![]() ![]() And, if there were some way of adding an OEM-style TPMS to our 2007 Sprinter I'd jump on it. My next camper will likely have a factory-installed TPMS and I'll be glad to have it. Our new cars have had them for the last several generations and I like having them there, even though modern tires rarely puncture and the TPMS's are occasionally a pain in the butt. I'm all for the intent and recognize the value of having a TPMS installed. But that doesn't mean that I have to think it's a good idea. Good for them, doing everything they can to be safe. Some people might think that shark repellant is a necessity before going into the ocean. Along with valve extensions, I figure, if it isn't broken, why fix it?Ĭlick to expand.Necessity? What percentage of dual-rear-wheel Sprinters do you think have after-market TPMS's installed? Usually the problem is with the wheel covers supplied by Winnebago, not the valve stems, and it's better to just ditch the poorly-chosen hubcaps than to try to accommodate them. There are lots of stories of people "upgrading" their stems only to find they were installed incorrectly or they were sold a type that's not compatible with the Sprinter wheels. In regards to metal stems, yes they are better, but high-quality rubber stems are also adequate. So then it becomes a matter of balancing the risks of a malfunctioning TPMS with the benefit of being warned about significant-but-not-complete pressure loss. A TPMS won't do any good if you have a sudden catastrophic blowout and it won't do any good if you have a slow leak that doesn't lower the tire pressure enough to register. It reminds me of a conversation regarding earthquake retrofitting of a house, and how it only protects the structure within a very narrow range of earthquake magnitudes. The most obvious benefit to a TPMS would be when a tire on a towed vehicle or an inside dual-wheel tire goes flat and it's not obvious to the driver. But, I would still be wary of relying on it and would probably end up checking my tires at every stop anyway. I would love to have factory-installed TPMS, where the pressure monitoring system is behind the valve, not in front of it. ![]() And there are even a few reports of TPMS mechanisms failing and actually causing a tire to go flat. There are frequent reports of TPMS's not being accurate, not registering partial (less than 20 psi) pressure loss, or sending false warnings. ![]() Click to expand.Since we bought our View almost seven years ago, I've been learning all I can about TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems) and am still of the opinion that messing around with the factory-supplied valve stems creates additional risks. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |