Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensors:
Almost every 2008 and later vehicles and many older vehicles come equipped from the factory with a government mandated Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). These systems come in many different configurations, but basically do the same thing and that is to monitor the air pressure in the tires.
When purchasing new wheels or a wheel and tire package, you will need to make a decision on which option you want to take concerning these sensors.
Option 1: Is to have your OEM sensors installed in your new wheels. If you are buying a tire and wheel package deal, you can send us your factory sensors by having your local tire shop remove them and replace regular valve stems in your wheels and mail them to us. Once we receive them we will install them in your new set of wheels and tires and the wheel and tire package will be ready to go when you receive them. As long as the installer doesn’t remove or move the wheel weights and marks the tire and wheel, the balance should still be acceptable, as the TPMS sensors do not weigh very much at all. This option may delay your shipping of your new wheels merely because we have to wait for your sensors to arrive.
NOTE: Some OEM sensors cannot be removed without damaging them.
Option 2: Is to purchase new sensors from us and we will install them when we mount the tires. This method is the most beneficial. When we sell the tpms sensors we install them for you, and mount and balance for you and the wheels are ready to go when they arrive. In the long run, it’s faster and ultimately probably saves money given the time and labor you will have to pay the local tire store to remove them and then to ship them to us. Most customers like the idea of having their factory wheels still equipped with sensors so that they can use them at any time, especially those customers who live in regions that have harsh winters and want to install their factory wheels during those periods.
Some vehicles have a “self-learning” or “wake-up” program that will reprogram the new sensors. Other vehicles will have to be taken to the car dealer or to a garage that has a programmer and have the system reprogrammed. You will need to check your owner’s manual to see if you can do this yourself.
Vehicles with tire pressure sensors have their own individual system and you need to be specific about the year, make and model of the car in order to recieve the correct sensor. Not all sensors are the same-you may find that packages effect the type of sensor. One example may be that a steel wheel has a different part number than the aluminum option wheel for the same model of car. That is why you must be specific when ordering.
If you decide to purchase new sensors from us with a wheel and tire package deal, we will install the sensors at no charge. Sensors are sold as “EACH”, so you need to purchase as many sensors as you do wheels.
If you still have questions or are uncertain that your vehicle has tpms, please contact us and we will answer your questions and concerns.
