For the last ten years on my key ring, a set of the tried and true tire deflators from SUN performance. Screw them on and monitor there pressure in intervals until I am at the desired tire pressure. Did not think much of them other than: “How easier can you get?” Then I recently got a set of Trailhead Automatic Tire Deflators for a gift.
WOW! What have I been missing with the extra time all these years? These things are amazing and took me getting a gift to realize, DOH!
Before it would take 15 minutes on average to air down and monitor all four tires. This typically takes place with talking with your fellow wheelers prepping for the trail. Can not go too far or lose your train of thought by getting distracted. If you did, you could air down too low and either match all the others or air back up a little.
It takes little to set the four to the desired air down level, which is my fav new number 14lbs. The only way you could screw that up is if you didn’t know how to count revolutions of the little plug. Did a test with all four deflators and got them all set perfect to each other. I looked a little silly testing them out airing down, then filling up, then repeat until all four were set. Hey who cares, it was in my driveway in my socks and shower shoes. Update 09.10.10: Have used them a couple times at the start of a trail and I am the envy of the group, super simple and has been perfect matched air pressure each time.
The good: Takes less then five minutes each tire and it does it while you have more time to socialize, prep other gear and make fun of the other guys with manual tire deflators.
The Bad: They will be the envy of the rest of your group and you will end up feeling obligated to lend them half of yours to air down in style! That in turn will take you longer to actually air down all four tires. Pretty, very pretty anodized look, Typically with enough man-handling that stuff will wear off to the natural look of aluminum. Time will tell though…….
The ulgy: You can air down while driving, uh, my luck they will catch something and rip out the valve stem. If they get too dirty or the little springs inside that set the pressure level concerns me with wear. Not a lot of info on that on the net but again I guess time will tell answer that question.
