Why do you require safety valve on the valve stem when other vendors put hoses directly to the valve stems?

Short answer: To increase safety.

The reason we require the safety valve is twofold.

1.  Valve stem support. All valve stems are more or less the same. They have a brass stem, sometimes nickel plated, with standard outside imperial 5/16-32 NEF thread (metric 7.7 x 0.794 mm), while the inside thread for the valve core is imperial 0.209 " x 36 tpi (metric 5.3 x 0.706 mm). When the valve stem makers then set the outside to minimum tolerance we are left with a wall thickness of only about 0.023 " (0.6 mm). This is the stem’s weakest point and it is a safety concern to attach extensions hoses or sensors directly to the stem. Our safety valve supports that part of the valve stem and gives it a wall thickness which is roughly 3 times the original thickness.

2. Controlled Airflow. Our safety valve lets the air in to the valve steam unrestricted, but if the airflow is reversed there is a controlled airflow equal to about 10 PSI in 15 minutes from a regular truck tire. This airflow is enough to get a reading from your tire gauge and to keep our tire pressure equalization feature working. In other words, if the hose would for some reason get damaged the driver would get an instant warning inside the cab and he can then disconnect the damaged hose (with the safety valve) and there will not be any air coming out of the tire anymore.  If it took the driver 4-5 minutes to go through this process, he will have lost only about 3 psi of the original tire pressure.

 

Why is pressure equalizing important?

Short answer: It saves you 20-25% on tire wear.

On dual tires, since they are bolted together and do not have a differential between them, matching the wear (thread depths) and having the same pressure is extremely important from a wear stand point. A pressure difference as small as 5 psi between two 36” wheels will make one tire 5/16” larger than the other. For every 1 mile, the larger wheel will drag the smaller wheel 13 feet.  Even if you would have started out with perfectly matched tire pressures, within a short distance of driving the pressures will already be uneven without pressure equalization, due to the fact that the inner wheel gets heat from the brakes while the outer wheel enjoys the cool air breeze and the hotter wheel will see a pressure increase.  For this reason, we keep the equalization open all the time so the pressures are kept the same.

 

If one tire starts leaking will both tires go down because of the equalizing valve?

Short answer: No.

If there is a leak (slow or rapid) in one of the tires the automatic shut off valve will be activated to stop the equalizing. This full stop can be set to the customer's request, but the factory setting is about 4 psi below requested drive pressure.

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Why are you using proprietary hoses to connect to the valve stems?

Short answer: To increase safety and avoid problems

During the development stages of our product we used off-the-shelf extension hoses. We tested several different manufacturers and major brand names, but we found that the quality was inconsistent and had several failures during the test period. A leaking hose can cause major damage to the tire or even cause an accident. Therefore, we designed our own hoses, with our own connectors and we make all our own hoses in house to achieve the most reliable hoses available. We make our hoses from stainless steel braided Teflon. Our hoses can handle heat up to 600⁰ F (315⁰C) and have a burst pressure of 2600 psi (180 bar). These types of hoses are used as brake lines in racing cars. Both ends have our specially designed fittings which are a hybrid of JIS-45 and Boss fittings for double security. This makes our hoses great and reliable instead of a place for concern.

 

Some other TPMS systems show temperature, why don't you have it?

Short answer: not relevant or needed, a typical sales gimmick.

The fact is that the tires are always first underinflated before they get hot. So by having a sensitive pressure warning system, you will be warned well ahead of the heating of the tire so there is no need for the temperature reading. Many of the aftermarket TPMS units which are attached to the valve stem also state that they can indicate heat, but in reality they only show the temperature of the tip of the valve stem which is not a clear indication of anything.  This reading would also make it hard to integrate to different on the market GPS systems.

 

However, there is a very unlikely possibility that the wheel bearing is wrongly adjusted and gets hot, the grease drained, and the bearing starts melting. This could be sensed if the sensor would not be inside the tire or at the tip of the valve stem but rather at the axle. We do have the axle bearing heat sensor available in our TyreAid system which can still be easily integrated to any GPS tracking systems.

