We tested the RV-433 with a four-sensor system. We pull a dual-axle car hauler with two different trucks, so it made sense for us to just monitor the trailer tires. The capability to monitor as many as six tires makes it possible to also monitor the steering tires of your tow vehicle or any other six-tire configuration you choose. SmarTire recommends that the system be installed by one of its trained installers (and many tire dealers are already authorized). We decided to try the installation at home to see if it could be done in a driveway. This required us to use our Tyrepliers bead breaker. (See 4WD&SU 4xProduct Review, Nov. '99.) While we were able to do our four trailer tires relatively quickly, for most it is just best to have the system installed by a SmarTire dealer.
After installing the display and programming in the appropriate values for our tires, we hooked up the trailer and headed down the driveway. When the tires on the trailer reach approximately 5 mph, the onboard motion sensors close and tell the transmitters to start monitoring. This feature conserves battery life because the transmitters are only active when on the roll. All four transmitters showed up on the display with current tire pressure information. The temperature information followed shortly thereafter. The pressure information is updated every 30 seconds, and temperature data is updated once a minute.
The programmable display allows the user to set both a visual alert and a warning beep for low tire pressure. In addition, the tire temperature is monitored to provide warning signs for severely overloaded tires, a brake hung up or dragging, or even wheel bearing problems. This early warning allows the driver to diagnose and correct the issue before a catastrophic failure ruins a good trip.
SmarTire systems are available for two-, four-, or six-tire vehicles. It has a three-year/50,000 mile warranty. The position of the individually coded sensors can be reprogrammed in the display unit so that the tires can be rotated without moving the sensors.
On a recent trip, one of our testers suffered a slow leak on the right rear trailer tire from a piece of wire. Only a passing motorist's wild gestures indicated the problem and saved the tire from a ragged death, but even after the save, the tire was no good for further use. A SmarTire system would have alerted him to the problem while the tire was still repairable. We consider the SmarTire system an excellent tool to depend on for increased trailering safety and peace of mind. Even if you're not sure, it's worth a try.
For more information, contact: SmarTire USA, Inc., Dept. 4WDSU, 155 Wilbur Dr., NE North Canton, OH 44720, (330) 497-0928 www.smartire.com