IntellivalveI invite everyone to go outside right now and check the pressure in their tires. If 2001 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data holds true today, about one in four of you, myself included, are driving with "one or more substantially under-inflated tires." Even more shocking are the light-truck statistics (including SUVs, vans and pickups) where one in three suffers from tire-pressure apathy. In the post-Exploder era, I like to think we're all more aware of the importance of maintaining the correct tire pressure-but probably not.
Said importance is without question. The question is how to best check one's tire pressure. In the April '03 issue, ec featured super-duper tire-pressure gauges from Griot's Garage, which followed up our comprehensive tire gauge test in our July 2001 issue. Having a gauge is one thing, using it is another. NHTSA has proposed federal laws to require auto manufacturers to build their vehicles with on-board tire-monitoring systems, technology that is readily available and already implemented on some cars.
Intellivalve(tm) is a new type of in-wheel-mounted sensor that replaces an ordinary stem with a radio-frequency transmitter that monitors tire pressure and temperature, and then sends the signal to a dash-mounted LCD display.
Because the sensors fit inside the wheel, and require the removal of the stem, it's best to fit when all of the tires are being replaced. Otherwise, it's another R&R for the tires, which can be costly. Each sensor is wheel-specific and has a battery said to last at least 4 years. The dash display is powered by a 12-volt cigarette lighter, but it would be nice to hard wire the power to free up the socket.
Tire pressure is reportedly accurate to +/-1 degree. In addition to pressure, Intellivalve also monitors temperature to +/-2 degrees. If the pressure falls too low or goes too high (as a tire heats up) there is an audible alarm to notify the driver.
While I didn't get a chance to test Intellivalve, it's a great concept for those who are too busy, too apathetic or otherwise forget to check their tire pressures.