tilt sensor for rims

Wondering if tilt sensors are any good for protecting rims. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Need something for when they don't jack up the car. They just put blocks under it and pull valve stems out to drop car on bricks.

A tilt sensor will not work in your application. It would not even work if they jacked the car up a bit.

The DEI 507M works great for a jacked up car, never heard of them cutting the valve stem tho. I doubt there is any thing that will work for that...

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Mike M2
Tech Manager
CS Dealer Services

You need tire pressure sensors in each tire that talk to your alarm.

I've never seen anything like that, but it would be cool.  If the alarm is armed and the tire drops below 20psi have it set your alarm off.

I know they make aftermarket tire pressure sensors, maybe you can find a company that offers them and see if they can do anything like that. 

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Kevin Pierson

KPierson, that's a great idea. I'm going to look into my cars tire pressure sensors and see if I can tie into them. That would be GREAT if it worked like you said.

In the mean time logic dictates that common wheel locks (like these) should always be used to protect wheels.

I've had a wheel lock loosened in 30 secs with a hanmmer and a good chisel, I'd plump for 2 good sets of wheel locks, leave a window open and buy a German shepherd, it worked for me.

As with any other kind of lock there are good ones and bad. Of course a cheap lock is easily by-passable, but a really good lock is nearly impossible to by-pass. Several years ago I was selling my car and wanted to keep the rims/tires. The only problem was that I couldn't find my key for wheels locks, or the number that you need to have a replacement key made. I didn't think it would be that hard to remove four lugs, I mean even if I damaged the threads I could always replace that lug with a new one, so my father and I started trying to remove the locks on the lugs. We used everything imaginable to get those locks off the car, and nothing worked. There is no doubt that a good set of locks work, the problem is that they may decide to take your entire car when they see that you have them, so make sure your alarm is not easily by-passable.

Also the DEI rep told us that the 507M takes a snapshot of the angle which the car is at when it's armed. Any variance to that angle and the alarm is set off. Best place to install one is in the rear of the car. They don't cost much so I'll be trying one out soon to see how well it works. One thing is for sure, it won't hurt you to have one.

Which way should it be oriented when you mount it? long way front to back or side to side? diagonal? does it sense tilt in both directions? or only the long way?

Why would it be better to mount in the back? the angle of the vehicle is the same everywhere. thanks!

dismay wrote:

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Which way should it be oriented when you mount it? long way front to back or side to side? diagonal?

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Front to back.

[QUOTE]Why would it be better to mount in the back?[/quote]
It's much easier for a thief to jack up the car in the back then in the front or side. Odds are they will try there first. Also when you mount in the trunk it's basically weather proofed. Not so when mounted under the hood.

Location on the vehicle will not change the measure of angle at any point in time. It's simple geometry. If the angle just changed by 15 degrees, it's 15 degrees in the front, back, and anywhere in between. It does not measure a height difference from the ground. The only place the angle will not change is on the wheel that is still touching the ground.
The real question (for a DEI rep or tech?) is the capability of the 507M to measure angle change in the front to back as well as the side to side (X and Y) axis. Based on the physical design, it would imply that it only detects in one axis (the long way) otherwise the sensor would be a square or + shape.
If this is the case, then 2 sensors would be needed for true tilt protection. One placed front to back, one side to side.
Otherwise the thief can just jack the car up at the middle of the side rocker panel, keeping the front to back angle constant along the center line of the vehicle/sensor, remove the 2 driver side wheels, throw some bricks under it, and repeat with the passenger side.
There is no one that can answer this question unless they have specific proven knowledge of the design and manufacture of this sensor. Sending an email to DEI now...

DEI tech says the tilt sensor is multidirectional and will sense any angle change.