Monitoring tyre pressures has always been important from a safety point of view, but it’s vital with today’s low-ground-pressure tyres. Not only will operating at the wrong pressure lead to more soil damage than necessary, but it couldincrease wheelslip and fuel consumption. In extreme situations, it could also lead to expensive tyre failures.
Of course, operators should check tyre pressures at least daily, but even this can be difficult because of the low pressures that are now used in today’s ultra-flexible-sidewall tyres.
In response to these issues, Belgian manufacturer Comatra has developed the Agricultural Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that uses wireless technology to provide real-time monitoring of tyre pressures in the tractor cab. Designed especially for tubeless agricultural radial tires, the TPMS kit includes four, six or eight sensor units and a small display panel (about 8cm x 5cm) thatshows the pressure of each tyre.
The correct tyre pressure is programmed into the display unit when the system is initially set up, and a warning screen shows and an audio alert sounds if this pressure varies by more than 10 per cent. The sensor units also measure the temperature in the tyre, and again the driver will be alerted if this exceeds 80 Celsius.
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| Fitting the Comatra TPMS sensors is simply a case of deflating the tyre and exposing the valve. |
Unlike other systems on the market that plug into the tyre stem dust cap, Comatra’s preprogrammed sensors are an inetgral part of the valve and are mounted safely inside the rim. More importantly the system will measure tyre pressures from 6-101psi (0.4-7 bar).
The system can be set up to show pressures in either bar or psi, while temperature monitoring is done in either Fahrenheit or Celsius. The operator simply picks the desired unit of measurement when initially programming the monitor.
The TPMS system is easy to fit and simply needs the tyres to be deflated and pushed in to allow access to the valve. Each of the sensors has a battery life of five years, while the in-cab monitor ruins from either a 12-volt or 24-volt supply.
Comatra’s trailer kits are similar to the tractor kits, but also come with a signal repeater unit – that takes power from the tractor – to ensure the radio signals from the tyre sensors reach the tractor cab. As every sensor has a unique signature and is programmed to just one display, there will never be any problem mounting both a tractor and trailer system side by side.
Comatra’s Luc Pirard, who developed the system, says that considering the cost of modern tyres, the system is very cost-effective and would easily pay for itself if it saved just one tyre from failure. Just as importantly, the system has a major safety role to play in today’s high-speed tractors and trailers where early warning of a problem could prevent a serious accident.
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| Comatra’s basic tractor kit comprises four sensors and an in-cab display. |
The basic four-sensor tractor TPMS costs about £320 ex-VAT delivered.
For more information visit: www.tp2agric.com.
