adding TPMS..

so i've been thinking about adding a TPMS to my truck lately.

whats the best way to set it up? i've seen you can get OEM TPMS sensors on egay for ~100, but what kind of display unit can i use w/ them? i've seen an aftermarket unit on tirerack that shows the psi of all four tires on a read out.

let me know what you guys have done w/ any aftermarket stuff.

 

keep in mind that some shops charge extra for having TPMS when swapping out tires...dont ask me why cause i dont know..

 

Why would you want to add TPMS? TPMS was implemented for the idiots out there that never checked their tire pressure and then had an accident.
Buy a good tire gauge and forget about it.

 

I'll back this up as I have had it happen to me. I was driving between Pensacola and New Orleans- About 220 miles. I had a full bag of gas and would have have had any reason to stop until I got to my destination.

Mid trip my light came on- so I pulled over and the left rear tire was low but just slightly- so I aired it up and sat there for a few...and it was low again. So I jacked it up took the tire off and found a razor blade buried at the end of a 4 inch gash...Slow leaking air. I never would have known until the tire blew (which is would have...)

I carry a gauge and check my pressure regularly...but it can be helpful in some cases...

 

Good point Brunes

 

for on the fly checks while hauling stuff or on long trips. how many times have you seen a guy on the fwy w/ a tire that looks like it will blow any second and he had a bed on the bumpstops?!

yea, im not really interested in the OEM that just give you an idiot light, but a system that gives you on the fly readings of tire pressure. chris, if you could ask your dad, i would appreciate it. also, if you can get any info on how he likes it and cost, etc, that would be cool too!

 

cool, thanks man..

i was also looking at this one....

 

That Orange Electronics one is the one I really like too.

I wish someone made receiver that would read the stock sensors and display real time 4 tire psi and temp but I think that is asking for too much.

 

Update on TPMS. I've definitely changed my opinion on having the TPMS. Yesterday my light came on. First thought was the 30 degree change in temperature we had may have tripped one of the sensors. I checked air pressure on all the tires and found one was down to 25 and had a nail in it. Visually you couldn't tell the tire was lower than the others.

 

^ nice, see its not just for idiots, unless your calling yourself an....

 

I saw a girl in an Alfa Romeo pass me one day on the interstate. It was clear that her right rear tire was going flat. I tried to catch up with her to signal her that she had a problem, but could not (F150 Supercab, 200 CID 6 ) I was about 1/4 mile behind her when the tire blew, putting her in the median. Luckily she didn't flip - just spun out.

I can't speak to the cost effectiveness overall. It's got to cost the manufacturers $100-$200/car to add, no? if it prevents an accident in one out of a thousand cars, that's $100,000-$200,000 per accident which seams high until you save a life or two.

OTOH, I suspect it is more benefit for those who can't e bothered to check tire pressure regularly. And AFAIK, most fatalities result from folks who don't wear seat belts and wind up ejected from the vehicle during an accident.

-hank

 

There is some neat information here

I'm going to look into adding one to my spare tire also (Mine came with the four normal ones)
I have seen so many times people only think about the spare when it's needed and that's to late...

Yuma Taco,