Indirect tyre monitoring: I like it

One of the only interesting things about the new Mazda CX-5 crossover for those of us who like "proper" 4WDs is indirect tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that, as the name suggests, monitors pressures using data sent from sensors that already perform other functions, and not from an additional sensor inside each rim/tyre. Those of us who have "direct" sensors know that they're a pain in the arse when wheels are changed. If the technician doesn't know what he's doing, the sensor assembly will get broken and there's a bill right there of $100 or more. When it happened to me, Beaurepaires picked up the bill for a replacement, as they should.

There are also issues with some aftermarket rims that cannot accept the factory sensor, and issues about fitting the correct sensor to the correct wheel; for example you might be in for all sorts of further trouble if you fit the sensor for, say, the left from to the right rear. TPMS is almost more trouble than it's worth. The CX-5 system (the car was launched to the media today and I'm posting this from the deepest Wairarapa) does away with this nonsense. Let's hope the industry widely adopts indirect monitoring.

Wikipedia has a useful article on TPMS here, that provides background on the direct and indirect systems.