OFFICIAL TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) discussion.
- Thread starter kcarr65
- Start date
SonicBoy24
New member
I'm in the same boat., I love checking the OnStar app and seeing how the app/car is worried about my tire pressures being too low.
Not only are my tire pressures fine, I check them myself, every single car before TPMS was invented got along just dandy without this system.
The air pressures flex with ambient temperature and driving, so it would be nice if manfufactureres would relax with this PITA system.
laborsmith
New member
Apparently I did not make clear that our elected representatives in Congres assembled perceived that SUV type vehicles traveling the public highways on tires that had low air pressure would tend to lose control at great loss of life, limp and property. The law that was passed to rectify that perceived problem has resulted in tire pressure monitors mandated in all passenger vehicles, whether a low slung ports car or a high rise special utility vehicle.
If the manufacturer were to produce a car without some way of communicating low or loss of tire pressure to the driver the car could not be sold. The reason for the law is Congress belief that American drivers are too lazy or too unskilled to monitor their own tire pressure.
In other words, we have only our fellow driver to blame, including our own selves.
Laborsmith
If the manufacturer were to produce a car without some way of communicating low or loss of tire pressure to the driver the car could not be sold. The reason for the law is Congress belief that American drivers are too lazy or too unskilled to monitor their own tire pressure.
In other words, we have only our fellow driver to blame, including our own selves.
Laborsmith
SSpeckerwood
New member
If people are to lazy or don't know how to check tires they. should not be givin a driver license.
laborsmith
New member
It is not if people could not, it is the Congress determined rather than rely on people to take care, that a law would do the trick. Despite all evidence to the contrary, are elected representative persist in trying to legislate common sense.
And the original problem was the specific tires on the specific style of vehicle.
It was not negligence in checking tire pressure. But we have the TPMS just as if the problem was driver negligence.
Fortunately, since the requirement, we no longer have accidents related to sudden loss of tire pressure or driving cars with low tire pressure. Uh oh, that may not be true. I do believe we need another law.
Laborsmith
And the original problem was the specific tires on the specific style of vehicle.
It was not negligence in checking tire pressure. But we have the TPMS just as if the problem was driver negligence.
Fortunately, since the requirement, we no longer have accidents related to sudden loss of tire pressure or driving cars with low tire pressure. Uh oh, that may not be true. I do believe we need another law.
Laborsmith
theenico
New member
That is not entirely true. Do a Google image search for Explorer rollover and/or tire failure. There are plenty of pictures out there showing Explorers on their roofs with many different brands of tires.
Explorer buyers were whining that their truck rode like one, so in the wisdom of providing a quick fix, Ford spec'ed a new lower tire pressure of 27psi. Ford was warned by Firestone that if pressures dropped much below this, there would be issues. Firestone made a bad call by not doing anything. Then stuff started to happen.
Amazingly, I had a set of those Firestone Steelteks on another vehicle and they wore like Iron. Got almost 80,000mi out of those tires.
I agree with you that TPMS is yet another way for the govt. to save us from ourselves. I will not be buying sensors for my aftermarket wheels.
SSpeckerwood
New member
I wonder if there is any way for the light in the dash to get turned off if you choose to go without the monitoring system...
LS1notFOUND
New member
The blowouts were more than just tire pressure, most tires have to be nearly totally deflated to have them separate from the sidewalls like those on the Explorers.
However those incidents combined with the rollovers is the main reason we have TPMS and Stability Control systems mandated. Stability control systems themselves have prevented in some reports up to 50% reduction in single vehicle crashes.
I know up north it saved me once or twice, and don't say its the driver, because there's no way you can control individual brakes and move power from one wheel to another...driver helps, this helps more. Ice is just ice
I'll never forget when I had snow tires on the front of a 98 Deville, less than stellar all seasons on the back, vehicle DID NOT have Stability Control equipped and I the ABS was out from a wheel sensor I believe. Started to stop on 4 Lane Main Street in Buffalo, packed snow on the ground temps near zero.
The rear locked up, car swung nearly perpendicular to the road - see curb, eased off and swung her back - see on coming traffic, 4 or 5 times back and forth before finally coming to a stop a yard from the traffic stopped at the light, thumbs up from those in-front of me who probably were white knuckled as the sedan hurled toward them.
I hit the brakes a good football field or more behind the stopped traffic, yeah talk about nearly crapping your pants. I got to watch the next guy coming down the road do a similar show in my rear-view.
Moral of the story is stability control probably would have straightened me out no prob and always put 4 snows or at least good tires with the snows, on your vehicle
However those incidents combined with the rollovers is the main reason we have TPMS and Stability Control systems mandated. Stability control systems themselves have prevented in some reports up to 50% reduction in single vehicle crashes.
I know up north it saved me once or twice, and don't say its the driver, because there's no way you can control individual brakes and move power from one wheel to another...driver helps, this helps more. Ice is just ice
I'll never forget when I had snow tires on the front of a 98 Deville, less than stellar all seasons on the back, vehicle DID NOT have Stability Control equipped and I the ABS was out from a wheel sensor I believe. Started to stop on 4 Lane Main Street in Buffalo, packed snow on the ground temps near zero.
