Best TPMS Sensors (Tire Pressure Monitor Systems)

TPMS sensors send alerts to the driver if the tire pressure drops too low too quickly. This knowledge can be used to prevent accidents in the event of an unexpected pressure change like a blowout. By keeping an eye out for slow leaks and air loss, drivers can make sure they get the most mileage out of their tires and the best gas mileage possible for long trips. This is why many recently made vehicles come equipped with tire pressure gauges (not all though). So if you are looking so stay ahead of the curb, let’s talk about the best tire pressure monitor systems on the market and what you should look out for.

Check out our full buyers guide below!

Check out our other buyers guides for Portable Air Compressors and more in the RV Shop.

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Best Selling TPMS Sensors

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  RV Supplies

  TireMinder I10 RV TPMS | 6 Transmitters Included

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  The i10 RV TPMS is a reliable and easy-to-use sensor system that can be used to monitor up to 20 different tires at once. With its very light design, this monitor is perfect for those who want to keep their hands free and for those who are focused on speed and accuracy. The i10 RV TPMS features six transmitters that allow you to monitor up to 4 vehicles at once. This is great automatic tire pressure monitoring systems for those who want consistent and accurate updates about their tires while on the road.

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  RV Supplies

  EEZTire TPMS | Tire Pressure Monitoring System

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  The EEZTire Tire Pressure Monitoring System is one of the best ways to keep tabs on your tires while on the go. EEZ RV Products has been an industry leader in the RV tpms space since 2005 because their high quality system can monitor tire pressure and temperature continuously for up to 26 tires. The monitor has a large display screen that shows real time pressure and temperature data. It’s alarm system is motion-activated and will send out visual and audio alerts when anything falls outside of the preset safety parameters. The monitor also goes into power saving mode if there is no movement for 15 minutes.

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  RV Supplies

  Tymate TPMS M12-3 | Tire Pressure Monitoring System

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  The Tymate Tire Pressure Monitoring System is designed to help keep your tires at safe pressure levels and in top condition for long drives. With five different alarm modes and user-defined settings, this system provides the perfect amount of protection against looming tire disasters. The four external sensors are easy to install and the display backlight make it easy to read the monitor regardless of the time of day. The M12-3 comes with a two-year warranty too.

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  RV Essentials

  TEKTON Digital Tire Gauge

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  The TEKTON Digital Tire Gauge is a reliable and easy-to-use gauge that provides an instant and clear readout when measuring your tires. With a digital display and a lighted nozzle, this gauge is perfect for any vehicle owner who wants to keep track of their tires’ pressure. The simple push button control panel and ergonomic design make it comfortable to use, while the included CR2032 battery provides a long, reliable lifespan. If you want a more active monitor system, this also serves as a great backup tire pressure monitor incase anything happens or you want to double check the numbers.

Buyers Guide For Tire Pressure Monitor Systems (TPMS Sensors)

Long gone are the days where we used to manually check a tire’s pressure. Today, you can get your hands on an automatic air pressure sensor and enjoy the luxury of having your tire’s pressure monitored constantly.

Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) help to provide drivers with greater assurance that the tires on their vehicle are maintaining a healthy level of pressure. This ensures safer and more comfortable driving conditions reducing the chance of unsafe or unforeseen traction issues such as blowouts or tread separation.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the types of TPMS, and what factors need to be taken into account when buying one.

What To Consider When Choosing

There are a variety of TPMS sensors on the market, so pick one that works well with your vehicle. The following are the most important factors to think about when selecting TPMS sensors for your RV.

TPMS Type

Two distinct TPMS varieties exist: direct and indirect. Sensors that are mounted on a tire are what we call direct systems. Indirect systems use the anti-lock brake system’s wheel speed sensors to compare the relative wheel speeds in order to detect low pressure. A tire with low pressure will rotate at a different rate per mile than the other tires.

Pressure Range

Knowing the optimal tire pressure is necessary for determining if a given system can handle the pressure of your tires. Some vehicles have a label in the door jam with this information on it. The same holds true for travel trailers, which display such information via stickers on the door jamb or the tires. Check the maximum psi your tires can handle before purchasing a TPMS.

Frequency

There are TPMS sensors in both 315MHz and 433MHz ranges. The TPMS signal frequency is 315MHz worldwide and 433MHz in Europe. Inspect the electromagnetic wave frequency of the replacement TPMS sensor to ensure it is compatible with the vehicle’s system. Sensors won’t be able to be reprogrammed properly, and the relearn process will fail, if you use the wrong frequency. The VT31, VT36, and VT56 are TPMS tools that can determine the old or new sensor’s frequency.

Internal Battery Capacity

Consider the TPMS’s battery life before making a purchase. It’s also a simple metric to use when comparing various models. However, the amount of time between charges isn’t the only thing to consider when shopping for a TPMS. As a full-time RVer, you’ll be on the move quite frequently and will therefore want a battery with as long a lifespan as possible.

You won’t have to worry as much about maintaining it by constantly replacing or charging batteries. A TPMS with a battery capacity of a week to ten days may suffice when you only take your RV on a few trips a year. The reason for this is that you will only require the battery to last for the duration of your trip, and you will most likely not mind replacing it before setting out on your next adventure.

Ease of Installation

All the TPMS models showcased here are simple to set up. Typically, they can be attached to your console or plugged in to the your cigarette lighter. Obviously, the latter provide the simplest setup process. Any TPMS worth its salt will include the necessary mounting hardware for dashboard installation. Before setting up a TPMS, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the “additional parts and accessories” that come with it.

Display Quality

The data collected by a tire pressure monitoring system in an RV is only useful if it can be read. It is crucial that the TPMS display clearly indicates which tire each pressure (or temperature) reading pertains to.

