Monitor tire pressure using your phone

Just introduced at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, KnowMyTires from Orion is an easy way to update an older vehicle with a tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Simply unscrew and replace the valve caps on your tires with sensors included in the kit, download a free app for your phone, and you can monitor or check the pressure in each tire whenever you like.

Using Bluetooth connectivity and a compact receiver plugged into a 12-volt power point, the air pressure in each tire is displayed on your phone or tablet screen, and the graphics turn red to spotlight any tire that is low on air. The system also provides an audible alert when the pressure dips. Each sensor contains a replaceable battery good for about a year. A phone mount is optional.

KnowMyTires will be available for iOS devices in a matter of weeks, priced at $150. The company plans to follow with an Android version.

—Jim Travers