The most attentive drivers will regularly test the pressure of their car tyres manually, but thanks to smart tyre safety monitors, it’s now possible to check your tyres whenever you want. Nobody likes a flat tyre, and a slow puncture can be a real irritant, especially if you don’t notice it until it’s too late.
Sure, it’s always a good idea to carry around a tyre pump for such an emergency, but surely prevention is the best course of action, and a smart tyre safety monitor can help prevent a lot of grief.
Regularly checking your tyres is a great way to not only stay safe but also save you money at the pump. Problem is, it can be a time-consuming affair. Thankfully, technology has a solution that will give up-to-date readings without you even having to get out of your car.
The best smart tyre safety monitor at a glance:
Editor’s choice: Tymate Tire Pressure Monitoring System – Buy now from Amazon UK
Best budget tyre monitor: WholeFire Car Tire Pressure Monitoring System – Buy now from Amazon UK
Best app-based tyre monitor: Nonda Zus AccurateTemp System – Buy now from eBay
Many modern vehicles will come with a factory-fitted Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), but older or lower-spec vehicles can still benefit from an after-market smart tyre safety monitor to give you all the important information you need to make sure your tyres are healthy. We’ve found the best examples on the market so you can drive with total peace of mind.
The best smart tyre safety monitor:
Editor's choice
Pros
- Easy installation
- Five different alerts
Cons
- Connectivity could be improved
Best budget tyre monitor
Pros
- Good value for money
- Automatic on and off
Cons
- An irritating delay in data
Best app-based tyre monitor
Pros
- Clever and smart system
- Easy installation
Cons
- Rather unreliable
Best for a visual display
Pros
- Easy to read screen
- Removable monitor
Cons
- The supplied adhesive strip for installation isn't strong enough
Best simple tyre pressure monitor
Pros
- Really easy to use
- Compact
Cons
- Not that smart
What you need to know about smart tyre safety monitors:
How do they work?
Smart tyre safety monitors work using sensors that are mounted to your car’s tyre valves. These record pressure and temperature and send this data wirelessly to a receiver.
How this data is presented varies; some offer a small monitor you can place on your dashboard, and others offer smartphone apps which show this information. They will usually emit an alarm if the temperature or pressure changes significantly in your car’s tyres, an indication of a puncture.
Do they need charging?
Yes, they do. The sensors will come with long-lasting batteries, but these will eventually need replacing. In most cases, they are button cells. The receiver and optional screen will need some form of power, usually a USB cable. If you have a monitor that offers an app, you’ll obviously need some phone charge for it to work.
What vehicles are they suitable for?
Most smart tyre safety monitors come with either two or four sensors, making them perfect for motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles. They simply screw onto your tyre valve and that’s it, although it’s important to check that they will not cause any damage to your wheel (aluminium valves, in particular, can be damaged by these sensors).
How we choose
All of these smart tyre safety monitors have been hand-selected by our team of experts, who have spent hours investigating and researching smart tyre safety monitors to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we’d never recommend a product we don’t believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for Parkers and CAR, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. With an MA in Automotive Journalism, when he’s not testing buckets he can be found looking at old Porsches.
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Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections – read why you should trust us
Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us.