Introducing safe, reliable, wireless and continuous tyre pressure monitoring

For a steer axle with a 12,000-lb. rating, commonly-accepted pressure is 110 psi, and most drivers assume 85 psi is okay. But for every 10% of underinflation, you’re looking at a 1% reduction in fuel economy. Multiply that by the miles you travel in a year and you can expect:

Mechanic At Heart

2023-01-16

Underinflation or improper psi might seem like an insignificant problem, but spread across a modern fleet, it can yield some surprising challenges. 

  • 30% loss in tread life for tyres underinflated by 20% 
  • 40% loss in tread life for tyres underinflated by 30%.

But that’s just the beginning . . .

In the past, truckers have tried to get in the habit of getting out of their rigs throughout the day to check a calibrated gauge on each tyre’s value stem.  

That approach can cost time and money—especially if it isn’t part of a routine for all drivers in a fleet.

Then there’s the concept of establishing each tyre’s “ideal pressure.” Even if that was possible (e.g. 110 psi on a 12,000-lb front axle), you still need to:

  • Set drive and trailer tyre pressure within a broader allowable range
  • Prevent overcompensating for temperature changes
  • Prevent overcompensating for gross-vehicle-weight changes
  • Manage hazardous road conditions

As a result, many fleets determine recommended tyre pressure based on worst vehicle load. Unfortunately, because loads vary by wheel position, fleets often try to solve the problem through complicated load/inflation tables.

Bottom line: fleets will continue to lose tyres—and profits—due to: 

  • Negligence and apathy
  • Under-inflated tyres
  • Mechanical problems
  • Improper tyre selection

With the SKF Tyre Pressure Monitoring System: 

  • Drivers monitor tyre pressure accurately and continuously to improve fleet safety and efficiency.
  • Tyre pressure data, sent wirelessly from external wheel modules, works with each vehicle’s internal communication network to give drivers real-time tyre pressures. 

The results help drivers:

  • Eliminate tyre-related accident risks
  • Minimize unplanned vehicle downtime
  • Cut fuel consumption and operating costs

How rigs and fleets benefit:

  • Reduce the risk of blowouts and unplanned downtime
  • Improve tyre life and lowers total cost of ownership
  • Improve fuel economy and safety
  • Reduce CO2 emissions

External wheel modules mount on each wheel rim to transmit tyre pressure and temperature data:

  • Wirelessly 
  • Accurately 
  • Continuously

Electronic control unit receives tyre condition data, while the exclusive, SKF algorithm:

  • Uses pressure and temperature data for calculations
  • Provides reliable information to the driver