I don't know if these technically qualify as gadgets, but they are higher tech than the regular tire valve caps, so to me, they're high tech. They monitor the air pressure in your tires, which is an issue for me, since I need new tires. I tend to have to put air in my vehicle tires every few months, and sometimes more often in the hot Summer temperatures. I have a friend who has been watching some that cost around $100, and those are very high tech. They show the actual pressure levels, which would be really nice, but not worth the extra $98 or so above what I paid for the set I bought. I wasn't sure how well these would work, but I put them on the car yesterday, and I was surprised to see a little red showing on the tire that tends to go low on pressure sooner than the others, so apparently they do work, despite the very low price I paid. Does anyone else use something like this? I think they'll be helpful to me, since stooping down really exacerbates my back issues, and with these, I can tell at a glance whether I need to add air, and if so, to which tires.
The menu button in my car has different functions on it. One is oil life, one is speed and one shows a pic of my car with the pressure in each tire.
According to the manual of my Mitsubishi Mirage, it has a capability to monitor the air pressure of the tires. The panel has a meter for that purpose. I tried to locate that meter because it's good to check the air pressure of the tires regularly and it's no sweat because there is the meter in the panel. But I couldn't find it so I asked the mechanic when we brought the car back to the dealer for routine checkup. What do you know, there is a gadget to be installed for that tire pressure gauge so the meter will light up in the panel. And the cost is something like $400. Oh great, thank you, no worries. So now I have the tires checked whenever I would go to the gas station for the tank filling.
My car came with mine already installed. When I press the right button it shows it on my dashboard and every time I press that button it shows some other function, like the how much oil, battery life and I forget what else.
If I have a low tire it shows up on my dash in one of the idiot lights. It doesn't tell me which one though.
This is what mine looks like and each touch of the menu button brings a different screen with info. About 6-8 different things regarding gas, miles, battery and who knows what.
@Diane Lane Is your car at least a 2008 model or newer? Federal Law mandated that all new cars sold as of that year must be Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) equipped. If older than '08, it may or may not be so equipped, for it was optional on many. Generally, if not equipped with all the bells and whistles, like Chrissy's car, it will consist of a tiny tire-outline shape which illuminates on the instrument panel if a tire is low on air pressure. I would assume you would know already, if you had seen a funny light appearing from time to time, so, yes, the little tire stem caps you showed are a wonderful idea! I can't guess how many times I saved the trouble and inconvenience of an on-the-road flat tire, simply by looking closely at all 4 before pulling out of the garage. My wife scoffed at first, but stopped after we twice noticed a low tire, not flat, just obviously low, before she left for work in the morning. Another good idea is to check the pressure in the spare tire at least monthly; only takes a minute or two, if it's easily accessible. Invariably, when one experiences a flat tire, they also find that there are two: the spare will be flat too! Frank
That's something I haven't done but I'm due for an oil change and tire rotation anyway and that's when I ask them to also put air in my tires, I'll ask them to check the spare but I'd be calling towing anyway if I got a flat.
@Chrissy Page Changing a tire and wheel is heavy, messy, and back-straining work, especially for a lady. My wife admits she will be seriously lost when I croak. So, it was kinda nice, back in Ft. Wayne when I had returned to work there, and pulled in to a bank drive-through, and the person inside behind the glass asked if I would like a "sucker" for my daughter (my wife-to-be), I had to chuckle, thinking I might respond with, "I've already given her one." The girl next to me was cracking up! The teller likely thought we were both nuts! Then, the 9-year age difference was nice! But now.........not quite as nice.
I haven't seen these before @Diane Lane. They would certainly be useful, not only on the car and truck but the lawnmowers as well. I'll put them on my shopping list. Wow, most of you folks seem to have newer cars that tell you everything. Our newest was a 2003 but I sold it and bought a 2000 because my knee hurt too much to drive a standard any more. My wife's car is a 2002 explorer we bought new in 2001.
My husband was 15 years older than me but I still could have died first, you never know. After he died I had lots of guys hanging around and willing to help with anything on my old car. All refused payment but nothing is really free So I distanced myself from them.
Yes, I know a lot of the newer vehicles have lots of bells and whistles, but that actually means more opportunity for things to go wrong, in my opinion, and I'd rather spring a few dollars for something like this. My mom is constantly taking her car into the shop for one thing or another, most very minor issues, and I don't have the funds for constant check ups. Mine is a 1999, and I'll have it until my situation changes, so I was glad to find these. I'm glad they'll come in handy for you, too, @Sheldon Scott. I just went over 100,000, so there's a lot of life left in my car, although it does need some work. @Joe Riley I have a tire gauge that I constantly use, but stooping/bending to check the tires irritates my back condition, which is why I was so happy to find these. I'll still keep the gauge, of course, but these will save me from having to aggravate my back issue by constantly checking the tires, since I can see at a glance whether they need air, without having to bend down to use the gauge.
The car before this one was a 1997 Altima and was costing too much in repairs in the last year of its life. It had about 185,000 miles on it.
I am going to shop around as well for these. We just purchased new tires last year and lost one of the caps. They are functional and also different. I like different and I would be able to tell if one went missing.