balance before tire pressure sensors installed?

[mtbmike]

hey all,

i'm looking at buying a winter tire package from tire rack.
I plan to reuse my current tire pressure sensors, i guess i'll
have to have them moved to the new wheels locally.

will the tires need to be rebalanced after that?

 

[major error]

most definitely.

As a rule of thumb, any time you break/unseat the bead on an mounted tire, it will require re-balancing...

 

[mtbmike]

ok, i didn't understand that the tire needs to be unseated.
i guess i'll order the tires and wheels unmounted then...

 

[major error]

You could just get the extra set of sensors and not worry about changing them between wheels. In fact, I'd highly recommend it.

As good as TPMS is, the sensor is the weakest link--all it takes is one lazy wheel tech to screw one up...
It doesn't take much to strip the threads on the stem, and the sensor package is just a chunk of plastic whose only real attachment to it is friction and this flimsy metal grounding bridge. Not the most robust package for the environment it's in, but they are made by the lowest bidder.

My lazy wheel tech episode involved 4 trips to try and fix their screw-up before I went to the dealer to have it done right. The shop tried to force a US$250 charge on me just for the part, which I had them eat, to replace it. The dealer did it right the first time for $160 (total.)

I still have one of the broken sensors laying around if you want pics...

 

[mtbmike]

it's like $225 for the 4 sensors. Too much for me..