Right rear puncture this morning - NO TPMS?!

[IronMan0737]

Just as it states. Had a small jagged piece of metal lodge in the outer rim of the stock 255/50/19" GT tire, and thankfully I didn't have any music on because over the course of 5 minutes I began to hear a periodic "rubbing" noise when taking S-curves. By the time 5 minutes had elapsed there was a fairly quiet "rumble strip" noise when coasting and the vehicle was driving slower. When at last I stopped to see what the problem was, the tire was completely down! But there had been no warning on the dash, anywhere!

Has anyone else ever experienced a problem like this? From what I've seen in other cars, the TPMS is supposed to illuminate *something* immediately if there is a loss of pressure. Furthermore, if there's a TPMS system malfunction, isn't there supposed to be a separate illumination? Either way, not very happy, at least from a safety standpoint. I was fortunate enough to have this happen at 25-35mph on secondary roadways, blocks from a repair shop. But if I'd been on the highway, I or someone else could've been hurt or killed.

Otherwise, I've driven the wheels off the thing (tires were down to 2/32) over 13K miles in city conditions with my foot on the floor getting 24.0 MPG, with absolutely zero known tech, electrical or mechanical issues.

The metal was removed and the puncture was promptly repaired at Monro for $18. I will now have to debate on whining to Mazda about the TPMS not working and/or trying to get a cheap set of new tires. Monro wanted a grand for a new set, because they are an uncommon size, which is believable - but I can probably do better.. Either way, I'm not comfortable driving on 2/32 with a repair.

 

[Srad600]

Yes, the TPMS should have lit up warning you of the low pressure situation. I haven't had a flat on my CX-5, but my wife's Honda has a similar system, and as soon as it detects a pressure difference across the tires, a yellow idiot light comes on telling you there is an issue. Personally I prefer the systems that actually tell you the pressure at each wheel, you'd think this would just be a software/code thing, but its is what it is.

 

[piotrek91]

I had a small nail in one of my tires and the only reason I noticed it was the TPMS.
The pressure was down to 25PSI when the alarm went off, but the tire did not look deflated at all.

Maybe in your case it was a very sudden loss of pressure?
It's possible that the piece of metal was lodged in your tire for 5 minutes making noise but not yet leaking air.. but once it got through the tire the air all left very quickly before the system had a chance to notify you.

 

[piotrek91]

Personally I prefer the systems that actually tell you the pressure at each wheel, you'd think this would just be a software/code thing, but its is what it is.

Those systems require a pressure sensor in each wheel. The Mazda system looks at differences in tire diameter to determine if one tire has gone flat.

 

[IronMan0737]

I'm less-inclined to speculate on what the issue actually was but more curious as to whether or not anyone else here has ever heard of anything like this on the late model "kodo" Mazdas.

 

[robertmazda]

I've not heard of this and agree that the system should certainly have triggered at some point.

 

[MikeM.]

I've not heard of this and agree that the system should certainly have triggered at some point.

Yes, it should trigger at some point as long as the car had traveled a certain distance with lower pressure in one tire. What I suspect may have happened was the metal was stuck in the tire but air was not releasing. At some point the air started to release but perhaps not well after the rubbing noise alerted the driver. As he slowed down he heard the "rumble strip" noise which may have signaled that air was coming out rapidly. I suspect the TPMS won't alert until it has measured enough revolutions to determine with some degree of certainty that there is a problem.

 

[erhayes]

Was the TPMS ever reset properly after airing the tires?

 

[minnesotaart]

... the stock 255/50/19" GT tire ...

The stock GT tire size is P225/55/19 so I assume that this was just a typo as you were thinking of what to write. Just be sure and buy the correct size when you do replace them!

 

[cleverusername]

Check the tire fitment thread for more details, but there are other sizes that are a straight fit for the stock GT tires (235/50R19, 235/55R19, 245/50R19, and 255/50R19).
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123841230-CX-5-Tire-Fitments

 

[leeharvey418]

...there are other sizes that are a straight fit for the stock GT tires...

Yeah, but just because some other sizes will fit the stock wheels doesn't change the fact that IronMan said:

the stock 255/50/19" GT tire

 

[GAXIBM]

If you are using that much of an oversized tire, it may not be deforming enough to set off the monitor especially on a s curve. I don't think it detects while turning as the tries go different speeds except during a straight stretch of road.

 

[cleverusername]

Yeah, but just because some other sizes will fit the stock wheels doesn't change the fact that IronMan said:

Absolutely; however, I was chiming in in response to this: "Monro wanted a grand for a new set, because they are an uncommon size," to point out that there are options for replacement in less uncommon sizes.