A factory TPMS is built for the car it came with. Hitch up a van and it may be watching only half your tyres. Here's what to check, and how to watch the van's tyres as well as the car's.
Does your factory TPMS watch the van?
Usually not. Factory systems are usually set up for the car's own wheels, and the van's tyres aren't part of the system. Check your car's manual to be sure.
That matters because van tyres carry heavy loads for long stretches, and a van tyre failure at speed is harder to handle than one on the car.
Does it show temperature?
Many factory systems show pressure only, or just a warning light. Temperature is useful when you tow: a tyre or hub running hotter than the rest can point to a slow leak, a dragging brake or a bearing on the way out.
Check whether your car's screen shows a temperature for each tyre.
How early does it warn you?
Some factory systems don't read pressure directly. They compare wheel speeds through the ABS and only flag a tyre once it's well down.
Systems built to the US rule FMVSS 138 only have to warn once a tyre is 25 per cent below its placard pressure. More on that in what the TPMS warning light means.
How to watch the car and the van
A standalone TPMS puts every tyre, car and van, on one screen on your dash, with live pressure and temperature:
- Car and single-axle van (6 tyres): the Aura A6 Tow Pack or a Guardian 6.
- Car and tandem van (8 tyres): the Guardian TPMS in its 8-sensor size.
- Spares or bigger rigs: Guardian sizes go up to 26 tyres.
Not sure how many sensors you need? See caravan TPMS for every setup, or compare every TPMS kit.
Not sure what your rig needs? Email us your rig: info@flatmate-tpms.com
