| Author |
Message |
Pat Bartlett (Muddog16)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 5:55 am: | |
With all of the talk about tires, does anyone have any feedback on the Smart Tire system, does it work, is it worthwhile? With all of the discussion about tire wear, pressure, it seems to be that a first alert like Smart Tire would be a good investment. Is it just a toy or does it work? |
Jim (Jim_in_california)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 6:29 am: | |
If it was REALLY a smart tire, it wouldn't be rolling around under a bus, now would it? |
Jim Shepherd (Rv_safetyman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 10:26 am: | |
Pat, without question, tire monitor systems are worth the money in my opinion. When you consider the direct cost of a blowout (tire cost and cost of damage to the bus) plus the possibility of a horrendous crash, the cost of a system can usually be justified. It is being increasing used by commercial truck companies, since drivers are not good at checking tire pressures.
I did quite a bit of research for an article I wrote for Bus Conversion Magazine. (scheduled to be published March 2005). In commercial service, approximately 90% of tire failures are the result of under-inflation. The rest of the tire failures are mostly the result of damage due to road hazards. These systems can give you a heads up to prevent most problems.
The system you mentioned is described at: http://www.smartire.com/. I carry a similar system (Doran Pressure Pro) which is described on our website listed below.
On our web site I have posted the text and photos of the article I submitted to BC (covers two other types of alarm systems in addition to tire pressure monitor systems)
Jim Shepherd
Evergreen, CO
’85 Eagle 10
http://rvsafetysystems.com
Bus Project details: http://www.rvsafetysystems.com/busproject.htm (updated 8/7/04) |
bruce king
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 5:40 pm: | |
i've got two smart tire systems installed on my bus, one monitoring 6 tires on the bus, one monitoring 4 tires on the toad.
both systems are reliable, and both provide accurate information. They work when the bus is moving, however, so do not completely replace the need for a pre-trip inspection, but once
you're rolling, you know without question the
status of each monitored tire. And on the toad, that's a big relief for me. A rearview camera
doesn't show you the tires,and if you get a flat on a toad, you can do serious damage in a few miles.
The 1st generation system monitors tires up to 80psi. the 2nd generation system monitors tires to 120 psi. the first will monitor a max of 6 tires, the 2nd appears to monitor 4. I'd like to find something to monitor all 10 + 4, but haven't been able to do it in a single unit.
The censors mount on a wheel, and i've had a bit of trouble when having tires changed with the
techs breaking off the sensor -- les schwab in seattle broke one off when i bought a set of new
tires for my toad last week. they ordered and installed a new sensor, but the new one doesn't work, and i gotta go back. but that's tire
change operator error, not system error.
The tire temperature reading has been most interesting to me. It's told me that one of my retreads is running significantly hotter than any other tire, and i replaced it on that basis -- didn't really want to see what would happen if i let it run. |
Ron Elkins (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 7:04 pm: | |
The tires on the bus go round and round. the smart tire is the spare he's just along for the ride. (hopefuly) |
Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 7:52 pm: | |
So what's one of these systems co$t? They sound very cool! And "Preve-o" like.
FBB |
Vin Prew (Billybonz)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 8:06 pm: | |
According to the Smartire website, the batteries in the transmitters are not replacable. Have to remove the tire to replace them anyway, but looks like you have to replace the whole transmitter when the battery goes dead.
Anyone know the cost of the units? |
Ron Elkins (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 4:20 am: | |
I'll let you know monday the place I'm getting my tires from has one on display |
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