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How long is the battery life?

Short answer: 10 years standby, 2.5 months of transmitting/flashing.

The TyreAid has the longest battery life of any TPMS unit on the market. We have a 10 year standby time and over 2.5 months of combined continues warning. There are several reasons which let us achieve these results.

1. Our batteries are totally disconnected until there is a low tire. In other words there is no drain what so ever on the batteries of the transmitter until there is an underinflated tire. Every other TPMS system on the market will draw some electricity from the batteries even when the tire pressure is OK.

2. Our batteries are much larger than any of our competitors and by placing our unit in the middle of the axle (and not on the sensitive valve stem) we can have a more robust unit with more powerful batteries. Our batteries have on an average 8-10 time more mAh than our competitors.

3. We have designed our system to send an extremely short information bust every 1.5 seconds and sleep in-between. This design extends the battery life about 150 times compared a steady on information stream.

 

How do you know if the batteries are low?

Short answer. Push the test button and see if there is a rapid flash.

There are a few ways you can be notified of a low battery. The low battery warning means that there is 30% or less left in the battery.

1. Push the test button. Normally the flashing lens will flash every 1.5 second which means everything is OK including the battery

2. Push the test button and you get a rapid flash; this means low battery. There will also be a "Trans Bat" text on the receiver screen. To clear this info on the receiver screen, keep the clear button depressed for 10 second.

3. If the vehicle has been left unattended for a longer period of time (with the risk that one of the transmitters has been sending a signal for over 2 months) we suggest that you walk around the vehicle and push each test button for 1.5 second to make sure everything is OK.

 

How do you change transmitter batteries?

Short answer: in 30 seconds

The batteries can be changed with the unit in place and the hoses hooked up. Just use a wide flat head screwdriver to open the battery compartment and replace the old battery with a new. The positive (small nipple) end goes in first

 

Where can I find the transmitter batteries?

 Short answer: Online from our website

The battery we use (type CR-2) is a battery designed for camera flashes so it suits our needs perfectly, since the chemistry is design for short flashes of power. You can find the batteries in photo shops, online battery stores, or purchase them online from our website. The price varies depending on the source but normally they are between $1-$3 /each.

 

No other systems seems to have ambient temperature compensation; why is it important?

Short answer: To avoid false alarms.

The fact is that cold air makes the tire pressure decrease and when hot when it increases. Therefore, on cold mornings the tire pressure is a little low and all competing systems will falsely warn you. Some competing systems have lowered their accuracy drastically to accommodate the pressure changes, which makes it inaccurate under normal conditions. However, when you drive a little bit the tire gets back to normal operating temperature and with that normal tire pressure. There is no reason to add air into the tire, drive for 5 miles and then deflate.

 

With the frequent false warnings the driver gets ignorant to the warning. He may also on a cold morning actually have a flat tire, but ignores the warning due to cold weather (in his mind) and drives away with a flat tire and destroys the tire, the casing, the rim and perhaps gets into an accident. What good is a TPMS if the driver does not trust it?

 

Why is such a long range for the low tire pressure warning important?

Short answer: savings on yard checks and installation

The TyreAid transmitters send a RF signal which the receiver can read from up to 250 feet. Here are the two major befits:

1. During a typical yard check today, the tire guy walks with a bat hitting every tire listening for a different sound which would indicate a low tire. (This is “highly sophisticated and accurate system” is actually in use nationwide).  With the TyreAid the tire guy walks the fleet and if there is a low tire with 250 feet the receiver will beep in his pocket. He can then look at the signal strength indicator on the receiver's display to estimate how far away the underinflated tire is and then just look at which tire is flashing—quick and simple. The tire guy can easily check a fleet of 100 parked trucks (1000 tires) in less than 5 minutes.   Note: On yard checks, no power needs to be connected to the tractor or trailer. Even the main switch by the batteries can be turned off (which it often is) and our reciever will still pick up a low tire warning.

