RE: [VAL] Back to steel tire stems and the why's and what-for

["David Tidmore" <dtidmore@xxxxxxx>]

Tom,
I use the PressurePro system.  I was involved in early beta testing of the
technology.  The current product has been on the market about a year, but
the actual technology was developed several years ago for over the road
truckers using older technology inappropriate for smaller vehicles (sensors
weighted about 2 oz).  Rather than the inside rim approach, the PressurePro
sensors simply screw onto the valve stem.  While PressurePro has indicated
rubber stems are safe with the system, I would recommend using this
technology only on steel stems as the 1/2-2/3 oz weight of the sensor,
mounted at the top of a rubber valve stem just adds a bit more flexing to
the rubber stem.  The sensors have several modes.  Every five minutes they
report the current pressure regardless.  The competitors only fire up the
sensors while the vehicle is moving, but due to advanced in power usage in
the microcircuits, PressurePro discovered that the power savings of turning
off the sensor was less than the initial startup drain, so they determined
it better to just let them remain on.  Battery life is anticipated at about
5 years.  Having the sensors report when the vehicle is NOT moving is really
a good idea, since a tire can start deflating from a nail if stopped at just
the right spot on the tire.  This also allows you to put a sensor on the
spares for the trailer and tow vehicle and always know that those tires are
ready if needed.  The monitor is a small, 12V powered device (can be wired
in or plugged into 12V outlet).  I have mine mounted on the drivers
sunvisor.  If you go to their website (www.advantagepressurepro.com you will
see the display.  It is actually setup for a variety of towing and towed
vehicles.  During setup, you simply select which position you want to
indicate which tire and the others are ignored.  Once the sensors have been
identified by the monitor, you can remove power from the monitor and it will
remember all the settings.  The normal pressure (ie cold inflation pressure)
is very easily set.  You simply unscrew the sensor, ensure that the tire is
at the cold inflation pressure you desire, wait about 15 seconds for the
sensor to reset and then screw it back on.  The pressure it records becomes
the set pressure.  The monitor gives a warning alarm (visual and audible)
immediately when a tire deflates 12.5% below the set point and a warning
alarm (visual and audible) when the tire deflates 25%.  If there are
multiple tires alarming, each affected position on the monitor will be
flashing.  This makes it great to determine which tire needs air or worse is
failing.  You can always check the pressures in the tires by simply pressing
a button on the monitor.  The display indicates the position and gives you
the pressure for that tire.  For each additional push, the location rotates
to the next tire.  I find myself doing this periodically during travel.  The
monitor comes with a short rubber antenna that should work for most all
applications, but they also offer an inexpensive ($40) remote antenna that
can be added if necessary.

The PressurePro is a US designed and manufactured product and the people
bend over backwards to make sure that the product meets the highest
expectations.  If you have problems, they WILL and DO stand behind the
product.

David