Hella Joins TPMS Market

Hella Inc., best know for its automotive lighting and electronics, has entered the TPMS market. The company introduced the TC-400 TPMS system, which the company said “meets or exceeds the same specifications as all OE-installed systems.” In addition to monitoring tyre inflation pressure, the new Hella unit also monitors tire temperature. Hella said its TPMS “is extremely flexible and can be installed in any vehicle that is not originally equipped with an OE system or has been fitted with upgraded or custom wheels.”

The tyre valve-based system transmits tyre pressure and temperature data by radio to a control unit, which forwards the data to a cockpit display. The display shows the inflation and temperature for each tyre individually. In the event of sudden pressure loss, the control unit triggers an optical and acoustic alarm, said Hella, and it also warns of overinflation and slow loss of pressure.

The system’s cockpit display can also change color to match the vehicle’s instrument lighting. Hella said that seven different colors – blue, red, green, orange, light orange, white and light blue – are available. The system, said Hella, can be easily reprogrammed after a tyre change or rotation. (Tire Review/Akron)