TPMS Sensors

Underinflated tires waste fuel and adversely affect handling, and can cause ply separation and breakdown, which can lead to complete tire failure, accidents, injuries and death. In response to a growing number of fatalities, Congress passed the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act, which established Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 138. FMVSS 138 mandated that all vehicles should be equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) beginning from 2007, to monitor tire pressure and warn the driver when tires are underinflated by 25% or more.

There are indirect systems that use data from the wheel speed sensors in the ABS system, and direct systems that use sensors mounted in each wheel. An indirect system does not indicate tire pressure, only if a tire is low, and will not tell you if all tires are uniformly low. In contrast, the battery-powered sensors in a direct system, usually attached to the valve stem, transmit tire pressure data to a computer, which then displays the information on the dash panel. A dash light will illuminate if pressure is low in any of the tires, and most systems can also display the tire pressure at each wheel.

The batteries in TPMS sensors have a life expectancy of 5-7 years. Corrosion can reduce the lifespan of TPMS sensors, and they can also be damaged by inexperienced tire technicians when mounting tires on rims. But even if your system is currently working good, the smart move is to be proactive: replace TPMS sensors when you’re having new tires mounted. This way you won’t have to pay to have tires remounted and balanced again if the sensors fail shortly afterwards. And if you’re buying a new set of custom wheels from us, order TPMS sensors at the same time. That goes double for when you buy from us tires premounted on wheels in a wheel and tire package. We’ll install the TPMS sensors, and mount and balance the tires before we ship them.

Our selection of TPMS sensors means you’ll never have to pay high dealer prices for replacements. The sensors we offer fit over 90% of the vehicles on the road. They program to your vehicle using the exact same procedure as you would use for the factory sensors, and you can use the same scan tool if one is required. And if programming of the OE sensors can be accomplished without tools, you’ll be able to do the same with our sensors. The valve stem can also be removed from the sensor, allowing for the replacement of a damaged valve stem without the need to replace the entire sensor. In addition to TPMS sensors, we also offer service kits that include the valve core, nut, seal, and cap; individual components; and TPMS tools that allow you to do everything from sensor cloning to system diagnosis.

If you have an older car or truck that doesn’t have a TPMS system, now you can easily add this important safety feature to your vehicle. We offer complete TPMS systems that can be installed on any vehicle in minutes. The display plugs into your cigarette lighter or 12V outlet, and indicates the pressure in each tire and includes a warning that illuminates if pressure is too high or low, and if a tire has a fast or slow leak. The sensors attach to your existing valve stems, and locks are included to prevent theft. Both black and silver sensor covers are also included, so you can get the look you want for your wheels. This kit is ideal not only for older, pre-factory TPMS vehicles, but also for OE TPMS applications where the system does not indicate individual tire pressure.