Are TPS necessary?

[Phaedrus409]

So I'm planning on picking up a new set of cheap wheels along with some decent winter tires. In pricing things out at tirerack, I'm wondering if I can get away without the TPS sensors. Has anyone went this route? What are the major drawbacks of simply leaving the sensors off my new wheels. I'd rather not get into the habit of swapping sensors back and forth between wheels, so I was thinking maybe I'd just leave them off all together and check my pressure the old fashioned way. Any thoughts or experiences?

 

[ecniemann]

You don't need them, but as far as I know, you will just be staring at a TPMS CEL the whole time they are on the car without sensors, so if that does not bother you, go for it. The other option is to just purchase sensors from Tirerack, especially if you plan on keeping both sets of tires/rims for a few years. It's really not that much extra when you're already talking about new rims.

 

[mtbmike]

You don't need them, but as far as I know, you will just be staring at a TPMS CEL the whole time they are on the car without sensors, so if that does not bother you, go for it. The other option is to just purchase sensors from Tirerack, especially if you plan on keeping both sets of tires/rims for a few years. It's really not that much extra when you're already talking about new rims.

well it's over 200 bucks. i'm thinking of leaving them off, myself.

 

[jbiird317]

yeah you will get an alarm every time you drive the car its an annoying BEEEEP BEEEEEP BEEEEEP and then the little light is on the whole time, my tire pressure was low by a few psi (literally 2 psi low) and the sensor went off for a week. It was enough for me to put more air in just to get that beep to stop

 

[Sacrilicious]

ya, i'm bracing for the worst cause i just ordered a new set of 17" wheels + snow tires for the winter without shelling out 280 for the TPMS. honestly, for THAT much money, i'll live with a little bit of annoyance for 4 months out of a year...=/

 

[sephiroth]

since the NHSA requires all new cars to have TP sensors I'm guessing you won't pass inspection anymore either.

 

[ZoomZoomH]

if you run w/o the tire pressure sensors, the little TPMS warning light will just flash nonstop, no beeps, just flashes.

 

[mtbmike]

since the NHSA requires all new cars to have TP sensors I'm guessing you won't pass inspection anymore either.

believe the federal mandate starts in 08.

 

[Sacrilicious]

fortunately for me, i don't have to get inspected for another 2 years... that and i'll make sure that i have my stock wheels + tires on when i go in for inspection.

 

[sephiroth]

believe the federal mandate starts in 08.

as of sep 1 2007, so he will be okay anyway.

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Aug. 27, 2007 -- Effective September 1, 2007, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 138 will require that all vehicles less than 10,000 pounds sold in the United States be equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). This standard was phased in beginning in April 2005, after Congress required the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop it as part of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act, passed in 2000 to help protect motorists.

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/08/27/059819.html

 

[ecniemann]

well it's over 200 bucks. i'm thinking of leaving them off, myself.

Yeah, I know. What I'm saying is, unless you're going as cheap as possible with steel rims, to get some decent "winter rims" with tires, might as well just get the sensors. The tires alone are going to be $600-$800 anyway. It is worth it to just get the sensors installed and be safe....and not annoyed. In for penny, in for a pound.

since the NHSA requires all new cars to have TP sensors I'm guessing you won't pass inspection anymore either.

Who would be inspecting it?

 

[Sacrilicious]

i think he's talking about state inspections that most people have to have on a yearly/bi-yearly basis.

 

[ecniemann]

i think he's talking about state inspections that most people have to have on a yearly/bi-yearly basis.

Is that the same as emissions testing, meaning are they the ones who will check it in addition to emissions, gas cap, etc?

 

[sephiroth]

Is that the same as emissions testing, meaning are they the ones who will check it in addition to emissions, gas cap, etc?

I'm sorry.. I live in virginia.. we have to have yearly state inspections for cars greater than 2 years old.. basicly they check to make sure the car is road worthy, one of those checks is that you can not have any warning lights on.. at all, for any reason.

 

[ecniemann]

I'm sorry.. I live in virginia.. we have to have yearly state inspections for cars greater than 2 years old.. basicly they check to make sure the car is road worthy, one of those checks is that you can not have any warning lights on.. at all, for any reason.

Thanks. It's obviously different here. We just need emissions testing every 2 years and it's only if you live in the Milwaukee metro area, meaning approx. 5 to 8 counties surrounding Milwaukee County.

 

[Sacrilicious]

ahhh...ya, you're lucky then. it really depends on the laws your state institutes. in NJ, we have to get inspected every 2 years, and inspections cover basically everything...emissions, gas cap, check engine lights, brakes, tires, etc. it's really freakin annoying when you don't pass for something stupid like the gas cap or whatever. i actually had to replace the gas cap on my previous car (2003 civic) when it was still <1 year old because i had gotten inspected after moving into NJ. apparently, it was rather common, since honda used cheap gas caps that didn't hold pressure perfectly or something...go figure...

 

[ZoomZoomH]

though it might be a hassle, i actually think yearly safety inspection is a good thing, makes sure all the cars on the road are 'safe to drive', kinda like tech inspections before a race right lol

 

[Sacrilicious]

lolz...too bad it doesn't do anything about the drivers themselves...^^; NJ has some of the worst drivers in this country...and we PAY for it in our insurance...=/

 

[Phaedrus409]

Alright.. So there is a blinking light, but no beep? It seems some people are saying there is a beep as well.. I can probably handle a blinking light, or throw some black tape over it, but a constant beep is going to drive me mad. At this point I may just shell out the extra cash and get the sensors.

 

[jbiird317]

Alright.. So there is a blinking light, but no beep? It seems some people are saying there is a beep as well.. I can probably handle a blinking light, or throw some black tape over it, but a constant beep is going to drive me mad. At this point I may just shell out the extra cash and get the sensors.

it beeps on startup and again like 2 minutes after its been running, but thats it