I have a set of wheels off my 91 Thunderbird that I want to put snow tires on for this coming winter. I know the wheels fit. What I dont know is what sensors do I need for the stupid TPMS system. Can I use the tire valve ones or do they have to be the more expensive band types?
Also, anyone know where I can order some OEM or aftermarket one cheap? I checked Rock Auto and it looks like the senesors and the bands are 2 separate part numbers and end up being $80+ total per wheel.
Technically, you don't even have to get them, but your car will yell at you at every startup. I got my steelies/winter tires on ebay. But I never even sync'd my sensors... so I have no clue if they even work. I probably wasted the $90+ I paid for them.
EDIT: I'll buy one of those fancy reset tools when I'm good and ready.
I have a 2012 Focus Ti with the 18" rims. I am looking to buy a separate set of rims and tires for the winter but 17". What would happen if I do not have tire pressure monitoring sensors for my winter rims/tires? I prefer not to spend the extra money on 4 sensors.
There's a website you can go to to check tire size changes with different size rims to tires and such. I forget what it is though. It's damn close for the 205/60/r16. I've always run 60s in the winter with my mk1 face lift. Slightly thinner tire never hurts for the winter.
I'm just going to buy a set of inexpensive 15" alloys from TireRack and mount the Blizzaks from the old Mazda on 'em without the TPMS sensors. I could care less about the "notification" at startup.
Keep your hard earned money and buy another upgrade. I changed my wheels and I have no sensors on them now, yes the light is always on but is it worth 170+tax to turn a light off? I don't think so
I know I'm bumping the thread, but I need to learn a few more things regarding the TPMS.
I intend on running separate rims/tires for winter. By doing so, I need 4 new TPMS units.
Can these units be purchased from a 3rd party retailer (eBay, auto parts store, etc.), or must I go to the stealership? Can I purchase them at the same time I buy my winter tires with steelies from a tire shop?
From what I understand, the TPMSs have to be programmed to the vehicle, and I'm not certain whom, other than the stealership, is able to do so.
No, you can go 3rd party. I got a set from Tire Rack when I was buying my winters about a year ago. They do have to be programmed to the system which the dealership can do easily or you can buy the little tool and do it yourself if plan on swapping them back and forth your self (forgot how much the thing costs).
So just installed my winter tire/wheel combo from tire rack. I went with 15" steelies and the michelin x ice 3 tire with tpms sensers. I also splurged and bought the $45 tpms reset tool. Wondering if I wasted money on the tool and the sensors. Haven't had to reset anything. No chime and no light on startup??? Anyone else experience this or could the tpms light just not be working?
Wondering if I wasted money on the tool and the sensors. Haven't had to reset anything. No chime and no light on startup??? Anyone else experience this or could the tpms light just not be working?
Thanks guys I figured it would throw instantly, like it should if I was low on air pressure. I'll program after the light comes on. Already have 200 miles on the new tires and wheels.
FoMoCo TPMS stem sensors are self-setting. I confirmed this with my brother-in-law (a Michelin Tire Dealer) and the dealer too.
I have the Titanium Performance Pkg with 18" rims and a 16" steel full size spare. I had the dealer order 4 more matching steels (why have 3 different rims?) with 4 TPMS's at dealer cost (I used to work there) and Michelin X-Ice x2 winters from brother-in-law.
Once the car was on the road fo a few minutes the TPMS light went out and no problems since.
I keep the winters in michelin tire-totes and swap at first snow fall.
Well ill give it a week or so before I return the tpms programming tool. I put on a lot of miles so I should find out soon if I get the warning light. But has anyone here actually had to program the tpms sensors with a programming tool on their focus? I wonder if they really are self setting.
Why did the Ford sensors and reset tool that I bought from Ford, come with directions to pair them with my car specifically then? I don't disagree with you, because I haven't installed my sensor equipped winter wheels yet, but it just doesn't make sense to me.
I'm visiting the dealer this afternoon, I'll get another opinion on that. My wife drives a 2009 Honda Accord V6 EX-Navi (works there), and the dealer had to re-program the new TPMS's on her steelies after her brother put on winters. Her brother (the tire dealer) said to have them programmed, but that the Ford stem-type, on mine would self program.
Must admit, I'm now confused by some of the contradictory posts!
Not sure if its driven by # of miles or # of drive cycle events before it detects either no sensors or the wrong ones, but you could save yourself the trouble and just trigger them properly and then not have to worry.
I'm not worried I'm gonna let it go and see if it eventually throws the light. If it does ill reprogram. If it doesn't I'm just gonna return the reset tool. Will be good info for others too I'm guessing so ill report back after a week or so.
I just got my winters thrown on last Saturday. Made the mistake of assuming that they would just know to take care of it and reset the sensors. Should have double-checked before I left though. Had to head out to the in-laws on Sunday and about 45 minutes into our drive down the Thruway, BAM, there is the warning. Guess I have to head back there this Saturday and get them to reprogram as I am sick of the warning on every startup.
I bought my TPMS sensors off ebay and was told they should work with any training/reprogramming tool. Should I get the tool from tirerack? What if it still doesn't work? :-\
Well I've got 1000 miles on my snow tires and no warning yet. Copper icum..... R u sure they didn't remove your sensors? To me it looks like they auto program
No, the sensors are still there. Where do you park at night though, relative to where you keep your tires? It is a proximity thing. One of the sales guys at my dealership got his Focus a week after mine last year (even though he ordered a week before me, he was pissed when mine showed up and he didn't have his yet). He got winters but didn't bother with the sensors. He also keeps his summers in the garage where he parks every night. I asked him if he ran into any problems and he said he didn't at first but outside of work an minor errands, he was always back in his garage every evening. When he took his family out of state to visit some relatives for the holidays they drove for the day, stayed in a hotel, and the next morning when he went out to continue on, his warning came on.
I have a small garage (I don't even park in it, I park in front of it) so I keep my extra set of tires in the shed in the back corner of my yard, away from where I park. I'm running back to dealership on Saturday so I'll confirm either way but as others have said, if they self-program why do they sell the tool to reset them (and why did they have to reset them the last two times they swapped my tires)?
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