Want to save fuel, make your tyres last longer, and potentially save your life? We show you how to install the Oricom TPS9 External Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.
PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ORICOM: Tyre pressure monitoring systems warn a driver of sudden or dangerous changes to your tyre condition: a puncture, low pressure (or the resulting high temperature) can cause loss of control. The Oricom TPS9 External TPMS is easy to install and works brilliantly in our experience.
There are no wires to worry about with the Oricom TPS9 as the base unit is kept charged via a solar panel with the sensors connecting directly to the wheel valve stem. The wheel sensors are dustproof and IPX7 rated which means they’re waterproof, so water crossings aren’t a problem. The sensor batteries will last around two years and can be replaced easily, and they’re labelled so you can connect them to the correct wheel.
Once connected, the base unit will let you know if one of your tyres has lost pressure, if they’re getting too hot, another sign you’ve lost pressure or that you’re travelling too fast for the pressure you’ve set (if you’re running a lower pressure on a dirt road) in which case you’ll know to slow down.
Priced from $249.00, the sensor and unit carry a 12-month warranty: click on these blue words to buy one. The Oricom TPS9 is simple to install as you can see in our handy guide below or in our video.
But, why would you want to install a TPMS? Simple, it’s about safety. See, running your tyres at the correct pressure will prolong their life, improve things like ride and handling, and save you fuel – an under inflated tyre can increase your fuel consumption by around 5%.
A lot of newer vehicles come with a TPMS as standard, but for older vehicles the Oricom TPS9 and its sibling the TPS9I which is an internal TPMS, is a great idea. And it’s not just for off-roaders, in fact, anyone who owns a car that doesn’t have a TPMS as standard should seriously consider fitting either this external or internal system. The internal TPMS is great for those who regularly head off road as you won’t have to remove the sensor when airing down or up.
What do you get in the box?
This Oricom Tyre Pressure Monitoring Kit looks after four tyres. It provides an instant warning of a sudden drop in pressure due to puncture – to give a driver the chance to safely stop – or an early warning of a slow leak or an increase in temperature. It comes with everything you’ll need to install it, no other tools required. You get:
- Instruction manual;
- 1x display unit;
- 1x anti-slip mat;
- 4x sensors (clearly marked FL, FR, RL, RR);
- 4x locking nuts;
- 4x dust covers;
- A locking nut tool; and
- A sensor tightening tool.
The install is nice and easy:
Installation of the tyre sensors is easy: remove the standard valve cap and install the sensor and its dust cap and locking nut. The sensors are labelled for each of the four wheels; a suitable spanner is included to make the job easy.
Copy and repeat:
Repeat for the other three tyres, making sure each sensor is installed in its correct place (eg: ‘FR’ – Front Right) on the vehicle. Each has an on-board battery with a claimed life of two years, so, set a reminder in your phone. The batteries can be replaced to ensure the product lasts as long as you need.
Powered by the sun:
The in-cabin base-unit is solar powered: by following the instructions (of course) it’s possible to program the pressure settings to suit the normal/preferred pressure of the tyres on your vehicle. There’s a temperature warning, too.
Stuck in place:
The unit can be placed on any flat surface on the dashboard using the supplied adhesive pad. When mounting the base unit you’ll want it where you can see it easily and where the solar panel can receive sunlight, but make sure that it doesn’t obscure your forward vision. Each tyre has its intuitive ‘place’ on the display. In this pic, we’ve removed the front right sensor as a test: it reads 00 and triggers an alarm in seconds.
