TPMS install... or not

[Timmos1974]

Hi

I am changing alloys on the A5 B9 and wan to to just ask the fitters to take the TPMS off the OEM alloys and install them on the new Alloys. I take it it isnt a problem?

BUT

If i just install ordinary valves to my old alloys and use them for winter driving, will this throw up an error code on the dash or not?

Thanks chaps

Tim

[stevieturbo]

If your car has sensors, then it will not be happy if it cannot detect the sensors, and the sensors need to be in the correct location on the car to make any sense.

[catfishdb]

I have a MB with sensors in the wheels from the factory.

I switch to a set of winter wheels/tires for the season. They have regular valves. Every time I start the vehicle with the regular valves I get a message on the dash saying no sensors detected. I clear it with a steering wheel mouse button click. Easy enough but irritating yet I will do it every day thru the winter season.

And then summer happens again. : )

Arthur

[Regbuser]

If your car has TPMS, then to remain MOT compliant any sets of wheels mounted must have TPMS sensors fitted. If you don't, then in event of an accident your insurance may not be valid.

[MustangGT]

Regbuser said:

If your car has TPMS, then to remain MOT compliant any sets of wheels mounted must have TPMS sensors fitted. If you don't, then in event of an accident your insurance may not be valid.

Not this old chestnut again. No, your insurance will not be invalidated by failing an MoT.

[xu5]

For my make of car at least, a Suzuki, you can get a TPMS emulator, a little box that sits in your boot that simulates the signal from the sensors, hence no warning on the dash. "Irongates TPMS simulator" is the one that works for my car. Would make running a second set of wheels without TPMS fitted easier.

[Joe Nation]

If you're getting a new set of wheels with new TPMS sensors, do they need to be specific to the car or is it a universal thing? Also does the car just read them automatically or do they need pairing or programming (ie can you buy the wheels/tyres/sensors fitted and balanced then just bolt them on, or do the sensors need to be with the car before mounting the tyres)?

[anonymous-user]

Joe Nation said:

If you're getting a new set of wheels with new TPMS sensors, do they need to be specific to the car or is it a universal thing? Also does the car just read them automatically or do they need pairing or programming (ie can you buy the wheels/tyres/sensors fitted and balanced then just bolt them on, or do the sensors need to be with the car before mounting the tyres)?

On my Mercedes I tried to buy some compatible ones, they didn't work.

So now I just buy genuine, they work straight away.

[MustangGT]

AceRockatansky said:

On my Mercedes I tried to buy some compatible ones, they didn't work.

So now I just buy genuine, they work straight away.

There are two different frequencies in use by different manufacturers as well as two main types. The cheap 'indirect' system uses the ABS sensors, nothing in the tyres, I believe this is used by Renault/Dacia as an example. The more expensive 'direct' version uses the in-tyre sensors and each manufacturer uses one of the two different frequencies so you need to buy the correct frequency sensors. Jeep use 433mHz, I believe Ford use 315mHz. It seems to generally be that Europe based companies use the 433mHz, and rest of world 315mHz.