Donny Boy

As a high performance car, the RX-8 requires that the tires are pressured to the factory settings in order to extract the optimum performance from them.

And it is a chore to check the tire pressure with a gauge at all 4 corners.

I've heard that Ford was considering putting SmartTire's tire pressure monitoring system on some of their up-market cars. Does anyone know whether the RX-8 will have this equipment??

Thanks.

Sputnik

Actually, there is not going to be one particular pressure setting that works for every situation. The optimum setting will change due to many different variables, and if you're at the tire changing pressures anyway, an onboard system isn't going to give you much benefit.

Besides, if the SmartTire system is the type that only warns if you go below a certain threshold, that will be even less of a performance benefit. It will simply be another idiot gauge.

---jps

Quick_lude

It just adds unnecessary unsprung weight.. Get a digital air pressure gauge and check them once a month..

fuz

I think in 2004 it will be required by federal law, so... we're getting it whether we want it or not.

Jerome81

Maybe Ford is considering that, but since the RX-8 is a Mazda, you might want to look into what Mazda is considering

Personally, I think this is another one of those "idiot" safety systems. Tire pressures are supposed to be one of those things you check regularly, like oil, but people are so lazy they never check it. So now the government is going to mandate that there are sensors to tell when tire pressure is low. Nothing like saving the idiots from themselves at the expense of everyone else.

Grimace

"Expense" is the operative word. Those systems aren't cheap. I'd rather put the money towards heated seats, Xenon's, etc.

BlueAdept

I'm all for giving evolution a helping hand by removing some of the more redundent safety features in various walks of life...

Sign's near the edge of a cliff saying "Danger of falling" and yellow lines on the subway telling you how close you can stand without getting hit by the train.....

For goodness sake... I had a jar of peanut butter that said "Warning may contain nuts"... printed on it...

In that way, we could remove the really stupid people from the gene pool without too much fuss... thus increasing the average IQ of the population through a process of evolution...

Just kidding... but it seems like such a good idea somtimes... Ever heard "Bill Engval" sing about stupid people?

zoom44

don't kid blueadept, i think you are on to something there!:D

BlueAdept

Well... the song I'm thinking of starts "I just hate stupid people, they should have to wear a sign that just says 'I'm stupid'... that way you wouldn't rely on them for anything would you....."

It was hillarious!

Hercules

I'd like to see the monitoring system myself..

Quick_lude

"Here's your sign... " :D
I also agree that one of the stupidest things I've ever heard is Government creating laws to save idiots from themselves. Case in point, low tire pressure sensors. Some people just should not own/drive a car..

pelucidor

I'm sure you've all seen this site that recognizes those people that remove themselves from the gene-pool whilst raising average human IQ:

http://www.darwinawards.com/

On a different note in New Zealand they have a wonderful saying about how people who are dumb enough to leave NZ and settle in Australia have the beneficial effect of raising the average IQ of each country...

ZoomZoom

I think that that it is a good idea actually, and I do not believe that it will add too much weight. The only thing that is stopping me from getting it installed is the cost.

Click this link for addtional information.

Grimace

Tire pressure monitoring systems are a decent idea on cars with low-profile tires (read: short, stiff sidewalls). My current car can get down to 10 psi before I can notice a visual difference.

However, the reason they are being mandated for 2004 is all the SUV tire blowouts that have been on the news in the past. Now, anyone who can't notice a SUV tire that needs air should have their keys taken away. Most have monster sidewalls that easily show when they are low on air by really bulging out.

I hope the systems come down in price by the time they are a requirement.

Quick_lude

That is interesting.. I wonder how exactly are the sensors placed and how would they affect tire remounting?

fuz

I don't think it actually affects the tire mounting process, you just have to be a little more careful. That is of course, assuming that you're using a sensor actually placed inside the rim.

The other method is to use the ABS sensors to detect whether or not the tire is braking funny, and is therefore flat. I'm not sure how effective that is on low profile tires that don't flex much. They might be so flat and run down at that point you'd have to replace it.

I'm actually for tire pressure monitoing systems. I check my pressure every month, but still, waiting a month to see if I have a flat isn't excactly safe. Every time I hear a funny sound or the car starts driving funny, I stop and check the tires first, but I may not be in time to prevent a blowout, suppose on a long highway drive where I can't just stop. In those rare cases, I would like to have that additional information, even if you all call it an idiot light.

HottRodder

I could see this being of benefit to those of us that tow. I personally have shredded two trailer tires, not passenger tires on a trailer but real trailer tires, while pulling across the desert. Don't care how this would affect performance in this application. Rather I care about the big hunk of rubber leaving a NASCAR looking donut on the side of my boat.

ZoomZoom

The sensor mounts in the middle of your rim/wheel under the tire so it is not exposed to the elements. The bracket used is like the one at the end of your garden hose that you must tighten with a screwdriver (only the bracket is much larger).

To active the car must move about a hundred feet or so, it will automatically deactivate after about five minutes of standing still. They claim that the batteries should last an average of five years; I would think that you should change the batteries every time you purchase new tires.

Also keep in mind that the sensors also monitor the tempeture of your tires, this is especially important with trucking applications.

Go to the web site and download the user’s manual for any additional information.

Mazda man

Would the sensor inside affect the balance of the wheel in any way? I suppose it would be counter balanced for them though. It also would be a real pain to change the batteries if you installed a duff one and it ran out two days later.

IWANTanRX8

I don't know.....tire pressure monitoring systems just seem like another "idiot proof" device to me. Personally, I check my tire pressure each time I get gas....about once a week, along with the oil, etc. The only system that could really be "idiot proof" is a system that actively monitors AND adjusts tire pressure as needed. Then it would be completely hands-off to the driver. But I don't want to pay for it....I know how to check tires myself!

BlueAdept

Call me sad... but I have an airline in my garage..

Hercules

Can I come run my RX-8 on your runway so I can get enough speed to try a 360? :D

BlueAdept

LOL,, perhaps that's air line...