TyrePal - remote sensing of tyre pressures

[GrahamJ.]

Having suffered a 'blow-out' on my caravan this year in France - luckily the consequences were not serious - but had problems lying in the road trying to pull out the spare wheel from under the 'van with cars travelling inches from your head and problems finding a correct specification replacement tyre. I am thinking of getting a remote pressure/temperature monitor for the tyres.
Van was not overloaded and noseweight checked regularly. Tyres were 'as fitted' to new van three years ago. I have since had both tyres replaced.(just in case!)
Have any of you fellow caravanners seen or tried any of these gadgets? Any good ?
'Tyrepal' seems to be the most advertised. Any help / suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Graham and happy Christmas,

The Tyre pal is unlikely to prevent a blow out, as by their nature blow outs are sudden and unexpected, but it might alert you to a tyre that is low in pressure which might precede a blow out.

The other aspect of concern for me is their accuracy and consistency. Don’t assume that because it is ‘digital’ that guarantees their accuracy.

Any method or detecting a failing product should be welcomed, but in most cases with tyres the simple pressure and visual checks before a journey is likely to be just as effective.

 

[JTQ]

I feel our problem with so called "blow-outs" in caravan tyres is in fact due to us being unaware that the tyre is punctured, albeit probably a slow puncture. Unlike in our cars we are unlikely to be aware of a puncture until the heat build-up has weakened the wall or caused a catastrophic failure.
The drag producing even a few kWs of tyre heating is unlikely to be sensed by those towing with 120 plus kWs of vehicle power. However this same power concentrated in the tyre wall sure can wreck it, and that drag is about all we can hope to sense of the lowered pressure in one of our vans tyres?

Therefore devices that detect a loss of pressure and a build up of heat I see as being an asset.

These devices may well be inaccurate but I don’t think the catastrophic out comes are associated with running at a few psi or few degrees below optimum. Indeed the temperature needs to be quite high to disintegrate the sidewall as anyone who as ever touched a failing tyre can testify.

I am one of the few who does check the pressures before towing, my doing this has also being commented on site as something fellow caravaners had never seen done before.
Despite this in thirty years I have suffered two blowouts, both on very long hauls, plus over the years a couple more slow punctures.
So I would from experience contend that checking before each trip whilst undoubted very sensible does not in itself eliminate the risk but having these sensors is likely to help.
Like many things its best not to rely on them but that does not detract from them being useful aids.

 

[Surfer]

Caravan manufacturers tend to fit tyres onto a caravan that have been sitting on the shelf for up to 3 years as they get them at bargain prices. Ours were nearly three years old on our brand new Lunar. Unfortunatley we only found thsi out when teh caravan was 5 years old and in essence the tyres were 8 years old at that point. Did you check the date stamp on the tyres before changing them?