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[garyhgaryh]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

This is completely incorrect. All the 'TPMS Kit' contains is a new valve stem and seals. It is suggested to be replaced because the sensor has to be removed in most cases to remove the tire, and the old one won't necessarily seal properly again. It definitely does not include a battery.

This is not true. In most cases, the sensors do not have to be removed to remove the tire. Where did you hear this from?

You can damage the sensor using the automated bead breaker on the tire changer if you position the breaker head right by the valve stem.

Gary

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by garyhgaryh

This is not true. In most cases, the sensors do not have to be removed to remove the tire. Where did you hear this from?

You can damage the sensor using the automated bead breaker on the tire changer if you position the breaker head right by the valve stem.

Gary

From every tire shop I have ever taken a TPMS-equipped car to. If YOU want to risk a $50-100 sensor to save the $5-10 that the kit costs, be my guest. Plus on most wheels if you get a flat due to a valve stem leak you run a very good risk of trashing the sensor as well, so might as well play it safe and replace those seals. How often do you take a tire off? Every 3-4 years at a minimum? Cheap insurance.

[David1]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

From every tire shop I have ever taken a TPMS-equipped car to. If YOU want to risk a $50-100 sensor to save the $5-10 that the kit costs, be my guest. Plus on most wheels if you get a flat due to a valve stem leak you run a very good risk of trashing the sensor as well, so might as well play it safe and replace those seals. How often do you take a tire off? Every 3-4 years at a minimum? Cheap insurance.

Again, not true. Having a flat will not harm the sensor. You do not even need to change the seals.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by David1

Again, not true. Having a flat will not harm the sensor. You do not even need to change the seals.

Seen it happen on a Saab. Non-RFT tires, of course. Ripped the sensor right off and cracked it.

[dragazn]

Originally Posted by porshapower

Wondering if anyone found a way to bypass it so the light goes out on the dash?? I want to go back to old school...dont need a light to tell me my tires are low...

JB4 can disable TPMS warning.

[BTe90]

i was considering switching to non run flats. is there a way to ditch the tpms and delete any error codes as well?

[N8N]

Originally Posted by garyhgaryh

This is not true. In most cases, the sensors do not have to be removed to remove the tire. Where did you hear this from?

You can damage the sensor using the automated bead breaker on the tire changer if you position the breaker head right by the valve stem.

Gary

yes, in fact I'm not sure how you would remove the sensor before dismounting the tire as the screw that holds it to the valve stem is only accessible with the tire already dismounted? Best practice w/ TPMS is to break the bead 180 degrees from the valve stem to avoid having the sensor trashed. I had a couple sensors on my car with the case cracked/corners missing presumably from this procedure (and prior to my ownership car had been maintained apparently only at BMW dealership, disappointing!)

I did have one sensor go bad after having my wheels refinished over a winter, but it was one of the ones that was damaged, so I don't know if it was the battery going dead or the sensor corroding from having the case broken.

Given the cost of mounting/balancing tires, if I have to dismount a tire that's more than 3-4 years old, I will purchase a new sensor from Tire Rack ahead of time, as replacing a single sensor later with a dealer part and paying for 1 wheel mount/balance will be about the same as all 4 from TR.

AFAIK the TMPS kit is only seals and maybe a valve core. It is only required when the valve stem is removed, but some shops may insist on replacing them when changing tires anyway again as "cheap insurance."

[garyhgaryh]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

From every tire shop I have ever taken a TPMS-equipped car to. If YOU want to risk a $50-100 sensor to save the $5-10 that the kit costs, be my guest. Plus on most wheels if you get a flat due to a valve stem leak you run a very good risk of trashing the sensor as well, so might as well play it safe and replace those seals. How often do you take a tire off? Every 3-4 years at a minimum? Cheap insurance.

Sir,
You have been misinformed. If they knew that they were doing, they would never trash a sensor. It's possible, but only if you don't follow the safety precaution or they do not know where the sensor is.

The only thing the tire guy has to know is to not break the bead directly in the path of the valve stem (for bmw and lexus).

BTW, I'm not a professional, but I have dismounted four lexus wheels and did not damage the TPMS. I also replace the runflats on my 335i yesterday and didn't damage the tpms sensor. I didn't break the sensor because I knew where they are under the tire.

Also a flat will not necessarily damage a sensor. If you hit a pot hole or rock and the force of impact is right under the sensor there is a slight chance you may damage it. It's tucked well under the lip along side the rim surface. But 99% of the cases, a flat will not damage the tpms.

BTW, I do agree on one thing: if you are leaking at the valve stem then replace seal with the seal kit. But why would a valve steam leak trash your sensor?
Gary

[garyhgaryh]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

Seen it happen on a Saab. Non-RFT tires, of course. Ripped the sensor right off and cracked it.

Blame the tire guy. He should have known where the sensor is.

[garyhgaryh]

Originally Posted by N8N

yes, in fact I'm not sure how you would remove the sensor before dismounting the tire as the screw that holds it to the valve stem is only accessible with the tire already dismounted? Best practice w/ TPMS is to break the bead 180 degrees from the valve stem to avoid having the sensor trashed. I had a couple sensors on my car with the case cracked/corners missing presumably from this procedure (and prior to my ownership car had been maintained apparently only at BMW dealership, disappointing!)

I did have one sensor go bad after having my wheels refinished over a winter, but it was one of the ones that was damaged, so I don't know if it was the battery going dead or the sensor corroding from having the case broken.

Given the cost of mounting/balancing tires, if I have to dismount a tire that's more than 3-4 years old, I will purchase a new sensor from Tire Rack ahead of time, as replacing a single sensor later with a dealer part and paying for 1 wheel mount/balance will be about the same as all 4 from TR.

AFAIK the TMPS kit is only seals and maybe a valve core. It is only required when the valve stem is removed, but some shops may insist on replacing them when changing tires anyway again as "cheap insurance."

Yes I agree with all your points. Break 180 deg if you want to break in 1 spot. If you break in two spots, break at 90 deg (that's what I do).

Gary