2. Not needing any kind of repeaters saves both time and money during installation and reliability in the future with less components which can fail. The repeaters normally need hardwiring from the vehicle or trailer to be able to transmit.

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What is the warranty?

Short answer: 5 year unlimited mileage warranty

Our competitors typically give 1 year warranty and some give two years if you pay an extra fee. What does that say about their trust in their own system if you have to pay extra to get a 2 year warranty? Our system is designed to be so robust that we do not have warranty issues and we gladly give 5 year unlimited mileage warranty without any extra fees.

Note: The design life of the TyreAid is 10 years, meaning all materials we are using, from o-rings to contact surfaces, are designed to handle a minimum of 10 years without any issues.

 

Can TyreAid be connected to a GPS tracking system?

Short  answer:  Yes, most systems

Most GPS tracking system's main unit (brain) has some open available ports.  The TyreAid provides a digital signal (either on or off) which can be connect to any of these ports and then tell the system that an activation of this port means a low tire pressure. This can often be accomplished in just a few minutes.

 

Can TyreAid monitor parked trailers without the tractor connected?

Short  answer: Yes

The fact that the TyreAid has its own power source means that it can be monitored even without the tractor connected. Why is this important? Often fleets have more trailers than tractors so there are empty trailers parked in the yard waiting to be used. If one of these trailers has an underinflated tire it can easily be detected and repaired before the trailer is hooked up to a tractor and the hourly cost of the tractor and its driver is occurring.

 

Will TyreAid make tire changes more difficult? What is the "extra work" involved when changing a rim/tire?

Short answer: Very little extra work

Any TPMS will add some work for the tire guy. We have designed the TyreAid from the grassroots up and therefore taken into consideration even the tire guy by having a unit which gives minimal extra work and several advantages not just for the fleet, but also for the tire guy.

Here is the tire guy's extra work:

1. Disconnect and reconnect the hoses

2. Mark the valve stem position so the replacement wheel's valve stem will be in the same position. This will make re-connecting the hoses easy.

Here is the tire guy's advantages

1. Easy to find any underinflated tire within 250 ft.

2. Super easy to fill the tires since the filling point is moved to the center of the axle. No more laying on the ground with a flashlight trying to find the inner wheel's valve stem.

Here is the tire guy's advantages compared to other TPMS systems

1. No re-programming of the entire system if a sensor is changed

2. No need to break the tire in the year to pull out the old sensor and insert it into the new tire

3. No need to re-program the entire system if a tire/rim combination with the sensor already fitted inside the tire is brought to the yard.

Note: After working with the "Tire Guys" in different facilities both during day and nightshift we have learned one important fact. If the TMPS system is too complicated or if it actually makes more work for the tire guys, there is a tendency to sabotage the device and render it useless. Then, in fact, the management invested in TPMS for the fleet which does not work because the tire guy does not like the extra work.  The TyreAid makes the tire guys work easier in many ways and therefore it is in their interest to make sure it is operational.

 

Will TyreAid need to be reprogrammed after tire change?

Short answer: No

Since the TyreAid remains attached to the vehicle all the time during a tire change, both the tire pressure setting and the optional vehicle specific "cross contamination prevention" setting remain intact and therefore no re-programming is ever required due to a tire or rim change.

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Can TyreAid be programmed to avoid "cross contamination" in the yard?

Short answer: Yes

Sometime in a yard environment where trucks are parked in close proximity you can easily have one vehicles low tire warning show up on every trucks receiver within 250 ft. To avoid this, the TyreAid transmitter have 1 million unit specific codes and can program the receiver to read only a specific vehicle or specific vehicle and up to 5 trailers (max 54 wheel positions). By doing this programming, the programmed receiver (in the cab e.g.) will only read specific tires, while any un-programmed unit (tire guy's unit) will any tire within the 250 ft range. To program for cross contamination avoidance takes about 5 seconds per tire and does not need to be re-done for the life of the vehicle but can be re-programmed at any time. Please look at installation manual for specifics.

