Tire sensors vs. no tire sensors

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

There sure seems to be more "issue with tire pressure sensor" threads than there were ever "tire went flat and I never knew" threads.

Sooooo, why do we need sensors on a Viper? Particularly a Viper that comes with run-flats?

 

[INSOMNIAC]

There sure seems to be more "issue with tire pressure sensor" threads than there were ever "tire went flat and I never knew" threads.

Sooooo, why do we need sensors on a Viper? Particularly a Viper that comes with run-flats?

I don't have run-flats and I don't have low tire pressure sensors.

How hard is it to figure out if you have a flat tire or not without the sensors?

 

[GR8_ASP]

Ask your congressman.

 

[VENOMAHOLIC]

I was under the impression that run flats do not look flat enough when they are flat so that is why the sensors were put on. On my C5, the psi is shown for each tire. Cool feature since I had no idea that some gas stations have their psi set to 60.

I have heard that run flats have a horrible ride but never suspected that they were really as bad as they are.

 

[slaughterj]

There sure seems to be more "issue with tire pressure sensor" threads than there were ever "tire went flat and I never knew" threads.

Sooooo, why do we need sensors on a Viper? Particularly a Viper that comes with run-flats?

Well, because run-flats are a misdescriptive term, run-flats just mean they can go a bit further down the road before suffering irreparable damage from being driven on while flat. I had never had tire sensors before the SRT, and from time to time, my RT/10 tires would get nails and run out of air, though luckily I never had a significant problem. However, I don't check my tires every time I go out to drive my car, and I'm sure most everyone else does not either. Therefore, if you drive one day, get a nail and come home, the air runs out overnight, and you go out the next day, you likely won't notice soon and may have a problem.

A while back in the SRT, I left the garage and the tire sensor went off. I stopped the car, looked around, and the tires looked fine. I figured it was more likely that there was a problem with a tire than the sensor, so I took the car back to the garage and checked the pressure and found a tire low. So conceivably the tire sensor saved me because the rigid run-flats do not appear to be flat when they are, and I would not have noticed other than my occasional tire pressure check.

 

[valentine_viper]

There sure seems to be more "issue with tire pressure sensor" threads than there were ever "tire went flat and I never knew" threads.

Sooooo, why do we need sensors on a Viper? Particularly a Viper that comes with run-flats?

I don't have run-flats and I don't have low tire pressure sensors.

How hard is it to figure out if you have a flat tire or not without the sensors?

I am about to install new wheels/tires that will not have pressure sensors. Will I get an idiot light and/or warning chime?

 

[GTS Bruce]

Good lord if you need an electronic gizmo to tell you a tire is flat then it might be time to get a minivan or tear up the drivers license.Runcraps,tire pressure sensors?Whats wrong with an old fashioned tire pressure gage?Has it become time to call on star and say help I've fallen and can't get up and or waite for your car to call a satellite to tell DC what your tire pressure is then have the satelite or possibly a real person warn you?Is this the equivalent of I was standing on the brake(actualy gas pedal) and the car went nuts and drove over my family?ABS,traction control,stability control.I'm beginning to understand replicars,home builds,kit cars etc.that skip all the [******] stuff and are just about driving.Well I guess I am part of this because today I turned on the radio in the Viper while driving it.Still works since last time I checked 3-4 years ago. GTS Bruce

 

[valentine_viper]

Good lord if you need an electronic gizmo to tell you a tire is flat then it might be time to get a minivan or tear up the drivers license.Runcraps,tire pressure sensors?Whats wrong with an old fashioned tire pressure gage?Has it become time to call on star and say help I've fallen and can't get up and or waite for your car to call a satellite to tell DC what your tire pressure is then have the satelite or possibly a real person warn you?Is this the equivalent of I was standing on the brake(actualy gas pedal) and the car went nuts and drove over my family?ABS,traction control,stability control.I'm beginning to understand replicars,home builds,kit cars etc.that skip all the [******] stuff and are just about driving.Well I guess I am part of this because today I turned on the radio in the Viper while driving it.Still works since last time I checked 3-4 years ago. GTS Bruce

Nice tirade, but I think you misunderstood the question. I don't want the sensors and I don't need them to warn me that I have a flat when I'm not using runflat tires. I just don't want to be bothered by dash lights and warning chimes that I can't turn off because the computer can't read sensors that aren't there. Get it?