That is to say, it will be much more challenging for you to determine which pressure belongs to which tire if all of the readings are showed in a list-style format. An effective TPMS screen will be shaped like your car’s silhouette, making it simple to read the data it displays. But if you’re just looking for a TPMS that will sound an alarm whenever a problem occurs, a flashy display may be unnecessary. You’ll have to rely more on audible alarms, and each time one goes off, you’ll have to stop and take a closer look at the problem.

Durability

It is the construction and durability of the sensors that determine how long a TPMS will last. The sensors are the most important part of the monitor because they will be subjected to the most wear and tear as you travel down the road. The best tire pressure monitoring systems have sensors with a minimum ingress protection rating of IPX5. iPhones and dry bags alike can be evaluated using the same scale. It’s a sign of the product’s ability to withstand the elements. Moreover, tire sensors will be exposed to all kinds of climate changes as your RV accumulates miles.

Price

Replacement tire pressure sensors cost about $80, while RV TPMS systems cost an average of $200–$250, with luxury brands costing much more due to the higher quality of their components. If your recreational vehicle is too long for the sensors’ range of transmission to the monitor, you may need to purchase a signal extender.

Types of Tire Pressure Monitor Sensors

Two major categories of RV TPMS sensors exist: direct and indirect. There are fundamental distinctions between the ways these two classes function.

Direct TPMS

Just as its name implies, a direct TPMS provides information about the tire pressure directly from the sensors. Data collected by these sensors will be transmitted to a central processing unit, where a monitoring system will assess and estimate the signals for human comprehension, with additional useful data provided by some of the sensors.

It functions similarly to an indirect TPMS in that it alerts you if the tire pressure is dangerously low or high. Indicator lights will light up if any of these issues occur. These tire pressure monitors sometimes also provide information on the tire’s internal temperature.

Indirect TPMS

Indirect TPMS systems also provide the most essential data about tire pressure conditions, albeit in a less refined form: a simple warning signal.

To put it simply, the idea behind an indirect TPMS is brilliant. It uses velocity sensors in place of traditional pressure ones. The system’s computer will detect a change in the rotational speed of a tire relative to the others, and the TPMS will activate the warning light if it receives signals indicating a possible pressure discrepancy. In this context, we are referring to the speed sensors utilized by the anti-lock braking system.

To elaborate, when a tire is under-inflated, its rotation speed increases, and the computer compares the readings from each tire to each other and to the “regular” rotation speed they should all be rotating at to verify if either, two, or all of the tires are under-inflated.

How We Chose Our Top Picks

We researched and compared various RV TPMS sensors to determine which ones are the best. First and foremost, we looked at each product’s features and capabilities, including whether or not it could monitor tires of different sizes, if or not it needed wiring, how many sensors were included, and what types and sizes of recreational vehicles it could be used with.

We looked at reviews written by actual customers of the TPMS sensors we regarded to get a sense of how well they worked in practice. With this information, we were able to narrow down our choices to the ones that provided the most consistent and long-lasting warnings while driving.

FAQs

Do I really need a TPMS sensor for my RV?

You can still enjoy everything your RV has to offer even if you don’t have a tire pressure monitoring system. On the other hand, there is a minor catch. You are responsible for keeping a close eye on the condition of the tires on your camper and dealing with any leaks, punctures, flats, or other issues that may arise. If you have a TPMS, it will take care of everything for you.

How does an RV tire pressure monitoring system function?

Each tire is equipped with a sensor for use in these systems. These sensors send data about the cabin’s air pressure to a central display, which is typically placed within the driver’s line of sight. Some models will also alert you to low pressure, high pressure, and rapid leakage based on the the air temperature inside your tires.

Alerts from a TPMS can be sent to its main display via a simple electrical wiring harness. If the vehicle’s air pressure drops below a predetermined threshold, the driver will receive an alert. There are models where the air pressure is set at the factory, and others where the user can change it to their liking.

Where do you install TPMS sensors?

The sensors for a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) in a recreational vehicle are mounted on the tire’s inner rim. There is a separate sensor for each wheel.

How do I power my RV TPMS sensors?

These days, RV TPMS sensors are typically powered by batteries. A separate battery will be housed in each sensor’s tough housing, and the sensors will function for as long as their batteries do.

How long do typical TPMS sensors take to drain its battery?

The response to your question depends on the RV TPMS manufacturer. In the most long-lasting systems, lithium-ion batteries are used. These batteries can last for up to ten years. Many of the RV TPMS unit referenced, however, used replaceable or rechargeable batteries. This eliminates the need to replace the more pricey internal lithium battery. Knowing the type of battery your system would require and keeping a backup handy is a good idea.

Are RV TPMS sensors compatible with nitrogen-filled tires?

Sensors in these systems are calibrated to work with either air or nitrogen in the tires, so you can rely on their readings. Thus, whether your tires are filled with air or nitrogen, the sensors, and the system as a whole, will operate in the same manner. It is also worth noting that these sensors are built to withstand the unique conditions of nitrogen environments. The sensors were created to withstand the damaging effects of nitrogen without succumbing to corrosion.

Final Thoughts

When you’re done reading this article, we hope it seems a lot less daunting to go out and buy some new RV tire pressure monitor sensors. Numerous features and options are available on many modern systems. If you want to prevent more serious problems, you need a sensor that can notify you of low pressure. Each of the systems we’ve illustrated in this buying guide excels in a different setting, but they’re all solid picks overall. Although you shouldn’t be shy about stopping by a physical store if you have questions or want to see some of these units in person, you should know that you can almost always find the best price by shopping online.