29 January 2005

Product Launch:  AirMan tire repair system

Changing a tire by the side of the road has become a real hazard, whether you're male or female. Dozens of people are killed each year as a result of an inattentive motorist plowing into a disabled car parked on the shoulder. The other issue is that almost all cars are equipped with barely usable "jacks" that can be exceptionally difficult to use, are rickety and often just plain dangerous. The inherent problems with these flimsy little things are magnified by where you happen to break down. If the surface is not level and firm, for example, the jack can slip, or sink into the turf. When you're dealing with 1.4 tonnes of steel, this is not a good thing. The pitiful "lug wrench" also equipped falls into the same not-so-useful category. It often requires a fair amount of strength and sweat to manipulate these cheesy little hand jacks, or to loosen machine tightened lug nuts, or to heave a 13- or 18-kg spare wheel and tire from the trunk and get it mounted on the car. 

You could call and wait for help with the tire replacement and risk having to be late for an important appointment. In remote locations motorists may not be able to get help, and may have security concerns if stranded without assistance.

Given the dangers, it's better to avoid changing the tire at all, if you can. But first you'll need to get to the side to use the wonders of science and fix your tire. The technology exists: The AirMan tire repair system. The AirMan simplifies the job by fixing a flat tire in about 5 minutes without the use of jacks. The repaired tire can be used for up to 300 kilometres to a maximum speed of 80 km/h. The AirMan can be used to repair perforations up to approximately six millimetres in the tread of the tire (sidewall punctures are not recommended). It can be used in temperatures between -30C and +70C.

What's the difference between the AirMan and other tire repair products? Plug it into your 12V power point and the AirMan injects a German made Dunlop latex sealant (the only sealant actually made by a tire manufacturer) into the tire as the compressor inflates it. The AirMan’s included sealant is large enough for any passenger vehicle on the road today. Larger commercial applications would require more tire sealant to effectively seal the tire.

Unlike aerosol canned sealants, the AirMan system’s Dunlop sealant is non-flammable and the process will not mess up nor damage the tire or rim. A replacement sealant bottle readies the unit for the next flat tire. Already, products like these are becoming more widely used by car manufacturers or as a replacement for spare tire. In Europe, General Motors, Daimler-Chrysler, Volkswagen and BMW are using this type of system. Volvo is using the technology in its new V50/S50 range of vehicles. This is not to say that such a system is better than having an actual spare wheel and tire, but it is an emerging trend.

The AirMan arrives in a handy canvas pouch with an instruction booklet. It weighs just over two-kilograms and is approximately 25 x 17 x 8 centimetres in size. Its sturdy plastic case includes the sealant, compressor and safety lamp. Two colour-coded hoses and 12V connector stow tidily in compartments at either end.

The compressor in the AirMan operates rapidly, inflating up to 3 times faster than other 12V models. On the front of the AirMan, six pictures provide instructions on its use. Following the pictographs, the first step is to plug into one of the 12V power points in the disabled vehicle (the wire is 3.6 metres long, and will reach any tire). Next, you release a locking mechanism and flip one half of the AirMan to its vertical position, then plug in a black hose (already attached) to access the sealant.

After clamping a red hose to the flat tire's valve stem, simply turn the unit on, and inflate the tire to its recommended pressure. There's a gauge on the AirMan (measured in psi, and bar) and a recommended zone in case you can't find your tire's correct pressure.

Incorrect tire inflation contributes to poor fuel economy and reduced safety. And under-inflation is the leading cause of tire failure. The AirMan can also be used to maintain proper tire inflation by securing the compressor hose to a tire and reading the gauge (its maximum output is 100 psi). If the pressure is too high, pressing the deflate button will lower it. If the pressure's too low, turn on the compressor to increase it.  Your tire's recommended pressure can be found on a plate attached to the doorjamb, or in your owner's manual. The recommended tire pressure for your car is not found on your tire (there you'll find the tire's maximum recommended pressure, not your vehicle's).

The AirMan also comes with several needle adaptors to inflate sporting equipment such as beach balls, footballs, air mattresses and bicycles, meeting all outdoor inflation needs.

AirMan and its replacement sealant are initially available only at Suntec City’s Carrefour hyper mart. Other retailers will carry it later in the year.

For any enquiry please contact info@ride-on-systems.com.