 

[Nader]

You will get a chime at start up and a low tire in the small screen. I have it all the time with my HRE with sensors. Doesnt bother me at all

 

[INSOMNIAC]

You will get a chime at start up and a low tire in the small screen. I have it all the time with my HRE with sensors. Doesnt bother me at all

Yes, you will get a chime on start up and the low tire pressure light will be on.
All you need to do is take the low tire light bulb off.
Just kidding. Leave it alone. It doesn’t bother that much.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

I'm a low tech car ******, but would love accurate pressure sensors. This isn't an "active" nanny gizmo thing, it's the same as a temperature gauge or tachometer, isn't it?

A 4 psi difference between front tires will cause the lower one to lock up and skid.

Kumhos heat up 10-12 psi during an AX run, even more on track days. Somewhere in there they feel "good" and other times "not so good."

I don't drag race, but it looks like everyone lowers the pressure to 20-ish...

To me there are lots of reasons to want to know. I tried checking pressures with a gauge during a run, but kept accidentally tightening the valve cap instead of loosening it...

PS Taking the dash off a Gen 1 is far easier than it sounds. Had to replace a bulb, but at same time also removed the "upshift" light. Easy. Done.

 

[Nobody]

There sure seems to be more "issue with tire pressure sensor" threads than there were ever "tire went flat and I never knew" threads.

Sooooo, why do we need sensors on a Viper? Particularly a Viper that comes with run-flats?

I don't have run-flats and I don't have low tire pressure sensors.

How hard is it to figure out if you have a flat tire or not without the sensors?

Sooo i guess you put the spare in your passengers lap? Won't fit in the trunk..don't actually drive far from home I guess?? Guess you could carry a supersized can of fix -o-flat

It is nearly impossible to tell if you have a low tire with run flats

I Sure wish DC would get rid of the fuel gauge how hard is it to tell when your tank is empty

 

[Racer Robbie]

As far as I am concerned the Pressure system is not a good unit in the viper. They should have installed the one that is on my 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland that gives a readout of each of the tires pressure on the dash. It is accurate to 1 pound. A nice feature is that you can see how many lbs the tire pressure increases once the tire is hot .

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I Sure wish DC would get rid of the fuel gauge how hard is it to tell when your tank is empty

They might as well. My 97 has always been off by 1/3 and lately my 98 is off by about half a tank. If the trip counter goes I'm in for big trouble.

 

[INSOMNIAC]

It is nearly impossible to tell if you have a low tire with run flats

Hmmm Hmmm...
If you can’t tell the difference between a flat tire and a normal tire, you definitely need a low tire pressure sensor.

You probably need other sensors too.
A sensor that will go on when it starts raining and tell you to pull over and put the top on, linked to a barometer and 4 rain sensors because there are 4 seasons.
A sensor that will scream out dooodooo if you put gas in the engine instead of oil.
A screen showing you how to drive the car linked online to a customer service representative at DC.
Carry on... Not at the top of my creativity...

 

[Kai SRT10]

I have the SmartTire pressure monitoring system installed on my car.

It tells me the pressure and temperature of all 4 tires, and alerts me if the temperatures go too high or the pressures go too low. It's not perfect (has some issues at high speeds), but I like it. Even with non-runflats, I like having the additional security of a low pressure alarm. I could easily drive far enough to mess up my rims before I figured out my tire was going flat.

Dodge really should have a system like this on the car; one that is programable by the owner, that can handle lots of different sets of wheels, and that gives specific pressure/temperature information for each tire. It would increase safety, and would also be very useful at the track.

 

[Racer Robbie]

Kai SRT10, I could not agree more. If Dodge is going to install a low pressure sensor system they might as well install the best one availble.

 

[Viper X]

Kai,

Yes, this type of info would be helpful.

When running an event like the Silver State where you can cruise for 30 to 50 miles at 165 mph, I'd like to know that my tires are OK and get some warning before I end up in a ditch.

Dan

 

[Paul Hawker]

I believe there is a federal mandate requiring cars built in a few years to include tire pressure monitors to induce drivers to not run on low tires, causing reduced mileage.

I think all new cars are being designed to include this feature.

Lots and lots of people driving around on under-inflated tires.

 

[Racer Robbie]

I have heard the same. The one in my wife's @006 Jeep Grand Cherokee is always off by about 1-1/2 lbs from my longacre pressure gauge.