[raj_5004]

I drive a Lancer GT here in Dubai. Ownership report can be found here.

Now, this car comes with pretty low profile tyres and it is pretty hard to judge if any tyre is low on air pressure. I have lost one good tyre because of that - the tyre was on 18 Psi and I drove it a good 50 kms unknowingly. By the time I realized, the tyre has scraped the wheel and shredded itself on the inside seam. Had to spend pretty big bucks to get that one tyre replaced!

Later on, I bought a digital and an analog tyre pressure gauge and I keep monitoring the pressure once in a month. But I still had that thought lurking in my mind that what will happen if the air pressure falls because of a tiny leak or puncture and I do not realize it.

I wanted a TPMS which will continuously monitor the air pressure on all tyres and warn me if there is a leak or if the pressure gets low. So my search began online for a good TPMS and requirements were as follows -

• System should show air pressure on all tyres via a legible display
• The display should be solar powered, so that I do not have to continuously charge it and occupy the sole charging point in my car!
• It should not be ridiculously expensive!
• Should automatically switch on-off, else it defeats the purpose of having a TPMS!

My search led me to many products on Amazon and Aliexpress and I finalized on this one because it fulfilled all my requirements.

Now, there are two types of aftermarket TPMS units which you can buy -

• One with internal sensors - Requires removal of the tyres and re-balancing
• One with external sensors - This is just DIY and needs no re-balancing

Another reason why I chose the unit with external sensors is because it is easy to replace the battery just in case one of them conks off.

A review of a unit with internal sensors is available here.

Coming to the product I bought, the brand name is SPY (!!) which is of course of Chinese origin.

The likes and dislikes are as listed below -

+ Surprisingly well built for a Chinese unit
+ Display runs on solar power. They have provided a charging cable just in case you mostly drive at night!
+ Display is clear and legible in sunlight.
+ Display is coloured and not bland (black and white).
+ Sensors are feather light and hence cause no additional vibrations at high speeds. I have driven the car at 140 kmph with these sensors installed and did not observe anything different.
+ Display can be adjusted to show pressure in PSI or BAR.
+ Display shows tyre temperature as well, alternates between pressure (50 secs) and temperature (8 secs).
+ Warns by an audible beep if it detects a leak or low air pressure. The minimum and maximum air pressure for warnings can be adjusted. Also warns if the tyre temperature is too high.
+ Has a theft proof mechanism to ensure the external sensors simply cannot be unscrewed and stolen.
+ Display switches OFF automatically 30 seconds after the car is switched off and switches ON automatically as soon as you sit in the car (pressure change in tyres detected).

- Since it has the above mentioned anti-theft mechanism, filling air in the tyres needs an additional step. You need to unlock the sensors in each tyre using the provided tool. On the upside, since you already know the pressure in each tyre, you only need to do this when the pressure gets low.
- Long term reliability is unknown.
- I am not sure whether the sensors are waterproof. I am assuming it should be! In a dry country like UAE, I have no worries but in India, buyers should check this first.

Coming to pictures of the product, I have taken pictures from the internet so that it is more clear -

* This is how the packaging looks like:



* The contents of the box:





* The display unit:



* The display as it looks on the dashboard:



Apart from the contents shown in the above pictures, they have also provided a 3M tape for securing the display on the dash and some TPMS warning stickers.

I am not a DIY person and I could install these sensors with ease, it is child's play. The system does not need any configuring for first time use. Just use the sensors in the position as marked. Just in case if you need to use different sensors in different position, the manual (which is in English!) clearly states the procedure to do so. You can also adjust the brightness of the display with 3 preset options.

Overall, I am happy with this purchase as of now. It cost me INR 5,850/- and I think it is worth the piece of mind and convenience it offers. I only hope it works as intended for atleast 2 years!

I will update on the accuracy of the readings of the sensors, very soon...

[slicvic]

Originally Posted by raj_5004

My search led me to many products on Amazon and Aliexpress and I finalized on this one because it fulfilled all my requirements.

Could you please post pictures of the Sensors on the wheel. Wondering how the antitheft mechanism works.

Great buy at that price. Hope it is waterproof.

[raj_5004]

Originally Posted by slicvic

Could you please post pictures of the Sensors on the wheel. Wondering how the antitheft mechanism works.

Great buy at that price. Hope it is waterproof.

There you go -





I'm not sure how the anti-theft mechanism works. It's just a small hexagonal nut which I have to unscrew using the provided tool.

Once that is tightened, the sensor does not come off.

[Crazy_Bean]

Can you please also post the Dashboard solar instrument, close up and from a distance.
Does it add to the aesthetics of the car? Thanks much!

[raj_5004]

Originally Posted by Crazy_Bean

Can you please also post the Dashboard solar instrument, close up and from a distance.
Does it add to the aesthetics of the car? Thanks much!

As can be seen in the above pics, the solar panel is integrated into the display itself. There is no separate solar panel!

