Two buttons on the receiver, or display module, allow you to manually check individual tire air pressures and temperatures, or you can let the SmartTire system warn you of any problems automatically. When tire pressure drops below the minimum limits set by the user or exceeds a factory pre-set temperature, the display module instantly alerts the driver to the problem. It also indicates in the display window which tire tripped the warning. This warning gives you time to pull over and address the problem, avoiding the possibility of a catastrophic tire failure. The system is also great for letting one know when a slow leak has brought a tire down to a level where tread life is being jeopardized.
Installation is easy and can be done with new or old tires.
It took Chris Leggett about an hour to install the sensors on the new American Racing Nitro wheels with the equally newly designed Toyo Transpath SUV tires. An over-sized hose clamp holds the sensor and its offsetting weight to the rim. Torqueing the band adjuster to 30 inch-pounds is recommended. Any excess band needs to be clipped off with sidecutters. An oversized hose clamp holds each color-coded and numbered transmitter to the rim with a special counterweight on the opposite side beneath the valve stem hole.