My point was that I couldn't tell the difference between the two tires even though one was 30 pounds less that the other. So if I didn't have a TPMS and was on the road and one tire lost 30 lbs and I checked it while refueling by "looking" at it, I'd never know it was low.
However since I do have a TPMS, and if one of my tires loses 30 pounds, even slowly, my TPMS would have informed me as soon as it was just 10 pounds low. How many people check their tires with a gauge every time they stop???? I bet less than 1%.
And let me tell ya, I DID have a catastrophic blowout and my TPMS DID alert me instantly that I had a blowout. Even with the total tire disintegration, the valve stem was still on the wheel and the sensor was still on the valve stem. Of course the TPMS didn't prevent the blowout, but it did alert me instantly. No doubt in my mind what just happened.
I agree, the TPMS is another tool, to be use in conjunction with a hand held gauge and visual inspection. But, while driving down the highway, the TPMS is your best friend if you have a tire failure. Even if your tread comes off the tire, the temperature rise would tell you real quick you have a problem.
Ron
Ron & Sandie
'08 Safari Simba SBD35 CAT C7
Toad: 2011 GMC Terrain SLT2
Tow Bar: Sterling AT
Toad Brakes: Unified U.S. Gear
TPMS: Pressure Pro
Member of: GS, FMCA, Safari Intl, CAT
Maybe it's worth noting when evaluating the usefulness of a TPMS for your RV that the Federal DOT has required them in all new vehicles weighing less than 10,000 lbs sold since Sept of 2007. Is your RV any less vulnerable to under inflated tires?
Maybe its important to know why it became necessary to require TPMS on passenger vehicles…
Knowing the dangers and cost of using under inflated tires a few surveys were commissioned by the NTHSA….
snip
"How often do you, or the person who checks your tires, check the air pressure in your tires?"
The answers indicated that 29 percent of the respondents stated that they check the air pressure in their tires monthly; another 29 percent stated that they check the air pressure only when one or more of their vehicle's tires appears under-inflated; 19 percent stated that they only have the air pressure checked when the vehicle is serviced; 5 percent stated that they only check the air pressure before taking their vehicle on a long trip; and 17 percent stated that they check the air pressure on some other occasion. Thus, 71 percent of the respondents stated that they check the air pressure in the vehicles' tires less than once a month
Another
snip
A total of 11,530 vehicles were inspected at these gas stations. This total comprised 6,442 passenger cars, 1,874 sports utility vehicles (SUVs), 1,376 vans, and 1,838 pick-up trucks. For analytical purposes, the data were divided into three categories: (1) passenger cars; (2) pick-up trucks, SUVs, and vans with P-metric tires; and (3) pick-up trucks, SUVs, and vans with either light truck (LT) or flotation tires.
Drivers were asked how often they normally check their tires to determine if they are properly inflated.
The data indicated that only about 30 percent of drivers of passenger cars, 34 percent of drivers of pick-up trucks, SUVs, and vans with P-metric tires, and 48 percent of drivers of pick-up trucks, SUVs, and vans with either LT or flotation tires claim that they check the air pressure in their vehicles' tires at least once a month.
Again the NEED for TPMS is due to lack of operator responsibility as it relates to safety issues…
The ruling requiring them is to replace that lack of operator responsibility…
There are no RV specific studies that have been done, but you can expect the results would be worse, as when they are unused, unseen, they are largely forgotten, and long periods of time and just sitting can add to the under inflation problem…
That said TPMS are a good tool in the arsenal available to us and they do what the operator can’t while in motion… that is a good thing for sure…
They still address only the air pressure, and only when in use…
RV’s and especially trailer tires require more attention not less and not attention to air pressure only…
Nothing scientific here, but my own observations and in talking to TPMS users, and reading different forums about them confirm that they promote less and fewer normal and visual inspections of our RV tires…
It is my opinion that no matter what type you use or how well they work, this is over reliance on them is counter productive…
Alarming a loss of air from a tire that has cracks in between the treads is help to late… cracked rubber valve stems are damaged from the outside and often visible and repairable before leaking begins… bulging sidewalls can often be seen and repaired before the tire blows out taking the underside of the trailer with it…
I am not being critical of the TPMS or its value…
I am being critical of the belief and often expressed idea that these things are the answer to our tire problems and overstating their value… they are not…
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet
I would be willing to bet that those of us that use and promote the use of TPMS are probably the ones that monitor our tires more critically both with the TPMS and visually before every trip and every night when we are setting up camp than a majority of the trailer owners.
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