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badtz · Oct 3, 2006, 04:57 AM

http://www.amazon.com/Tire-Alert-Sel.../dp/B0009RSR36

Do these types of devices really work?

I just bought a new car, and would love to have a more automated way of checking the PSI on my tires, but was wondering how reliable a device like this can be?

Basically, you replace your valve caps with these caps, and on the caps themselves it shows you the reading (in PSI) of the pressure in your tires. In this case, there's also an LED light that flashes.

How accurate are these?

Anyone with experience using this type of product?

any help would be splendid

osiris · Oct 3, 2006, 08:22 AM

These look like a good idea, but they also look easy to steal.

Dork. · Oct 3, 2006, 08:30 AM

Seems like over-engineering to me. Too easy to steal, and they don't give you any information that you can't get with a normal pressure gague.

Although I do think I noticed one of my tires a little low this morning, but didn't have the time to check it out....

Gossamer · Oct 3, 2006, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by Dork.

Seems like over-engineering to me. Too easy to steal, and they don't give you any information that you can't get with a normal pressure gague.

Although I do think I noticed one of my tires a little low this morning, but didn't have the time to check it out....

Oh man...if only they invented some sort of product that would just tell you what your tire pressure is without you having to check it!

memory-minus · Oct 3, 2006, 09:09 AM

I have these on my car and they work great. You can tell at a glance if your tires need air just by doing a walk around your car without bending over and getting your hands dirty with a pressure guage. No problem with theft (yet) and I live in the ghetto and park on the street.

osiris · Oct 3, 2006, 09:39 AM

Someone needs to make bluetooth tire gauges.

brassplayersrock² · Oct 3, 2006, 10:07 AM

to slow, by the time the info gets transfered to you, you'll already have a full flat

osiris · Oct 3, 2006, 10:17 AM

true.. maybe AirportExtreme would be needed. But then my phone won't be able to control the auto-inflator. What a complicated world.

Gossamer · Oct 3, 2006, 10:36 AM

Actually, they do have pressure monitors that go inside the tires and attach to the rims, then will wirelessly transmit the pressure to the car.

zerostar · Oct 3, 2006, 10:38 AM

Yep, this is an option on some "luxury model" cars and it alerts you when they are low on a HUD

Like this:

2nd Generation Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Here is what Subaru uses:

Subaru Tire Pressure Monitoring system operation

macroy · Oct 3, 2006, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by zerostar

Yep, this is an option on some "luxury model" cars and it alerts you when they are low on a HUD

<snip>

Yea - but many of those base it on comparasons between all 4 tires (at least I think that's how it works on BMWs). I can't imagine having all 4 tires lose pressure evenly - But still, if the OP's device is acurate, I'd use it. I rather simply read the pressure and make my own decisions.

Rumor · Oct 3, 2006, 11:40 AM

Easy, just replace all that pesky rubber with one of these and no more worries about a flat.

badtz · Oct 3, 2006, 12:09 PM

actually, I just found out these LED tire alerts DO NOT tell you the actual PSI in the tire at the current moment, the only time they do anything is when the tire drops 4 PSIs. I think there ARE other valve caps that actually give you a PSI reading though .... I wonder how well these works?

The only reason I was thinking of these instead of the ones with the normal readings is because this one is more obvious. I may forget to always walk around the car and read the ratings on the tires. With the blinking LED, it's more obvious.

??

angelmb · Oct 5, 2006, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Oh man...if only they invented some sort of product that would just tell you what your tire pressure is without you having to check it!

Oh, that solution is common over Europe, you don't even need to buy a 'luxury car' to get it, e.g. Renault has it since 2001. Nowadays almost every euro maker can offer this solution.

Download this movie, it is old but you'll get an idea though…

Free file hosting, yourfilelink.com - online file resource.

Gossamer · Oct 5, 2006, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by angelmb

Oh, that solution is common over Europe, you don't even need to buy a 'luxury car' to get it, e.g. Renault has it since 2001. Nowadays almost every euro maker can offer this solution.

Download this movie, it is old but you'll get an idea though…

Free file hosting, yourfilelink.com - online file resource.

It was sarcasm. I mentioned earlier in this thread that they exist, then someone mentioned they didn't have enough time to check tire pressure...

imitchellg5 · Oct 5, 2006, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by osiris

Someone needs to make bluetooth tire gauges.

Nissan's are RF

The Mick · Oct 5, 2006, 07:13 PM

All new 2008 vehicles in the USA are required by the NHTSA to have tire pressure monitoring systems.