks



Phil Potocki



www.pdkwheels.com

 

[mgonske]

Originally posted by rweis

... What is the battery setup on SmarTire and IntelliValve? Can the user change the battery? Yes they have to be dismounted, but that is readially available at tire shops... .

Bob,



The SmarTire system has no serviceable batteries--you have to replace the sensor. But they advertise a typical 5-year life. Unlike the Doran system that says it transmits all the time, The SmarTire has an inertial on-off switch, so it only transmits when the tire is moving. That's a little inconvenient on trailers, as you have to hook up and drive to check them out.



I have a local tire shop that has gotten very used to breaking down tires and installing these things for me--12 total so far: 4 high-pressure sensors for a Gen I system for the 5th-wheel tires, and 4-each (low-pressure, unfortunately--all that was available for the Gen II) on the truck and the flatbed.



Their website (last time I looked--it's been a while) showed a new RV system with a repeater receive antenna for trailer or toad tires (my trailer tire reception has been spotty). If it has high-pressure sensors, I may upgrade, and swap my Gen II system into the Jeep (just for grins--"darn, I aired down to 5, and the darn things have heated up and gone up to 7! )

 

[rweis]

I have been analyzing the PressurePro. They only transmit when moving, however you can put a magnet near the sensor and it will come on for 60 seconds.



I had not thought about how to check the sensor ie have to move the RV to check the pressures. However with the magnet approach you could get each sensor to activate and read it as a perflight check prior to actually pulling out.



My next step is going to my local tire shop and find out about valve extenders. PressurePro gave me the number at Haltec. I called them and they sent me a email of extenders they have. I want to compare those with my local tire shop.



Once I get the extenders figuered out then I'll go from there. It is a pain to air up the duallies, and this may be the reason to make it easier.



I'll report back on what I find out about the extenders.



I'm leaning toward PressurePro because if they have this for semi's and the beating they take, and the sensor is good for 100', and the sensor is rebuildable for the new battery at a reduced cost (3 years and has a battery low display on the master display), the ease of installation, the clarity of the display, the sensors are 10 psi - 150 psi which should cover most applications, multiple reports of "no" problems from full timers.



The only negatives seem to be theft, which no one seems to have had this problem. No temperature reading, but is correct pressure and temperature related?



Bob Weis

 

[gsmith1]

I have the braided stainless steel extenders on the rear dullies. They work well. Make sure they use STEEL stems, not rubber, to attach the extenders to. I have never had a problem with them. They were attached to a bracket with a nut. The bracket was attached to the wheel covers via rivet. Made life a lot easier.



Tire temprature is related to pressure in that too low pressure results in more heat in the tire and thus weakens it causing the ill fated blow outs. One would suppose that if the air pressure is monitored, this would prevent temps from rising due to lack of enough air. Other tire defects can also cause temps to rise, but probably a majority of tire failures are related to not enough air.

 

[John - K5AWO]

Bob,



I feel as long as the tire pressure stays in the "normal zone" you won't have to be concerned with temperature.



I totally agree that checking/adding air in duallies is a PITA. That is exactly why I haven't aired mine up now for more than six months. The hammer test tells me they need a shot of air, but... ...

 

[rweis]

John,



That's why I'm trying to find the most reasonable, most effective way to check the duallies.



Also so the PressurePro can be easily taken off to add or subtract air.



It will take a couple fo days to find the solution. I am also going to the north GA mountains this thursday so if I don't get the answer by thrusday then it will be two weeks after I get back.



Bob Weis

 

[mgonske]

Originally posted by rweis

No temperature reading, but is correct pressure and temperature related?

Boyle's law applies. As temperature goes up in a fixed volume, so does pressure. That's why, for a common reference, you always check tire pressure cold. If you read the same pressure value when the tire was hot, you'd know you had lost pressure. It wouldn't take long just observing the pressure changes while running, though, to figure out what your normal pressure was with hot tires.



The SmarTire system calculates all of that, and changes the target prssure, and therefore the display of how far you are off target, based on temp. There are actually three values you can cycle the display through: pressure, temperature, and pressure differential (how far off target).



I'm heading out for Colorado this afternoon--I'll try to catch up with TDR in two weeks when I get back. See you at the dyno day.