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Can we change the pressure setting if we move the unit to another vehicle or change the desired tire pressure?

Short answer : Yes

The pressure setting is something the fleet manager together with the tire supplier normally is involved in deciding. (We do not want the drivers or the Tire Guys to change the setting for a softer ride or in lack of enough pressure at the compressor at night, whatever the case may be). Therefore, we will inform the people with the authority to change the pressures how to do it and they will have the option to share this information or not. Please send us an email if you need this information.

 

Can we use multiple trailers for each tractor with TyreAid?

Short answer: Yes

If cross contamination programmed: a receiver can hold 54 tire positions (e.g. 1 tractor, 10 wheels, and 5 trailers, 40 wheels).

If open programming: Any number of or trailer as long as they are within 250 ft.

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How are you alerted of low tire pressure and how do you know which tire it is?

Short answer:  4 ways

1. Inside the can, the receiver display will change from "System OK" to "Low Tire" and the green LED on top will change to flashing red and an audible bee will start sounding.

2. Outside the vehicle on the underinflated tire there will be a clear red flash (every 1.5 seconds).

3. Any un-programmed receiver within 250 ft (Tire Guy or Maintenance Manager) The green LED on top will change to flashing red and an audible bee will start sounding. The display will also light up and say Low tire. The remote receiver's (Tire Guy) display turns off (sleep mode) after 5 second in order to save batteries, but pushing any of the buttons will make wake up.

4. If the vehicle is connected to GPS tracking system, the information will be seen wherever the vehicles information is displayed.

 

We see that there are 2 fill nipples on the hub for dual wheels; can we fill both tires from one nipple?

Short answer: No

TyreAid is set up as 2 individual systems but with pressure equalizing. You need to fill both tires up to the desired tire pressure from individual nipples and then the unit is set and ready to start equalizing.

 

Why is checking the tire pressure easier with TyreAid?

Short answer: Valve stems are more accessible

TyreAid moves the filling point to the end each axle. This means no more laying on the ground with a flash light to try to locate the valve stems.

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How do you know if TyreAid is functional?

Sort answer: Press the test button.

There is a test button located right next to the lens and the filling nipple. Press this test button and keep it down for 4-5 seconds. You will see the lens flash ever 1.5 seconds. This indicates that the batteries are OK and the unit is fully functional.

We sell an additional fleet tester which doubles as an air gun. With this tester you can both fill the tire and also verify the flashing point. If you are interested in this tool, please send us an email if you do not see it on the website.

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Have TyreAid been tested and designed for harsh conditions and road salt?

Short answer: Yes

We have been running tests in Finland where the conditions are often extreme. They sometimes encounter temperatures as low as -40⁰F, but mostly in the negative teens. When temperatures rise, they start using salt on the roads. We have not seen any issues with the TyreAid during or after these conditions. Our batteries are rated -40⁰F to 140⁰F.

 

Why do you use gold or silver plated contacts surfaces when automotive industry standard is usually beryllium copper?

Short answer: to have a 100% reliable product

The automotive industry is using beryllium copper for most contact surfaces. However, when beryllium copper oxidizes over time it not more conductive. Since we designed a product with a 10 year life span we elected to use gold and silver for our contact materials. Gold does not oxidize and keeps its conductivity while silver will oxidize over time but still keeps its conductivity.

 

On yard checks, do you need the ignition on to check the tires pressure?

Short answer: No

While doing the research for the design we realized that there are 2 problems for the yard checks. The cab is often locked and the Tire Guy do not have access so the need for the ignition turned on had to be eliminated. The other issue is that many fleets asks their driver to switch the main power by the batteries of when leaving the vehicle overnight so there is actually no electrical power from the vehicle available for the TPMS. Therefore, we had to design the TyreAid to be able to send signals and to the remote portable receiver (in the pocket of the Tire Guy) under these conditions.

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