Tyre pressure sensors (TPMS) on your Android radio: how they work and how to install them

Keeping your tyres at the correct pressure is one of those things we all know we should check and almost nobody checks often. An under-inflated tyre burns more fuel, wears out faster on the shoulders, brakes worse and, in the worst case, can burst on the motorway. Modern cars come with a pressure monitoring system as standard, but many cars that are a few years old do not have one. If you have already installed an Android radio, you can add it very easily and see the pressure of each wheel right on the screen.

What is TPMS?

TPMS stands for tyre pressure monitoring system. There are two types:

• Indirect: it does not measure pressure, but uses the ABS sensors to detect whether one wheel is turning faster than the others (a sign it has lost air). It only warns you that something is wrong, without telling you the pressure or reliably which wheel it is.
• Direct: a sensor on each wheel measures the real pressure and temperature and sends them by radio frequency to a receiver. This is the system that tells you exactly what each tyre is running at.

The kit for Android radios is a direct TPMS.

How TPMS for Android radios works

The kit includes 4 sensors that screw onto the wheel valves in place of the cap, each marked with its position (front left, front right, rear left and rear right), and a USB receiver that plugs into one of the radio's USB ports. The TPMS app, supplied on a USB stick in the kit, is installed on the radio and shows on screen:

• The pressure of each tyre in real time.
• The temperature of each tyre.
• Alarms for low pressure, high pressure, high temperature or rapid air loss.
• A warning if a sensor stops transmitting, for example because of a flat battery.

As the data arrives by radio frequency, there is no need to run any cable to the wheels.

Advantages of seeing tyre pressure on the screen

• You spot a slow puncture before the tyre goes flat.
• You save fuel and make your tyres last longer by always running them at the recommended pressure.
• More safety on long trips, with a load or towing, when pressure and temperature matter most.
• No need for an extra screen stuck to the dashboard: everything is shown on the radio you already have.

What does the installation involve?

1. Install the app on the Android radio from the USB stick included.
2. Plug the USB receiver into a free port on the radio. If you have no free ports, a USB hub can be used.
3. Fit each sensor on its corresponding valve, removing the original cap and screwing it on by hand. Respect the position markings.
4. Pair the sensors in the app if prompted and set the alarm thresholds according to the pressure recommended by your car's manufacturer (usually on the driver's door frame or the fuel filler flap).
5. Check the readings with a pressure gauge the first time, always with the tyres cold.

There is no need to remove the wheels or go to a garage: it is a few minutes' job.

Tips for use

• Measure and adjust pressure when cold: after a long journey it is normal for it to rise.
• If you change tyres or rotate them, put each sensor back in its position or reassign them in the app.
• External sensors run on a battery: when the app warns of low battery, replace it.
• At the car wash, check that the sensors are still screwed on properly.

Frequently asked questions

Does it work with any Android radio?
It works with Android radios that allow the USB receiver app to be installed, which is the vast majority. If in doubt, send us a photo of your radio and we will confirm it.

Is it useful if my car already has factory TPMS?
You can still install it, but it does not replace or disable the original system. It makes more sense in cars that do not have it as standard or only have the indirect system.

Can I see the pressure while using CarPlay or Android Auto?
The app runs on the radio itself. The alarms go off even while you use other functions, and you can open the TPMS screen whenever you want to see the pressures.

Can the sensors be stolen?
As they replace the valve cap, they are visible. If you park on the street every day, it is worth checking on them from time to time; the app will also warn you if a sensor stops transmitting.

See the TPMS tyre pressure sensor

Check out the TPMS tyre pressure sensor with 4 sensors and USB receiver for your Android radio. If you don't have an Android radio yet, find the one for your car in the catalogue by brand or see more add-ons in accessories.