By Scott M. Bruner
FireRescue1 Product Editor
Doran Manufacturing has just taken a step forward in taking the guesswork out of tire pressure with the release of their new 360HD Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
The 360HD system provides emergency vehicle drivers an easy way to quickly check tire pressure with an LCD display where “Green means Good” – and the tires are properly inflated.
Both fuel efficiency and safety on the road are paramount concerns to public safety departments, and tires can often lose air pressure at about a pound per month – and simply checking the tires is not as accurate as a monitor. Doran specifically designed the 360HD for the truck market and it’s able to measure up to 36 tires simultaneously.
Tire Industry Safety Council studies show that nearly half of all tires are under-inflated, according to Doran. Tires under-inflated by 10 percent lose up to 12 percent of their tread life, while 20-percent under-inflation results in about a 23-percent loss. Nearly 83 percent of tire problems begin with low tire pressure, said Jim Samocki, the company’s general manager.
Installation of the system takes approximately one hour. Wireless tire pressure sensors are screwed onto valve stems to transmit a signal to an LCD monitor with four-way navigational buttons. Multiple alarm systems will alert the driver to any problems with tire pressure, including a new alarm which warns about “fast leaks.” The 360 HD also comes with a “sleep mode” that constantly monitors tire pressure, although the warnings won’t appear until the ignition is turned on.
A high pressure alarm system can also be activated. The system handles both dual-wheel and wide-base single configurations and baseline pressures are manually programmed to ensure the proper settings.
The spin-welded, heavy-duty sensors are laser-etched with serial numbers and have been tested to withstand temperatures of up to 257 degrees Fahrenheit. The LCD monitor can store date and time-stamped warnings. Prices on the Doran 360HD system range from $499 for a 4-wheel vehicle to $2,099 for a 36-wheel vehicle.
Cincinnati-based Doran Manufacturing has been making safety products for commercial trucks, RVs and school buses for 35 years. For more information, visit www.doranmfg.com/.