Tyre pressure monitors

[Bashy]

I couldn't tell 100% when mine had a puncture the day after I bought it, I could tell something didn't feel 💯, but didn't click it was a puncture until it was too late and ruined the tyre. I am very aware of the slightest noise, nick and crunch, but the puncture caught me out, and no, I do not go around the car for every journey, just now and again I will check the wheels are still on

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by DSK

I don't agree with 'you don't know if you have a deflating tyre'. It may be true for 99% of drivers who have no care of getting to know their vehicle(s).

Whilst I can appreciate that most people just drive blinkered, I can feel across all my cars should a tyre drops over 3psi. The more it drops, the more you notice. Its just a case of how much interest drivers pay to knowing and feeling their cars. Even my 75yr old mum can tell me which corner feels a bit 'off' once its almost at around 8psi difference to normal!

But isn't that the point - for the majority of drivers the car is an appliance, a means of getting from A to B, they will not have the mechanical sympathy to notice the change in characteristics and diagnose why.

You could probably hear the tappets get noisy if the oil pressure falls away, but you'd still prefer a light...

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Dash300

The VW system clearly had a superior constant read out. Volvo's in tyre system is just another example of useless inaccurate electronic gadgetry with constant 'cry wolf' false warnings. As with the lack of a dipstick in favour of a warning light!

It did - you could see the pressure in each wheel updated about every second to the nearest 0.5 PSI. The low pressure threshold was 31 PSI. On fast roundabouts you could get a 1.5 PSI difference between n/s and o/s. The system on my wife's 2019 Golf is the rotational system which is nowhere near as useful.

The other reason I think it is inferior is you get no measurement of how much pressure is lost and whether it may be safe to continue driving. If you're on the motorway and the pressure drops from 31 to 30PSI you know you're okay carrying on, if it fell to 10 PSI you'd want to be pulling over... just a light on the dash with no reading gives you no clue - you might be stopping and getting out of the car on the hard shoulder when there is no reason to.

I totally agree with you on the lack of a dipstick (or rather a "technicians" dipstick that's difficult to use. That makes no sense.

[Dash300]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

It did - you could see the pressure in each wheel updated about every second to the nearest 0.5 PSI. The low pressure threshold was 31 PSI. On fast roundabouts you could get a 1.5 PSI difference between n/s and o/s. The system on my wife's 2019 Golf is the rotational system which is nowhere near as useful.

The other reason I think it is inferior is you get no measurement of how much pressure is lost and whether it may be safe to continue driving. If you're on the motorway and the pressure drops from 31 to 30PSI you know you're okay carrying on, if it fell to 10 PSI you'd want to be pulling over... just a light on the dash with no reading gives you no clue - you might be stopping and getting out of the car on the hard shoulder when there is no reason to.

I totally agree with you on the lack of a dipstick (or rather a "technicians" dipstick that's difficult to use. That makes no sense.

Don't even get the luxury of a technicians dipstick on the VEA engine!

[DaveNP]

Originally Posted by DSK

I don't agree with 'you don't know if you have a deflating tyre'. It may be true for 99% of drivers who have no care of getting to know their vehicle(s).

Whilst I can appreciate that most people just drive blinkered, I can feel across all my cars should a tyre drops over 3psi. The more it drops, the more you notice. Its just a case of how much interest drivers pay to knowing and feeling their cars. Even my 75yr old mum can tell me which corner feels a bit 'off' once its almost at around 8psi difference to normal!

Can't say I'd totally agree with you on that one. Whilst I'd like to think I am aware of what my car (or truck) is doing, when I had a Renault Espace I picked up a puncture (NSR if I remember correctly) whilst on the journey to work, it was two clean holes like I'd run over an upturned staple or something like it, but I didn't notice until I got to work and the tyre sidewall was trashed, bearing in mind I was hustling across Milton Keynes on the grid road system of dual carriageways interspersed with roundabouts. That car surprised me several times and its ability to drive on three wheels was one of them.

[tbird885]

Hi, I have had a 'dust cap' system on my T5 for a year now. Initially I thought one of the sensors was faulty, turned out it was spot on, the tyre had a slow puncture. Have just had to replace the batteries in the caps after 12 months or so. One word of warning use some type of grease or release agent on the lock nuts if you get this type of unit. They are prone to seizing onto the valve. Only drawback I have found is the need to carry the lock nut spanner in order to be able to top up the air. The system self checks to some extent as you can see the pressure go up on a long drive. My system has a solar powered display that sits on top of the dash so no need to wire in(can also be charged with a USB but have never needed to do this.) I must admit the oversized caps don't look pretty, but they haven't given any trouble.

[derek vivian]

I have been using the replacement dust cap devices that are green if OK but then start showing yellow if pressure is dropping. Never been a problem, but it does warrant having a rag available to clean the cap when checking. I check the tyres every week. For what it might be worth I can recommend the dust cap devices and they are cheap!