Question about tire pressure sensors and winter tires.

[skapan]

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Check with your dealer, the tire guys are often behind the times, ie saying you need sensors for Audi and Mazda when they changed to using the ABS sensors a few years ago. One potentially bad thing though, a friend has an Acura TL and if it goes without sensors the traction control will not work. Which is dumb. So do your research. I got sensors for my winters and I STILL have the yellow light, the vehicle will not recognize the sensors even when retrained. Argh.

 

[MarcosSantiago]

I have kind of the opposite experience (all good so far). I have the metal sensors, and there is no visible rust or corrosion in 5 years of use (model of the car is 2008 ). I have not replaced the valve or core, it is all original. Also, sensors have not failed or had to be replaced.

I drive a Toyota and it displays the exact pressure of each tire, including the full-size spare (I have 5 readings on my screen). Also, I had a good experience swaping the sensors from one set of wheels to another, they swapped with no problems, the guy doing the work just has to be careful.

I think Toyota has a pretty good system going on here, with the exception of the reset that is required when changing tires in the winter/spring. Some Toyota dealers charge a lot to reset the car's computer ($90), some charge a little ($25). I swap the tires myself, so it made sense to buy the tool to reset the light, so I can do it myself too.

The Mazda 6 car is pretty good because it automatically detects the sensors, but it does not display the exact pressure of each tire (it doesnt' have a screen). Maybe that feature is available with the Mazda navigation system, I don't know.

TPMS are not all that great unless they display the exact pressure maybe. People are driving around on under inflated tires, that nevertheless, are inside the range and don't trigger the warning light.

They corrode at an alarming rate, the metal ones that is.
Valve cores also rot inside. It's crucial to have caps on the valves to slow down the internal corrosion. Rubber stems are much better. More manufacturers started using those but not all. If you have metal stems on your TPMS then be prepared to spend some money in few years. New sensors typically range between $30-200 (each) depending on a car.

Swapping TPMS is not recommended as the are easily damaged, especially when already corroded. It will also cost you extra. Having a 2nd set on your winter rims is neither a law nor a necessity as long as the warning light doesn't bother you. Certain vehicles may require for sensors to be reset after the swap, most will reset automatically.

The only car I ever had with TPMS was a Lincoln Continental, I took them all off after one started malfunctioning and luckily there wasn't even a warning light on the dash. That is a rare exception though.

BTW, if anyone absolutely needs them, send me a message for the price. I work Dixie/Dundas area.

 

[DemonPig]

You know, Toyotas are actually quite decent and if Mazda was capable of building a car that doesn't rust and blow head gaskets after couple of years I would say the same.
Plus there is no guarantee that TPMS will fail, some are simply more prone to it than others. Keeping the caps on and keeping the stems clean and dry goes far as well. Sometimes, it's just that the battery has died. Unfortunately, in most cases, you can't replace it.

Nevertheless, most failures I have experienced are with Chrysler products. I should start keeping track, out of curiosity.

In my opinion, all vehicles should be capable of resetting automatically or at least by using the internal computer with easy instructions for the owner. Forcing people to go to a mechanic for a reset or to buy a special tool is a ripoff.

As for tire guys being behind times, I highly doubt it. Same information is available to all shops in Canada. No one is hiding anything.
Plus when you work on a vehicle, it doesn't take much to simply observe which system and type the TPM is.

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