vfr700f2

Hey y'all--

I chose to buy winter tires/wheels without sensors, as my wife said she wouldn't mind ignoring the warning light if we save $200+ and a trip to the dealer.. So I put them on yesterday, drove to the gas station and the bank, then home (maybe 2 miles) and didn't get a warning light. Was that not far enough to cause a light? I'm not complaining... I don't mind if it stays off til it's time to swap tires again, then I'll get it fixed...

Thanks
kevin

SteveCraig

Give it a day or two. Drove ours a week before we had the sensors initialized + no warning.

vfr700f2

Yup, it came on today.

vlad_a

It reads sensors from my tires stored in the basement. Then the light comes on a few miles down the road. We just ignore the light. Eventually, I will either find a wire to cut for the the light, or will pull the bulb from the cluster.

offroad200

I've seen people with aftermarket wheels create a container out of PVC to house the sensors in. Make a container with a standard valve stem, put sensors in container, pressurize to 35psi and keep in the back of the car.

vlad_a

It baffles me that some people go to the extend of such measures to disable TPMS. It's not that annoying in a Toyota.
Pulling the bulb from the cluster is a lot easier, never mind a few electrical modifications that can completely remove TPMS functionality.

m1964

Are the sensors part of the "luxury" we have paid for? Would it be safer to put the sensors into the winter rims and get an app or SW to initialize the sensors on the winter wheels and in spring on summer wheels? If they drive on those tires 3-4 years it may make since since the cost per year would not be that high.

I am not sure how "easy" it is to pull the bulb out of the cluster...

Last time the TPS light came on one of the tires was low but not to the point where it was easily visible. If I did not get the light in the morning I could have gotten stuck "in the middle of nowhere"... Not to mention that an under-inflated tire can overheat easily at high speeds

vlad_a

Sensors are a part of mandatory safety regulation that the Gov't put in place when Ford had Firestone tires inflated to 24PSI to cover-up for poor engineering.
Firestones overheated, tread separated, people died. Ford got a slap on the hand, Firestone took the blame, Gov't solved the problem the way it always does - having all cars fitted with TMPS.
If anything, it's a convenience feature. It's cool to get a pressure read with a flick of the switch (3RX 450h) rather than getting out of the car. Or seeing how it goes up on a road trip from cold to warm.

As a motorist, you should be aware when your tire is running low. The car will start to walk left and right. It is a very distinct feeling.
TPMS will not help with quick leaks or blow-outs, as it won't trigger fast enough.
But that's whole another topic we've covered in the past.