On Jul 24, 10:47*am, Eric Greenwell wrote:
After a trailer tire blowout last year, I installed a remote monitoring
system that displays the trailer tire pressure on command, and alerts me
automatically if the pressure drops. I don't know how effective this
will be in avoiding tire problems, because it's possible tread
separation can occur even if the pressure is OK, but at least I won't be
driving on under-inflated tires.

There are several systems that one can choose from. I'm using
PressurePro, which is about $150 for the monitor and $50/tire for the
sensors. I also put them on my tow vehicle, so it was $650 for the two
trailer wheels and the six RV wheels. It was easy to install and seems

Hi Eric,

I tried a similar system on my semi and it didn't work reliably, most
likely due to the 70 foot length of the unit. I switched to "Cat's
Eyes" which are devices with a clamshell covered by a plexiglass
dome. They mounted on the tire studs and connected by a braided hose
to the valve-stem. When the pressure was right, the lids were closed,
when it dropped, the clamshell opened proportionally. This was easy
to see at a glance. They were available in a range of preset
pressures and were much cheaper than the systems with electronic
senders, but you did have to get out of the truck. They were made by
an outfit called Link Manufacturing. There are systems for big trucks
that actually maintain correct pressure by means of a hub-mounted
centrifical pump, but they were new and unproven at the time.

My drivers had frequent tread separations and blowouts (about two a
month) in the 10 years before the Cat's Eyes" were installed but only
two blowouts in the 10 year period I owned the truck afterwards, both
due to striking debris in the road. We had no tread separation
incidents during this period. Given that, depending on position,
these tires cost anywhere from $ 200 to $ 400 each (Perhaps even more
now), the savings were considerable. Correct inflation, in addition to
preventing tire and associated vehicle damage, improves fuel economy
and prolongs the life of the axles and wheel bearings,

Oh yeah, did I mention safety? You haven't really lived 'til you've
tried to control a long, unstable vehicle that has suddenly developed
a mind of it's own. Blowouts often do that!

For anyone interested, Google "tire pressure monitor" and all sorts of
information pops up.

Ray Warshaw
1LK

PS: My current "tire pressure monitor system (tpms)" is an 18 inch
truck tire gauge, about $ 20 at most truck stops, which, when coupled
to an eyeball and used often, seems to do the job. At my present age,
I need to stop frequently anyway.


Is anyone else using a trailer tire monitoring system? Has it helped you
avoid tire problems?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
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