Written regulations are due in November and take effect in 2003. Tire warning technology typically consists of a processor-equipped sensor attached to the tire stem that collects tire pressure data and relays it via radio frequency to a dashboard display unit. The systems can enhance safety, cut maintenance costs and extend tread life, says Brian Culliton, a dispatcher for Nutec Supply, an Indianapolis-based construction supply company. The system scans tire conditions every 30 seconds and alerts drivers to changes, says Steve Hendrixson, Sensor Technology president. Faults are displayed until the problem is fixed.
Some manufacturers have voiced concern about meeting federal deadlines, says one observer.