External TPMS systems

[Danandjan]

Not much on forum regarding external tire pressure monitoring systems that I could find. Seems to be a plethora of choices though.  Would like to find out what y'all use out there and do you have any issues with tire balancing. Some of those sensors can weigh about 10 gms and I wonder if that's significant enough to unbalance a tire. Thanks for your input.
Stay safe.

[maccduff]

tried a set, started giving me wrong info of tyre pressure. so i binned them  also i read if they fail , instant tyre pressure loss 

[bazza950]

Originally Posted by Danandjan

Not much on forum regarding external tire pressure monitoring systems that I could find. Seems to be a plethora of choices though.  Would like to find out what y'all use out there and do you have any issues with tire balancing. Some of those sensors can weigh about 10 gms and I wonder if that's significant enough to unbalance a tire. Thanks for your input.
Stay safe.

Its another worry! We all know that tyre pressures change with heat so at what point do you start getting worried? The wife's car dash used to light up shouting WARNING if it lost 2psi on one tyre!
Some of us are insensitive (yes me) others seem to be able to tell the sex of a worm they run over. If you could do something about it then maybe but unless you carry an inflator (1tna?) you would be into the next service station and after blowing them up checking with a gauge -no  thanks

[__Ray__]

Those things only have to be checked when you fire up de bike first that day.
Tyre pressures are always based on cold tyres and when you take a track day you should lower the pressure as the tyres heat up way more.
In the winter you might consider 0,1 to 0,2 bar more.
When you don't own a compressor drive very gently to the nearest gas station to check and fill them up, try not to get ant heat in the tyres.
When air gets warmer it expands increasing the pressure, in the winter it's cold preventing the tyres get hot enough and therefore the optional increase for the cold pressure.
Only plus for those sensors while riding are when you get a puncture so you can stop before you damage the tyre due to a too low pressure.

[thetrecker]

I am in the don't bother camp also!
Check your tyres before you set off and worry no more, if you pick up a nail it will be a slow release and you will feel the difference in a bend later in the journey when the pressure really gets low.
Also it is too easy to damage the sensor during tyre change ( and changes are more often than cars) . Slime might be a better direction to go in.

Tom

[Potter]

I have tyre pressure monitors fitted to my current machine, and I had the same units on my previous 2 bikes too. They are made by Garmin and communicate directly with the GPS unit. The sensors simply replace the standard dust caps on each tyre valve.
I use them each time I use the bike, to perform a cold tyre pressure check without having to use a separate gauge ( which can be a faff with the spoked wheels).
They are reliable, accurate and have no noticeable effect on tyre balance or wear: but I do make sure that they are fitted when new tyres are balanced.
On more than one occasion they have given an early warning of a punctured tyre, before I had noticed any change in handling characteristics.
I know it's personal choice but they give me additional peace of mind.

[__Ray__]

Just a warning, actually 2.
These are not working with the Zümo XT and when you have 90 degree valves they are not recommended as the weight combined with the centrifugal forces can cause breaking of the valve.

[Potter]

That is a good point about the 90° valves Ray, and something I should have mentioned. On my previous bike I took the precaution of changing the 90° tyre valves to straight stemmed ones instead.
My Garmin is a 300 series: I hadn't realised that they were not compatible with the XT, looks like I won't be upgrading my sat nav anytime soon.