Tyre Pressure Monitor Systems (TPMS) are interesting accessories that are nice to have, but absolutely not essential. Following is my experience with the one that I use. For my thoughts on whether you should get one, please read: Are Tyre Pressure Monitor Systems (TPMS) essential for safety?
Why the C410
The C410 TPMS is a cheap TPMS that does a pretty good job. It displays pressure fairly accurately, though in my case it was always 1PSI lower than the actual reading shown by other gauges, but it was consistent in being 1PSI lower no matter what.
You can set both minimum and maximum tyre pressure alerts, so you know immediately when the tyre drops below a certain pressure, or is overfilled. These alerts worked well. It generally updates quickly when the pressure changes, but sometimes it does take a while.
It also claims to measure temperature, but that feature was completely inaccurate, which doesn’t matter to me at all.
The C410 has 2 solar panels, unlike some of the others which only have a single small one, or no solar panel at all. The solar feature works. The device does have a micro-USB port for charging, which I used once when I purchased the device and then never used wired charging again for the 12 months that I’ve owned it. The solar works that well.
It also has a standby feature that works. The display goes blank when it doesn’t detect movement for a while, and wakes itself up when it does. Once while on a trip I forgot to switch the device off and kept it in my tank bag for 5 nights. When I grabbed it to fit it back onto the bike, it woke itself up and still had full battery.
One of the main reasons I would recommend this one specifically is because it is sold by Skyshop, who as a company provide fantastic support for their products. Being a cheap Chinese import with many sellers, it’s very easy to run into issues, but Skyshop is available on Whatsapp to help troubleshoot any issues that you might have. I had an issue where the rubber washers in the sensor units needed replacement. The seller immediately understood the issue and offered to send 10 spare washers for 100rs including courier charges.
They have installation and troubleshooting videos ready to send, and they also sell each part of this separately, so if a sensor stops working outside of warranty, or your display gets stolen, you can just buy that part again.
What You Get
Should you get one?
If you’re wondering if you should get a TPMS at all, read Are Tyre Pressure Monitor Systems (TPMS) essential for safety?
If you’re wondering if you should get this TPMS over a different one, it depends what you’re looking for. It works well enough for reporting pressures, but as mentioned above it’s not a flawless experience and some other systems might provide a smoother experience. For the price though, it does a great job, especially with solar charging that actually works.
This is one of the cheapest options and yet works well enough to monitor your pressures, with the seller support required to keep the device running no matter what it goes through.
