LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A new advancement in the Dana Spicer Tire Pressure Control System (TPCS), has put tire pressure adjustment at arm’s length.

As well as new dash-mounted rocker switches, the enhanced TPCS is designed with a new integrated Driver Display Module (DDM) to simplify the selection of tire pressures and maximize vehicle mobility under varying conditions.

“These additions have resulted in a more convenient and user-friendly way to select the best tire pressure for vehicles, particularly mixers, engaged in a variety of on and off-highway applications,” said Jim Beverly, chief engineer for advanced chassis control systems with Dana’s Commercial Vehicle Systems group. “In addition, the smaller footprint of the DDM and rocker switch interface provides much more flexibility for OEMs in regards to dash layout.”

The Spicer TPCS is available on most makes and models of vocational heavy-duty trucks and comes equipped with air seals built into the axles to eliminate the need for external air lines.

The newly designed driver interface supports two load modes, loaded and unloaded, as well as three terrain selections, highway, off-highway and emergency. The highway mode is geared towards high-speed travel on paved surfaces; off-highway allows for efficient operation on unpaved surfaces; while the emergency mode provides extremely low tire pressures to tackle poor terrains and grades which are difficult to negotiate without assistance.

In addition to the six settings based on load and terrain, the new DDM unit can display tire pressure by axle group, over-speed and low-tire operation. In the event the system recognizes a fault, the DDM will report problem areas to bring about fast accurate solutions.