Tire pressure monitoring systems. Who makes a resonable system?

[Larry Callahan]

I'm considering a tire pressure monitoring system. I know Stack (http://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/tire-pressure-monitoring-systems) makes one that looks great but I don't know if I want to spend that much money on a system.

Has anyone else used something similar that you could mount in a hole on the dash?

[parsonsj]

I used the Orange Electronics system on a customer car. It kinda worked. We eventually switched over to the Stack. It's a great setup, but extremely spendy.

http://blog.iimuchfabrication.com/?p=461

[Bonehead]

I would really like to have that in my cars, but wow the expense just doesn't justify the return I feel I'd get. Very cool though.

[dontlifttoshift]

why?

[parsonsj]

why?Don't know if you are asking me... but my customer insisted on a TPMS. He is running run-flats, and doesn't want to be bothered having to get a tire gauge out and check his tire pressures once a week (since it isn't obvious by looking if a run-flat tire has adequate air pressure).

As for why they are useful on the track, the STACK setup also has tire temp sensors, and so you can know when your tires are hot enough to go full bore. The STACK also supports data recording and integration of the sensor data with all the other possible data, letting a race team do whatever race teams do with such data. Their setup allows for multiple sensor sets (I forget how many) so teams can do tire swaps during an event and the data interrogator will still accept the data.

A final thought: I routinely check my tire pressures during my HPDEs as I cycle through the gauges on the Data Information Center (or DIC) on my Z06. Since I run mostly at Sebring with its long backstretch, I often have 10-15s to do that.

[Aficionado]

Love what I know about the Stack system, but likewise, a little pricey for me. I've got an Orange, but haven't wired it in yet.

Parsonsj, did y'all hard wire Orange system you used, or just plug it in?

[parsonsj]

It was hard-wired. The problem was that the antenna had a difficult time getting a signal from all the sensors all the time. Usually at least one sensor wasn't available, which resulted in the display flashing constantly.

[Aficionado]

I had a little trouble following their wiring directions (thought something might have gotten lost in translation), but it looked like one wire went to an accessory spade on the fusebox (or, I assume, any switched 12v), one power, one ground, and the other is the antenna. Did I get that right?

I'll be putting it in a '72 Corvette, and I'm thinking about mounting the display in the glove box on the back deck....wonder if having the antenna stretched out back to the front of the car will reduce some of the pickup problems you had?

JC

[Larry Callahan]

Why for me?

My sidewalls are so short and stiff that I once rolled down the freeway for a LONG time before I knew I had a flat from a screw in a front tire.

MotiV8r didn't pull or feel odd at all and I want to avoid that or worse happening.

[Schwartz Performance]

I was browsing thru the new SEMA News today and saw a company Peak Wireless Corp (Taiwan company it looks like) and they have a system for use with iPhones and other I devices.

-Dale

[sjaroslo]

Thought I would resurrect this thread and see if anyone has any new thoughts on the topic of aftermarket TPMS. I see a whole bunch of units showing up on Amazon now that use external sensors that screw on to the valve stem--seems like a good idea but I don't think they look all that hot and not sure they will fit on the Forgelines I'm running.

I actually have a more involved situation. I bought the Orange system from Amazon and had it installed in my Forgelines by the shop that built the car, so I have NO IDEA how they integrated the senders with the valve stems. BUT my car has been sitting around for so long that the batteries in the senders have all died. So I have a mystery on hand and I haven't found a Forgeline/tire dealer in my area (Silicon Valley) who I would trust to do the exploration to see if the sensors can be easily replaced. 4 replacement sensors from Amazon cost more than a whole new kit with 4 sensors AND the head unit....

While I do acknowledge this is partially due to laziness, I think that having the TPMS for a road trip would be a good thing since I'm running run-flats.

Appreciate any real-world feedback anyone has to give. Thanks.

[sjaroslo]

I'll take that as a "no...."

[Aficionado]

I wound up swapping the Orange for a German-made system (the name of which I forget) that has a battery-operated display, but the car still is not running yet so I'm not much help...