FlowBelow Adds Center-Mount Tire Valves to Wheel Covers
New Easy Air Access system relocates inflation valves to the center of the wheel cover, eliminating kneeling and cutting pre-trip inspection time.
FlowBelow relocated tire inflation valves to the center surface of its wheel covers, letting drivers and technicians check pressure and add air without kneeling or removing the cover.
How does the Easy Air Access system work?
Both inner and outer tire inflation valves now sit in the center of the wheel cover instead of deep inside the wheel rim. Drivers check pressure and inflate tires in seconds from a standing position. No stooping, no kneeling, no prying off the cover to reach a valve stem buried behind the rim.
FlowBelow partnered with Pressure Systems International to supply the air line components that route air from the center-mount valves to the actual tire stems. Optional auxiliary valves allow installation of tire pressure monitoring systems. FlowBelow offers P.S.I.'s TireView Live TPMS as an additional upgrade.
"Our wheel covers are very easy to take on and off, but our Easy Air Access version makes it safer and faster to check tire pressure with wheel covers than without them," said Katie Breitschopf, executive vice president of business operations for FlowBelow.
What problem does this solve?
Standard wheel covers require removal to access valve stems. Even without covers, inner and outer tire valves often sit deep inside wheel rims, forcing drivers to kneel and strain to reach them. That physical barrier is a common excuse for skipping tire-pressure checks during pre-trip inspections.
Underinflated tires cost fuel, wear faster, and increase blowout risk. A tenth of a mile per gallon saves a 50-truck fleet $15,000 a year on diesel. Tire pressure directly affects rolling resistance and fuel economy.
What else did FlowBelow add?
FlowBelow introduced a new chain hanger option for trucks with limited space. The hanger reduces the time and effort required to remove and hang tire chains. It is available with or without a rear fairing.
What this means for pre-trip inspections
The center-mount valve system removes the physical barrier that causes drivers to skip tire-pressure checks. Faster access means more consistent checks, which translates to fewer roadside tire failures and better fuel economy over the life of the tire. For fleets running wheel covers for aerodynamic gains, the Easy Air Access version eliminates the tradeoff between aero savings and inspection convenience.
