Customer Reviews

Schrader 20256 TPMS Wireless Retrofit Kit

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was looking for a system to monitor tires on my truck and RV trailer both. This one does not do that! First one I bought used external sensors and had capability to monitor up 22 tires, though it only came with 6, which was enough to monitor the 6 tires on my trailer. I didn't like the look of the external sensors; particularly on the truck, so for about what it was going to cost me to buy the additional 4 sensors to monitor my truck as well, I found this system Schrader AirAware 20256 TPMS Wireless Retrofit Kit, which used internal sensors and decided to try it in addition to what I'd already bought.

Pros:
Sensors are internally mounted; no big ugly external sensor screwed on the end of the valve stem in place of a valve cap like other kits offer.
You can adjust tire pressures without having to remove sensors like the screw on type sensors require.
Monitors both pressure and temperature of the tires.
Pretty easy to set up (sensor learning process) plus built in functionality to handle tire rotation later on without having to relearn.
Power management; both the sensors and recievers power down after periods of inactivity and resume when they sense motion (vibration).
Reasonably priced.

Cons:
Only monitors 5 tires max.
Not recommended for trailer use (range issues?).
Though the unit is constantly monitoring each wheel, the display does not automatically rotate and display status of each tire. You can manually scroll and view a specific tire though, and when (if) it does sense a problem, it does automatically switch to and display the status of the tire of concern.
The alarm is not very loud, hard for me to hear over my diesel rattle. It does flash a visual indication when there is an alert.
Tires have to be broken down to access sensors (as is the case with any internal type).

So far I've been real pleased with the unit and peace of mind it provides me when traveling, and having separate system for truck and trailer has been alright too, when I disconnect trailer, I can just turn off or leave at home the monitor for the trailer; a single unit would require me to reprogram if trailer was there or not (as they also alert if theres no communication from a programmed wheel).

This device does indeed automatically display a sequential series of pressure and temperature of the four tires on the ground when set to "rotate" mode; the spare tire is not displayed on rotate mode because the spare's sensor does not transmit regularly due to not being in motion, by design. The spare can be monitored by disabling rotate display mode, thus enabling manual mode, wherein the user selects any of up to five tire sensors to monitor.

I've had mine for about a week now. Very interesting to observe dynamic temp & pressure changes. I would never have realized the front tires would run about 10 degrees F hotter than the rears (FWD) when cruising. I figure the axle is transmitting heat from the engine compartment along with the fact that the front tires are pulling the car, thereby generating more heat. Another interesting observation is that the tire with lowest pressure is not always lower than the others; suspect this is due to sensor variability.

I'm very pleased with it so far. Have not yet tried to deflate a tire to the point of triggering the alarm.

ADDED NOVEMBER 22, 2011:

The "reconditioned" system I bought was not supplied by Amazon but rather another vendor. A few weeks ago one sensor began reporting a weak battery. I ordered another sensor from Amazon and had it installed by Discount Tire, which cost me $15.00. I did not expect them to do it free, but that cost was incurred by the defective sensor. I inspected the sensor under a magnifying glass; apparently is was made January 2007, nearly 5 years old when I bought it.

A few days ago the spare tire sensor started reporting a weak battery, and it is refusing to update its last pressure/temp change. Grr.

I have ordered a new kit with four sensors from Amazon, NOT the other vendor, NOT reconditioned. I will check the dates on the sensors before installation, because I will have to pay $60.00 MORE to have fresh sensors installed.

LESSON:
1) check the date codes (they look like little clocks molded into the sensor plastic) before installing
2) beware buying from any other vendor besides Amazon.
3) the spare tire's data is not shown in the automatic rotating display on the receiver; one must use the receiver/display's manual mode to check the spare, which does not broadcast its data but approximately once daily, i.e. the spare data does not update often. The sensors are designed to turn themselves off when the tire is not moving. Since the spare does not rotate, I'm guessing the sensor does not update unless the temp or pressure changes significantly, say a few pounds or few degrees.

I received the TPMS suite, and install it in a tire service store. After installed, it work good.The next when I restart the car, the receive beeps, and with a Low Battery warning, I've to turn off the warning with press the "OK" button, and it will beep again after a few minutes, when the tire temperature up, it work normally. As other guys mentions, the manufacture Date is 2007, it seems product with pool quality.

When outside temperature goes below 20C and I turn on the engine I get a battery low signal in the screen and a beep that goes off only if you press OK. It beeps every 2-3 minutes. When tyre temperature goes up (after 10-15min. of driving) the battery low signal and beeping goes off.
So I dont use it anymore (removed batteries from the head unit). I plan to use it again in a couple of months that temperature will rise.

Be careful if purchasing this from Amazon. I received 2 of 4 sensors with depleted battery. According to the manufacturer instructions the shelf life of the battery/sensors is aprox. 10 years and 5 years when in use. How can Amazon explain that 2 of the sensors they sent me a month ago are showing battery warnings.

The product is great. The other sensors are working good and the setup/install was pretty simple.
Too bad I did not install and test the sensors within the return time frame. I would have it back.

What can I say? I'm very disappointed with Amazon this time.