[hnp]

Thanks for the review. I thought this kind of setup would cost a bomb! Getting a tyre inflator might be good add-on to completely not rely on fuel bunks for air. Also when there is a small leak/puncture detected one can act on time and inflate the tyre until you find a mechanic shop.

[Bh.P]

Thanks for the post.
Can anyone just use a wrench to remove the sensors from the tyre? IF yes, could be a problem in India.

[vashisth]

Looks impressive. Sensors apparently are wireless so installation is not a big fuss. Does the unit need calibration at times ?

[Crazy_Bean]

Originally Posted by raj_5004

As can be seen in the above pics, the solar panel is integrated into the display itself. There is no separate solar panel!

Thanks. I understand that. I wanted to see the actual unit not the marketing photos which make the unit look like a million bucks. Can you please share some photos of the actual unit on the dash.

Originally Posted by Bh.P

Thanks for the post.
Can anyone just use a wrench to remove the sensors from the tyre? IF yes, could be a problem in India.

I use a similar steelmate unit on my car. Although I am very careful on where I park my car, I have never been a victim of sensor theft. I have them for 1.5 years now.

The sensors are very hard to remove and you need a key to remove them, but I have observed that sometimes too too much pressure can dislodge them. Fingers crossed.

[Rahul Bhalgat]

Originally Posted by raj_5004

My search led me to many products on Amazon and Aliexpress and I finalized on this one because it fulfilled all my requirements.

Another reason why I chose the unit with external sensors is because it is easy to replace the battery just in case one of them conks off.

Hi raj_5004,
Thanks for sharing the details.

What are the overall dimensions of the display unit? I am thinking of buying this but not pasting on the dash. I do not like to paste anything on the dash. I am thinking to keep this in the pockets available below the ICE of my SX4.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by raj_5004

I'm not sure how the anti-theft mechanism works. It's just a small hexagonal nut which I have to unscrew using the provided tool.

Once that is tightened, the sensor does not come off.

If I use a wrench to hold the hexagonal nut and turn the sensor, it will come off the valve stem. I too have the external type sensor on my Swift:



As the sensor sits on the valve stem, I still advise you to get the wheel balancing done.

[Tanveer_2558]

Thanks for sharing, Looks really nice and i wanted something like this too, But this seems to be the best one! Some more pictures from your car perhaps?

[jd10ent]

Seems to be a really great value for money product. I too have been looking for a reasonably priced TPMS and I'm glad this review came in. Considering the product is being sold all over I'm guessing the sensors would be waterproof. Also, theft should not be a major issue, as without the actual display unit the sensor is of no use/value to anyone. Hence, it should not attract the attention of petty burglars, I think.

[raj_5004]

Originally Posted by hnp

Thanks for the review. I thought this kind of setup would cost a bomb! Getting a tyre inflator might be good add-on to completely not rely on fuel bunks for air. Also when there is a small leak/puncture detected one can act on time and inflate the tyre until you find a mechanic shop.

If any of the tyres deflate, I will simply swap it with the spare tyre. By the way, such units are available with the option of 5 sensors too - one additional for the spare tyre.

Also, here in UAE, roadside assistance is pretty reliable and quick and also, every petrol bunk has a great tyre shop. So, if one tyre has a puncture - simply swap it or drive it to the nearest bunk.

Originally Posted by Bh.P

Thanks for the post.
Can anyone just use a wrench to remove the sensors from the tyre? IF yes, could be a problem in India.

I do not think so. However, I have not tried that.

I do not think theft is such a big issue as the sensors alone are pointless without the display unit.

Originally Posted by vashisth

Looks impressive. Sensors apparently are wireless so installation is not a big fuss. Does the unit need calibration at times ?

No, the system needs calibration only if you are not using the sensors in their marked positions.

Originally Posted by Crazy_Bean

Thanks. I understand that. I wanted to see the actual unit not the marketing photos which make the unit look like a million bucks. Can you please share some photos of the actual unit on the dash.

Sure, I will click a picture today and share it over here.

Originally Posted by Rahul Bhalgat

Hi raj_5004,
Thanks for sharing the details.

What are the overall dimensions of the display unit? I am thinking of buying this but not pasting on the dash. I do not like to paste anything on the dash. I am thinking to keep this in the pockets available below the ICE of my SX4.

It is smaller than a Galaxy Note 3 in length and width!

If you are not planning to keep the unit on the dash, then it is better to buy a unit without the solar panel.

Originally Posted by Tanveer_2558

Thanks for sharing, Looks really nice and i wanted something like this too, But this seems to be the best one! Some more pictures from your car perhaps?

Thanks.

Yes, I will click some pics today and share it over here.

[raj_5004]

Originally Posted by Crazy_Bean

Can you please share some photos of the actual unit on the dash.

Originally Posted by Tanveer_2558

Some more pictures from your car perhaps?

Here are the pictures from my car-