No, I don’t want to start a fight, but probably anyone who already has a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) will say that what they have is “the best.”
Therefore, I would prefer to identify the features that I think are important and then let the customer do the shopping. There is no way to predict what the sale price will be next week, or what new brand or model TPMS will hit the market next month.
Here is my list of key features:
Key features for me would be (sort of in order, but, as they say, “Your mileage may vary”):
- Ability to set the “low pressure” alarm level and not have to change other pressure levels.
- Lifetime warranty.
- Ability to set the “high pressure” alarm level and not have to change other pressure levels.
- Ability to set the high temperature alarm level to 158°F (70°C) if it is not already set to that level.
- Include a signal “repeater” or booster.
- Ability to add 1 to 9 more sensors in the future, if needed (+ 1 more for a spare, + 2 or 4 more if you move the system to one with more tires, + 4 if you want to monitor your toad). This avoids the need to buy a new system in the future when you only need additional sensors.
Roger Marble
MORE POSTS FROM ROGER ON TPMS:
- Question from RV owner on ‘necessity’ of running TPMS
- TPMS: Some history and basic information – Part 1
- TPMS: Some history and basic information – Part 2
- What type of tire valve stems should you use with external TPMS sensors?
- Learn the basics of setting tire pressure and testing TPMS
- TPMS settings may not be right
- Many more posts on TPMS on RVtravel.com
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Who offers Lifetime Warranty?
TireTraker advertises themselves to be the only ones to offer a limited lifetime warranty.
I have a feeling Roger knows that but doesn’t want to be accused of endorsing a product because of sponsorship. I think he’s above that but hey, he didn’t even list accuracy or good battery life as a “must have”
I use GUTA as they offer everything that Roger listed (and are accurate with decent battery life) except their warranty is just two years.
My thoughts on warranty? I think warranty lengths represent buyer fears more than build quality and the best warranty is the one you never use. If a product doesn’t need a lifetime warranty, there’s no value in requiring it.
Vince — Roger’s opinions are never influenced by a sponsor. He doesn’t have any. RVtravel.com pays Roger for his columns (modestly: we’re not rich), but he writes mostly because he enjoys doing it and knows he is helping people.
I know that hence why I said “he doesn’t want to be accused”. Of course, I did take a bit of a liberty in poking him for not mentioning accuracy but that’s what us gear heads do….LOL
There aren’t many single axle systems; most offering 4 (or 6) sensors. I discovered to use only 2 sensors on our 4 sensor system, I needed to remove the batteries from the unused sensors. Otherwise the first road bounce and an unused sensor would trigger the low pressure alarm!
You didn’t mention one feature that I consider important. That is the ability to see the tire pressures BEFORE you start driving. The first brand I bought (BLU) wouldn’t start transmitting pressure until the sensors detected movement (to extend battery life).
Thank you for your list, Roger. Have a great week and safe travels!
I would like a TPMS that allows selecting various combinations of vehicles and trailers depending on what you are driving, pulling or not pulling at any given time. My current TST TPMS is very cumbersome from that standpoint. I’d also want ease of programming. I’ve tried several brands and they were all difficult to program to one extent or the other.
I just installed what I hope will be a solution to my Chevrolet TPMS trailer system dilemma. The problem was finding sensors that would exceed the common 23 foot transmit distance and interface with my 2026 Chevrolet trailering application. The solution was a Masoll TPMS system from Amazon. Transmit distance is 30 to 35 feet without a repeater which is plenty for my AF 27SX. Cost was less than $50.00 and installed in under five minutes. Will be giving the system a full road test in a week. So far, it works great with easy installation and accurate pressure and temperature readings. No lifetime warranty but at the price point, I can replace it several times and still be ahead.