All You Need to Know About Monitoring Spare Tyres With Promata’s TPMS Units

Spare tyres often go unnoticed until the moment they’re most needed. Whether you’re dealing with a flat tyre or preparing for a long trip, ensuring your spare tyre's pressure is properly monitored and integrated with your Pomata Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is crucial. This article will guide you through everything you need to know about spare tyres, including how to check if you have a sensor paired to the spare tyre, pairing a sensor to the spare tyre position and how to swap out the tyre when needed.

Being the original pioneer of spare tyre monitoring, we understand this area very well, what it entails and how to best make use of spare tyre monitoring.

Checking If You Have a Sensor Paired to Your Spare Tyre Position

The first step in managing your spare tyre with a TPMS system is understanding whether a sensor is already paired with it. To check, switch to the spare tyre view on your display - Promata TPMS have a distinct view for the spare tyre position. On the display unit, navigate to the "Spare Tyre View" by pressing the "-" (minus) button to cycle to the spare tyre section. Then look for data transmission. If a sensor is paired with the spare tyre, you will see pressure data specific to that tyre displayed on the screen. If no data appears, it likely means no sensor is paired.

If you’re unsure about the pairing status, inspect your spare tyre for an external sensor (attached to the valve stem) or consult your vehicle’s service records to verify if an internal sensor is installed. Once the sensor is in place, deflate or inflate the tyre until you hear a beep and see a pressure reading - indicating that the system has recognised the sensor.

Pairing a Sensor to the Spare Tyre Position

If you discover that your spare tyre sensor is not connected to the display, pairing the sensor is essential. Please follow these steps:

1. Enter Sensor Pairing Mode: Press the settings button on your TPMS display five times. A beep sound will confirm that the system has entered Sensor Pairing Mode.
2. Select the Spare Tyre Position: Scroll through tyre positions on the display until the spare tyre position is highlighted. This function is the same for all our TPMS units but the exact way it’s done depends on the unit itself. Then activate the sensors (external - just shake and it should wake. For internal sensors, you will need to spin the wheel or drive the car for 5 minutes continuously to wake up the sensors. Once you install the sensors onto the tyres, you should hear a beep and a pressure reading. Then short press the settings button once to save. Please repeat this for the other spare tyre (if any).
3. Save and Exit: To finalise the pairing, hold the settings button on the TPMS display until you hear two consecutive beeps. The spare tyre sensor data should now appear in the "Spare Tyre View".

Adjusting the Pressure Threshold for Spare Tyres

Spare tyre pressure thresholds follow those of the caravan. Specifically, spare tyre 1 follows the trailer front axle and spare tyre 2 follows the trailer rear axle. Adjusting the pressure threshold for your spare tyre ensures accurate monitoring. Here’s how to do it:

• Access the Settings Menu: Enter settings mode by long pressing the settings button until you hear a 'beep’.
• Function Settings Rotation: Short press the settings button three times to rotate to the "HI" front car axle pressure alarm. Continue to press the setting button to rotate through Hi/Low front/rear car/trailer until you get to the appropriate axle.
• Set Custom Pressure Limits: Press "+" or "-" to choose the desired pressure threshold.
• Save the Settings: Confirm the changes by long pressing the settings button. The display should now reflect the new limits for the spare tyre.

Using the Spare Tyre (Tyre Swap)

When it’s time to use your spare tyre, sensor swapping becomes critical for accurate TPMS monitoring. Depending on the type of sensor, follow these guidelines:

• For External Sensors: Simply unscrew the external sensor from both tyres and attach it to each other tyre’s valve stem.
• For Internal Sensors: Use the TPMS’s “Tyre Swap” function. Access the settings menu by holding the settings button until you hear a 'beep'. Short press the settings button until you see "C1". Navigate to a tyre to swap by pressing "+" or "-" and confirm by pressing the settings button. Next it will flash "C2". Then navigate to the other desired tyre you want to swap. Confirm the swap by pressing the settings button and exit settings by long pressing the settings button a 'beep'.

Important Considerations for Spare Tyres

Sensor Placement Restrictions: Spare tyre sensors are dormant, so make sure when using the spare tyre that you, for external sensors, swap the sensors or for internal sensors use the tyre swap feature to get the sensors to the appropriate position.

Re-pairing After Deletion: If you have previously deleted a sensor from the spare tyre position, it can be re-paired by following the pairing steps outlined in the “Pairing a Sensor to the Spare Tyre Position” section. Please check if the system recognizes the sensor after re-pairing by seeing if it displays tyre pressure and temperature information properly.

Tyre Pressure Threshold: Please ensure the spare tyre’s pressure matches the recommended PSI listed in your vehicle manual.

Please note that if the instructions in this blog or on your user manual are unclear, please view our YouTube tutorial videos which can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/@promataaustralia6649

Why Monitoring Your Spare Tyre Matters

Spare tyres are often overlooked, but they are a vital part of your vehicle’s safety system. A spare tyre that is underinflated or overinflated can compromise your safety in critical moments. By integrating your spare tyre into the TPMS and keeping it properly monitored, you ensure it’s ready for use whenever needed.

Conclusion

Managing your spare tyre effectively with a TPMS unit is simple and highly beneficial. From checking for paired sensors to swapping out tyres, these steps ensure that your spare tyre is as reliable as your in use tyres. With Promata’s advanced TPMS solutions, you can be confident that every tyre on your vehicle, including the spare, is monitored and maintained for optimal performance.