As any serious cyclist knows, tire pressure can make a huge difference in how a bike performs. That's why most of us check it before heading out on a ride. Quarq's new TyreWiz, however, lets cyclists continuously monitor their tire pressure as they're riding.
Compatible with both mountain and road bike tube-style and tubeless tires, the TyreWiz is simply threaded onto the tire's Presta valve stem, after that stem's valve core is unthreaded and removed – sorry, but it doesn't work with Schrader valves.
Once the TyreWiz is installed, an integrated sensor constantly measures the tire's air pressure up to a maximum of 150 psi (10 bar). Readings are subsequently transmitted by either ANT+ or Bluetooth Low Energy to a cycling computer or an iOS/Android app on a paired smartphone. The data is reportedly +/- 2 percent accurate, and has a resolution of 0.1 psi.
Users will receive alerts of particularly low or high pressure, plus they'll be advised of how much they should adjust the pressure based on their weight and tire dimensions. Additionally, LEDs on the TyreWiz will illuminate when the air pressure is too far out of whack.
The device itself weighs 10 grams, is IPX7 waterproof (it can withstand immersion in water up to 1 meter/3.3 ft deep for up to 30 minutes), and is powered by a user-replaceable CR1632 lithium coin cell battery that should be good for a claimed 300 hours of use.
If you're interested in getting a set of two TyreWizes (you know, one for each wheel), you can do so for a price of US$199 via the "source" link below.
Perhaps not surprisingly, this isn't the first attempt that we've seen at a wireless bicycle tire pressure monitor. The CycleAT didn't reach its Kickstarter goal, nor did the BTPS – the latter has since been renamed the TiMo, although we're still waiting to hear back as to whether or not it's actually in production. And although the Fobo Bike is available, it only reads up to 87 psi (6 bar). Bicycle tire manufacturer Hutchinson also has a system in the works.
And Quarq, by the way, previously brought us a device for monitoring the air pressure in suspension forks, known as the ShockWiz.
