I have a 2006 IS250 AWD and im shopping for rims. i think i settled on the bremmer kraft br05's but they only come in 18's....dissapointing. I went to check out at tire rack and it said to get the tpms thing done it was like $360...obviously im not the most mechanically inclined. do i need to get this done to not have the light blinking and audio warning going off? or should i just order the rims and tires and take them to lexus to have it done?

 

also how do i know the vehicle identifier...such as base, april or newer, or march or older

 

First, not sure if Tire Rack gives you all the proper information so when you go to Lexus dealer, they can program a second set of TPMS (My IS250 can store 2 sets of TPMS).

If they do not, the dealer will have to un-mount your tires to get the information off the TPMS's. ($$$$)

What I plan to do is buy a set of TPMS of ebay for $55 for all 4 and make a Pipe Bomb (just do a search on here and you will find out what it is). Cheap and easy and no warning lights

 

Wrong they don't unmount your tire the scanner tool they have go next to your tire and read the tpms and give each part number. So buy a used set off eBay for like 60 and either Lexus or a tire shop with the tool can do it. Dealer will charge 100 and local shop maybe 30

 

Well my dealer lied to me then, he told me he needed the serial numbers of each TPMS to program it into the computer

 

Well that a shaddy stealership for you cause when I did mine less then 30min I was out no dismounting my 19's

 

Very good to know this, thanks

 

No serial or any numbers needed. Bought a 2nd set for my aftermarket wheels. Went to a local Lexus dealer and they did it for free. Other dealer is charging $70. So shop around.

 

No, they do actually need the numbers from each sensor. That's what they program into the car.

What the dealer left out is that there's a tool that'll read that off the sensors without needing to dismount it from the wheel.

I suppose it's possible the dealer was unaware of this tool though, there's a lot of things dealers seem unaware of.

 

The dealer can also take out the TPMS from OEM wheel and mount them on the aftermarket ones, right?

 

Yes. Thats what my local tire shop did for me and it works great

 

Well, assuming the new ones can accept the TPMS, then yes. Not all can (or can without adapters).

 

just take your stocks out, write down the #'s (just in case) and reinstall them in the new wheels/tires. Or get your new set from tire rack and go to a tire shop, and have them pop in the sidewall. You can get them in without completely dismounting the tire and you also will not need to rebalance.