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

I found and priced a couple of winter package options (wheel and tires) for my Scion FR-S.

However, with the "full" winter package - which neccessitates new TPMS sensors - the sensors would have to be initialized at our Toyota / Scion dealership.

Moreover, this also means that EVERY TIME you switch between the OE wheels / tires and the after market winter package, you would have to go back to the dealership to reset your TPMS system for the specifc sensors being used for the season. Toyota and Scion have one setting of the TPMS sensors, so they only accept one set of four sensors at a time.

I was also assured that if I chose not to include TPMS on the winter package (only wheels and tires) the TPMS red light indicator would go away once I reinstall the original OEM set of wheels and tires, without having to go back to the Dealer for re-initiation.

Any prior experience, advice, opinions, or comment? Thanks.

PS. I hope I'm not duplicating other threads on the same topic.

The idiot light drove me insane on my Expedition Max so I did it after a month if looking at the light.

how hard is pulling dash bulb?

I would hope it would be easier to pull a fuse controlling the TPMS dash bulb, if it's connectining only that bulb.

Someone posted a video on how to eliminate the light, but it wasn't something I ever want to tackle. You have to take apart the dash.

There are definitely some people not getting TPMS sensors in their winter set. Tire Rack has a list of states that require them.
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/...jsp?techid=214

Not sure how much they charge you to mount and unmount tires. You could have them take the sensors out of your stock rims and put them in the winter tires. Then switch them back when you go back to summer.

$100 a pop is the answer. Maybe a bit more at the dealer. Dealer will warn you about possible damage to transmitters anytime the job is done and it wont be their fault.

Its my understanding that the car will catch fire with out the TPMS system.
And if you put 87 in the tank it self-destructs. Literally it blows up. I’m so cereal Literally booom!!!

I hope that is not 100 per tire! I only paid 24 per to have it done to my new rims.

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

Just deal with the light...I did that when I had my Mazdaspeed3. Just wasn't worth the cost. I just checked the tire pressure once a month or so, and called it good.

I'm assuming you need the Toyota TPMS sensor? I have winter rims and tires from my GTI that I will be using on the FR-S. They already have a sensor on them...not sure if they would work though. Probably not.

How much does it cost to program the TPMS sensors at the stealership each time?

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.