accuracy of tire pressure monitor system vs. good gauge

General discussion of the BMW R1200RT/R1250RT
Post Reply
User avatar
ca1ic0cat
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2015 12:01 am

accuracy of tire pressure monitor system vs. good gauge

Post by ca1ic0cat »

Pumped the tires up yesterday for a ride, used my Accugauge to check the pressures, left them 1psi over.  Got on the bike and rode a few miles, flipped to the TPM on the dash.  Reading 2psi low.


This seem to be consistent no matter which gauge I use.  Is the TPM 3psi off on other people's bikes?  Short of getting a NIST certified gauge to check which is on which should I assume is accurate? :alas:
B787MECH
Posts: 241
Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2016 1:39 pm
Bike Model and Year: 2016 LC
Been liked: 1 time
Great Britain

Re: accuracy of tire pressure monitor system vs. good gauge

Post by B787MECH »

As the bike TPM reads in Bar, how did you know it was 2 psi out?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8006
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 332 times
Great Britain

Re: accuracy of tire pressure monitor system vs. good gauge

Post by David. »

1 Bar = 14.5 psi.

Accu-gage quote, "The mechanical accuracy rating is ± 2% from 30% to 60% of scale and ± 3% below 30% and above 60%."

At +/- 3%, 36 psi could vary between 35 to 37 psi & 42 psi could vary between 41 to 43 psi.

The on board TPM system is compensated for temperature.

Image

Perhaps the TPM system is best used for early detection of a falling pressure due to a puncture, rather than accurate tyre pressure setting.
Last edited by David. on Tue Feb 27, 2018 7:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
Casbar
Posts: 2670
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2016 6:25 am
Been liked: 45 times
Great Britain

Re: accuracy of tire pressure monitor system vs. good gauge

Post by Casbar »

B787MECH wrote: As the bike TPM reads in Bar, how did you know it was 2 psi out?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The TPMS can be set to read in bar or psi by BMW. Some countries outside Europe have the bikes delivered in psi, including the US. So that is how he knows
bandytales
Posts: 554
Joined: Fri Nov 03, 2017 10:54 am

Re: accuracy of tire pressure monitor system vs. good gauge

Post by bandytales »

ca1ic0cat wrote: Pumped the tires up yesterday for a ride, used my Accugauge to check the pressures, left them 1psi over.  Got on the bike and rode a few miles, flipped to the TPM on the dash.  Reading 2psi low.


This seem to be consistent no matter which gauge I use.  Is the TPM 3psi off on other people's bikes?  Short of getting a NIST certified gauge to check which is on which should I assume is accurate? :alas:

The TPM's on the bike are purely as a safety aid to warn you of deflation. They are not there as a replacement for your accurate garage pressure gauge. If you treat it in this way, you will get away from this technology paranoia that is taking over.
Years ago, we checked the tyres weekly at the petrol station or if the bike FELT wrong. Use 'feel' more.
Years ago we didn't have oil temp gauges, so we didn't worry about oil temps. We listend to our bike and went by 'feel'
Come on, use the force!

Our Gee
Posts: 765
Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2015 7:43 am
Location: North Yorkshire UK
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT 2011
Been liked: 24 times
Great Britain

Re: accuracy of tire pressure monitor system vs. good gauge

Post by Our Gee »

Well said Sir.
User avatar
Ganesh
Posts: 111
Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2015 12:13 pm
Been liked: 1 time

Re: accuracy of tire pressure monitor system vs. good gauge

Post by Ganesh »

+1, can tell if they go soft on me or if I over inflated by the ride and I don't rely on the TPMS for the reading more a significant pressure drop. a case of getting to know the bike.
thanks and regards, Ganesh
Casbar
Posts: 2670
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2016 6:25 am
Been liked: 45 times
Great Britain

Re: accuracy of tire pressure monitor system vs. good gauge

Post by Casbar »

Ganesh wrote: +1, can tell if they go soft on me or if I over inflated by the ride and I don't rely on the TPMS for the reading more a significant pressure drop. a case of getting to know the bike.

I don't even have the pressure displayed, I would rather see range left in the tank. I check my tyre pressures weekly and rely on the TPMS to tell me if I have a deflation, which it did the last time I had a puncture, so does the job
bandytales
Posts: 554
Joined: Fri Nov 03, 2017 10:54 am

Re: accuracy of tire pressure monitor system vs. good gauge

Post by bandytales »

Casbar wrote:
I don't even have the pressure displayed, I would rather see range left in the tank. I check my tyre pressures weekly and rely on the TPMS to tell me if I have a deflation, which it did the last time I had a puncture, so does the job

Me the same.
User avatar
BeeJay
Posts: 299
Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2015 8:52 pm

Re: accuracy of tire pressure monitor system vs. good gauge

Post by BeeJay »

+1
:)
gogs01
Posts: 628
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:32 am

Re: accuracy of tire pressure monitor system vs. good gauge

Post by gogs01 »

Casbar wrote:
I don't even have the pressure displayed, I would rather see range left in the tank. I check my tyre pressures weekly and rely on the TPMS to tell me if I have a deflation, which it did the last time I had a puncture, so does the job

I find the TPMS useful on a long trip.  I don't have it showing all the time, but scroll through once or twice between tank refills. On previous RTs I've found it to be very accurate and consistent when measured against my assortment of pressure gauges, the latest bike seems to be slightly less accurate and consistent but perfectly good for early warning of a tyre issue.
My 4th R1200RT = 2016 (2017 MY) R1200RT LE
Post Reply