Engineering News

Does anyone know if the system takes into account the differences between summer and winter tyres?

Also, does it take into account car loading and tyre temperature?

If it doesn't, then I don't want it (not that I want a Nissan at this time anyway!)

These are factors that even people do not take into consideration. I cannot believe the people who go by the ridiculous placard on the vehicle that only applies to the exact brand and model tire that came with the vehicle when it was new!!! I have argued with people who changed brand tires (I know, who ever does that???) that have a different psi rating than what is on the placard. I guess these people feel that GM, Ford, etc know more about tires than BFGoodrich or Michelin. If automotive manufacturers wanted to do us a favor, the placard would say: "Consult the tire sidewall for proper tire inflation."

Most european cars have two tyre pressures for 1 to two persons and one for a fully loaded car.

I run on the fully loaded pressure all the time. This makes the springing a bit hard, but after a few days you don't notice it anymore. It also results in longer tyre life and better cornering and braking and I don't need to change pressures just because I picked up something heavy or I have hitched a trailer on....it also can help a tyre if you are in the habit of running over kerbs.....

Done this for maybe 40 odd years, have yet to find a downside.....I don't have the time or the interest to setup the tyre pressures each time the loading changes.

Which is why the nissan idea is OK for totally lazy people (assuming that load, tyre type and tyre temperature are not taken into account by the electronics!!!)

"No more reading the tire pressure placard on the door jamb and hunting around in the glovebox for a pressure gauge."

That's because it is in English and impossible for most to read.

There are some basic things people who operate dangerous machinery (like cars) need to be able to do, if you start to dumb down things to much.............

Don't worry. Anytime someone starts making something idiot-proof, nature counteracts by birthing even better idiots.

Solid proof that evolution is alive and well.

It is a two edge sword.

As we expand our social safety nets we create a society that has grown to expect protection from cradle to grave.

The Nisan technology is just that. People will simply ignore their tires because they expect technology to do that for them. When that technology either fails or is misunderstood they are shocked by the resulting mishaps. This is why there are lawyers pouring our of buildings like cockroaches out of a filthy kitchen.

I remember a mechanic telling me a story about how a guy brought in (or towed in) his Porsche to the dealer complaining that it was dead. It was dead alright. He had grenaded his engine.

After the examination the oil looked like tar. A question later posed to the owner was, "When was the last time you changed your oil?"

"Never!" replied the owner, "It's a freaking Porsche, why should I have to change the oil?"

When you remove all consequences for one's action it is open season at the idiot fair.

With my luck, a component in the system would fail while I was in the middle of a long road trip, and I'd either have to listen to the horn honking at me for hours before I got to a place where I could get it fixed, or I'd have to interrupt my trip because of it.

I knew a guy whose alternator failed when he was driving in a remote area, and he had to put up with the alternator light flashing for hours before he got to a mechanic that was able to get a replacement. Of course, during all that time the flashing light was putting an additional drain on the battery.

Brilliant!!!

Sadly, it is possibly true........