Do I Really Need TPMS with my After Market Winter Package?

[CaptainSlow]

Again, what is the point? The TPMS only tells you (via warning light) that your tire pressure is low. It doesn't change anything in the way the car operates, unless Toyota's TPMS is WAY different from every other system I've ever seen. So, just deal with an extra light on the dash for a few months and save yourself the money. The important thing is that YOU know the tires are filled up properly...whether your car does or not is pretty irrelevant.

[Zagmeister]

I think I'll proceed with a winter package without TPMS. That was my plan, as long as the original TPMS sensors will work again next Spring, when I reinstall the original set of OEM tires\wheels.

Most of the answers I'm getting is YES they should work once you install the original OEM tires\wheels back.

The table for States that enforce functional TPMS fom TireRack was very useful. The fact that the original TPMS sensors - even while stored in the garage - are picked up so they can turn the warning lights off while the car is parked in their vacinity is reassuring.

Thank you all for your great and timely inputs.

[Miniata]

Originally Posted by Zagmeister

I think I'll proceed with a winter package without TPMS.

That is what I would recommend. I don't have TPMS sensors in my summer wheel/tire package and just live with the light, same deal in my Mustang. If the light bothers you, google "lightdims", I used that solution in my Mustang. Lightdims are small precut pieces of an easily removable tint-like material for about $5 that blocks most of the TPMS light.

[Jhay]

I've had a set of 5 Axis wheels without TPMS for a couple of weeks now and the TPMS light had never come on until today. Today also happened to be the first day I drove over 30 miles in a single day. The TPMS light came on and stayed on until I returned to my garage where my original tires and sensors are. With the car still running the light went out after about 2 minutes. I took the car back out and drove around for about 15 minutes and no TPMS light. I suspect the BRZ and FRS TPMS system is programmed to account for the weekend racers that switch out the OEM wheels for a racing set. I'm trying to test how many miles I can drive before that light comes on. At least I know what it takes to reset it.

[Zagmeister]

This is great information confirming what I read from sajonf. According to his\her account, it's about 50 miles before the dash light starts illuminating.

Either way, your explanation for the delayed illumination response as an accommodation for weekend racers makes perfect sense.

Just as importantly, I now know that I'll store the OEM wheels set in the Garage or the attic right above it, to facilitate the original sensors daily sync. I drive less than 50 miles per day, so the fact that the light will stay off for my typical daily use is really good news. Thanks.

[seven]

Basically I usually leave the sensors out of winter tires and periodically check the tire pressure.
I run TPMS on the summer tires (which are really 3 season tires).

I don't run TPMS on track tires as I just check pressures between sessions.

[sajonf]

Originally Posted by Zagmeister

This is great information confirming what I read from sajonf. According to his\her account, it's about 50 miles before the dash light starts illuminating.

Either way, your explanation for the delayed illumination response as an accommodation for weekend racers makes perfect sense.

Just as importantly, I now know that I'll store the OEM wheels set in the Garage or the attic right above it, to facilitate the original sensors daily sync. I drive less than 50 miles per day, so the fact that the light will stay off for my typical daily use is really good news. Thanks.

It may be 30 miles like Jhay stated. I will try to track the mileage but like I said I don't get the light every day depending on how far I drive. Regardless if you have your wheels in the garage next to your car it will reset each morning when you start the car for some period of time. Even when the light does come on it's really not that noticeable anyway.

[FRiSson]

Originally Posted by Miniata

That is what I would recommend. I don't have TPMS sensors in my summer wheel/tire package and just live with the light, same deal in my Mustang. If the light bothers you, google "lightdims", I used that solution in my Mustang. Lightdims are small precut pieces of an easily removable tint-like material for about $5 that blocks most of the TPMS light.

That's what Penny needs for her CEL.

[Jayde]

Originally Posted by K2

I'm looking at getting one of these little monsters.
http://www.ateqtpm.com/products/tpms.../ateq-quickset

I was looking at this a few days ago, but after talking to my local SnapOn dealer this week, he said he can use one of his tools to swap them over for free. What a guy!

[wlfpck]

I wouldn't worry too much about it (for future reference).

I keep the TPS in my winter wheels because let's be honest... it snows. It's cold. I don't want to stand outside even for the 1 minute it takes to take off the caps and get a tire pressure gauge. I'd rather a light just tell me.

In the summer/not winter, I use my other set of wheels with no TPS. I just deal with the light in the dash. If it really bothers you, you could always stick electrical tape/painters tape over it to cover it up. lol

[dori.]

^even if the light is on you're going to have to use the pressure gauge to see how low it is

[chanomatik]

Originally Posted by sajonf

I drive around every day with my aftermarket wheels and tires without sensors in them. The dash light doesn't bother me one bit. It flashes for a few seconds then lights up solid.

As a matter of fact I only see it when I drive more than 50 miles I think. Every morning when I start my car with my stock wheels in the garage right next to it they register correctly and only come on 50 or so miles later. So I only ever see the light when I drive a long distance without turning the car off.

Thanks. I came in here to figure out why mine haven't gone off. Since my tires are stored in close proximity to where I park, this makes perfect sense for my situation.

[FlyingFool]

Does anybody know at what pressure the Tire Pressure Warning Light comes on? Mine light came on the other evening driving home from work. It was cold (about 28 degrees). I figured the colder weather dropped the pressure somewhat in the tires (they were at 29 PSI). I had set the rears to 30 PSI and the fronts to 34 (in an effort to provide a little more rear end grip). But today the light was still on and the rears were at 31 PSI after driving home 35 miles.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by FlyingFool

Does anybody know at what pressure the Tire Pressure Warning Light comes on? Mine light came on the other evening driving home from work. It was cold (about 28 degrees). I figured the colder weather dropped the pressure somewhat in the tires (they were at 29 PSI). I had set the rears to 30 PSI and the fronts to 34 (in an effort to provide a little more rear end grip). But today the light was still on and the rears were at 31 PSI after driving home 35 miles.

Warning light it supposed to come at 25% less pressure than stock (35 PSI), IIRC.