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C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Inexpensive tire pressure monitor
After losing untold numbers of tires and being on the side of the road with flats on
multiple cars over the years, I got to thinking if there were TPS systems on the market that could be installed by the user? Well yes, there is. I got this unit at Walmart fora mere $22 (90 days return vs. 30 other places)
and so far so good! It reads a couple PSI higher than my automatic pump.
But the main thing is, it works! Hopefully no more surprise flats, especially since with AMG brakes
my spare won't fit on the front. The sensor are little funky but what the heck. They have a locking nut, so to remove
you need to keep the small wrench thats included handy to add air. And you have to get them on tight on the shraders to avoid leaks. But it appears my recent "tire nail"
90 VW Corrado g60, 07 New Beetle Vert triple white & 09 Escalade ESV Plat LOL!
Very good idea. I’m looking for a similar one that uses the sensors inside the valve stems. Two of our vehicles have 45 series tires. The 17’s VW are susceptible to air loss from pothole hits.
The kids in our city collect valve stem caps for some reason. One of the best preventative measures so far have been Z or W speed rated tires with all the extra steel in the sidewalls.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
W rated Michelin Pilots didn't save me from a nail in my tire one commute morning
going from San Jose to Scotts Valley (Near Santa Cruz) on highway 17, one of the most dangerous highways
in Norcal. I couldn't pull over no shoulder and was forced to keep driving on it for ~ 1mile till I could pull over, wasting a
then $200 tire. This crappy TPS would've done it. But yeah where I lived, they probably try to steal the stupid
sensors (worthless to anyone) and end up destroying the shrader valves trying to get them off without loosening the lock nut CAUSING a flat.
I'm debating next tire change, do I go with metal stems and risk possibly getting to close to a curb and damaging the sensors?
Or stay with the rubber and risk the valves getting damaged/cut by dumasses ?
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; 08-20-2024 at 11:23 AM.
90 VW Corrado g60, 07 New Beetle Vert triple white & 09 Escalade ESV Plat LOL!
A TPMS company in Taiwan called Orange made a set up a little ahead of its time about 10 years ago. It was a Garmin GPS navigation the size of an iPhone 6s+ with an integrated TPMS module monitor for factory style sensors in each tire.
I run 17x8.5 rims with 225/35/17 tires on my Corrado g60. The obsolete system has already paid for itself a few times over. It appears their new version no longer has the gps in it.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Originally Posted by 112233
When I remember correctly, an ESP flat tire detection was optional from facelift on and could be activated with SD (?)
Yeah, our 06 ML350 has that, but it's always saying it needs to be reset and such.
It can work, and once or twice actually pointed out a tire being low.
But often it wants to be reset or some crap and if you're not paying attention to
the MFD it doesn't work.
Yeah, our 06 ML350 has that, but it's always saying it needs to be reset and such.
It can work, and once or twice actually pointed out a tire being low.
But often it wants to be reset or some crap and if you're not paying attention to
the MFD it doesn't work.
Didn't know that, but not surprised. i guess they did this to fulfill some regulations from the fear industry.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Originally Posted by 112233
Didn't know that, but not surprised. i guess they did this to fulfill some regulations from the fear industry.
It works off ESP system, not tire pressure.
A low tire has different rotation speed. It did work once, told
us we had a flat. Lucky they a station in town
where we were and they fixed it.
As far as sensors inside the wheels, they have them, Ebay, Walmart,
Amazon. Maybe about $30. Not sure how to change the battery in the sensors though.
I might go to that next time I buy tires....maybe.
Just ordered another one for < $15 off Ebay for
"Gerty" the very reliable but not so pretty Ford Escort
backup car.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; 09-05-2024 at 12:56 PM.
90 VW Corrado g60, 07 New Beetle Vert triple white & 09 Escalade ESV Plat LOL!
If you have an Indi shop nearby the best scenario I’ve found is Rock Auto, if the post doesn’t get you.
They're the only source that hasn’t stung me on TPMS sensors for my other vehicles. There’s a massive game being played recycling old TPMS as new when purchasing on the internet.
I recently dove in deep and got an upscale Autel TPMS tool that can read the battery & ID of TPMS sensors as well as reorganize them to their new location after wheel rotations. Best $96 ever spent.
08-12-2024, 03:29 PM
