Pressure measurement

Some vehicles have a tire pressure measurement and alarm system installed. There is no need to personally check the tire for a puncture.

Some vehicles have a tire pressure measurement and alarm system installed. Now you do not need to personally check if the tire is flat.  

Modern tubeless tires have the property that, except in extreme cases, air is slowly expelled after a tire puncture. Therefore, it may happen that the tire is not filled with air until the next day. Because drivers don't usually look at their tires before driving, a tire pressure monitoring system is very handy. useful.

The career of this system began in the sports cars of Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche and Chevrolet Corvette. Automatic pressure control systems are also installed on some models of Audi, BMW, Citroen, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot and Renault.

How it works

The most popular direct tire pressure monitoring solutions use the piezoelectric effect and 433 MHz wireless transmission. The heart of each pressure sensor is a quartz crystal that converts pressure differences into voltage spikes transmitted to the on-board computer. The components of this small and lightweight device are a transmitter and a battery that rotate with the wheel while the vehicle is in motion. Lithium battery life is estimated at 50 months or 150 km. The receiver in the car allows you to constantly monitor tire pressure. The main differences between measuring systems are in the place and method of placing the sensors. In some systems, the sensors are located immediately after the air valve. The second group of solutions uses a sensor attached to the rim. As a rule, in systems with a sensor connected to the valve, the valves are color-coded, and the position of the wheel in the car remains the same. Changing the position of the wheels will cause incorrect information to be shown on the display. In other solutions, the computer itself recognizes the position of the wheel in the vehicle, which is more convenient from an operational point of view. The described devices in racing cars operate up to a maximum speed of 300 km/h. They measure the pressure at a certain frequency, which increases accordingly if it falls. The measurement results are displayed on the dashboard of the car or on the screen of the on-board computer. Dashboard warning messages are updated while driving when the vehicle speed exceeds 25 mph.

Secondary market

In the aftermarket, control systems are offered that use a pressure sensor attached to the wheel rim. The sale includes systems intended for installation in vehicles that were not equipped with this useful system at the factory. Prices for sensors, transmitter and receiver are not low and therefore it is worth thinking about the advisability of buying such a system, especially for a used car with a low cost. This function is an additional help in driving a vehicle, but cannot lull the driver's vigilance and save him from caring about tires. In particular, the pressure value measured by conventional pressure gauges may differ from the pressure measured by piezoelectric sensors. Electronic pressure measurement systems, which make it easier to control and maintain it at the right level, help to properly operate the tires, as they have a positive effect on the condition of the tread. However, you can do without them, remembering to set the correct geometry and check the tire pressure at least once every two weeks or before each long trip.