The rear locked up, car swung nearly perpendicular to the road - see curb, eased off and swung her back - see on coming traffic, 4 or 5 times back and forth before finally coming to a stop a yard from the traffic stopped at the light, thumbs up from those in-front of me who probably were white knuckled as the sedan hurled toward them.
I hit the brakes a good football field or more behind the stopped traffic, yeah talk about nearly crapping your pants. I got to watch the next guy coming down the road do a similar show in my rear-view.
Moral of the story is stability control probably would have straightened me out no prob and always put 4 snows or at least good tires with the snows, on your vehicle
laborsmith
New member
Correct and more accurate, theenico.
To me there is a difference between TPMS and Active Handling, the proprietary name Chevy attaches to the Corvette's combining traction control and stability control. The latter is a definite help, particularly in adverse driving conditions, one of which was ^ so compellingly described.
There may be a way to turn the TPMS off, but if there is no one who knows has been willing to tell or sell. I think if I was going with summer set and a winter set I would have the sensors on the set I would be using for the majority of the year. But,theenico, you would not be the first to opt to drive with the light on (as I am sure you know) and you really learn not to notice it fairly quickly. Not that I have ever been in that position, at least not today. And I was out driving the Sonic this morning - all its nannies are functional and working, so no extra lights on in the IP for me.
Laborsmith
To me there is a difference between TPMS and Active Handling, the proprietary name Chevy attaches to the Corvette's combining traction control and stability control. The latter is a definite help, particularly in adverse driving conditions, one of which was ^ so compellingly described.
There may be a way to turn the TPMS off, but if there is no one who knows has been willing to tell or sell. I think if I was going with summer set and a winter set I would have the sensors on the set I would be using for the majority of the year. But,theenico, you would not be the first to opt to drive with the light on (as I am sure you know) and you really learn not to notice it fairly quickly. Not that I have ever been in that position, at least not today. And I was out driving the Sonic this morning - all its nannies are functional and working, so no extra lights on in the IP for me.
Laborsmith
My wife had a 2011 LTZ RS Cruze that she just traded for a 2012 LTZ RS Cruze (don't ask, seriously, don't ask) and has 2 sets of wheels/tires for summer/winter. I plan on the same once I get the Sonic. I will have the sensors in all 8 wheels just because. Last fall I swapped her summer for winter and we ended up taking it to the dealer to get the different wheel sensors synced to the car and they charged us less than $10.
I saw the tool mentioned earlier and have thought about getting one since with 2 cars swapping twice a year it would pay off in a couple years. I started looking around on the Internet for a possibly cheaper version and came up empty handed on that front but I did find this:
Any idea if this would work? I will try next fall or when I have my Sonic, 2 sets on wheels, spare time and $10 to get it back to right if it doesn't work.
I saw the tool mentioned earlier and have thought about getting one since with 2 cars swapping twice a year it would pay off in a couple years. I started looking around on the Internet for a possibly cheaper version and came up empty handed on that front but I did find this:
Any idea if this would work? I will try next fall or when I have my Sonic, 2 sets on wheels, spare time and $10 to get it back to right if it doesn't work.
SonicBoy24
New member
I KNOW!!! Let's just have Congress pass a law telling tires that they aren't allowed to go flat. Then we won't need TPMS and we can just punish the individual tires as they misbehave.
laborsmith
New member
Heaven's hounds, SonicBoy, please don't give Congress any ideas.
My issue w/ the system is it can not be turned off. I can understand not being able to turn it off for run-flat equipped cars, but if we can turn off traction control and stabilitrak than we should be able to do the same for TPMS in much the same way.
Laborsmith
My issue w/ the system is it can not be turned off. I can understand not being able to turn it off for run-flat equipped cars, but if we can turn off traction control and stabilitrak than we should be able to do the same for TPMS in much the same way.
Laborsmith
SonicBoy24
New member
haha seeing how they spend their time declaring whether or not pizza is technically a vegetable, I wouldn't be surprised if this is already on the books
laborsmith
New member
The sensors can be transferred for about $5 each. If one chooses to go w/o the TPMS system functioning, there will be chimes for a few moments and the IP light. OnStar may get involved, particularly if you enroll in its diagnostic monitoring service, as it appears to be a not so missing link between autonomy and overt government incursion. You can adjust to the light, but in this current time period, the traction control and Stabilitrak will likely also be affected. One of the engineers will know. I am not a fan of OnStar nor of TPMS, but I am of traction control and Stabilitrak so I have operable TPMS installed.
Laborsmith
Laborsmith
SonicBoy24
New member
How does TPMS work? Do the sensors have batteries or how else do they get the power to broadcast the tire pressures?
laborsmith
New member
Not a question I have seen asked or answered before. I would say that those sensors that (such as those used by GM) communicate directly to the vehicle computer have batteries and those systems that depend on the computer keeping track of the tire revolutions compared to each other tire do not.
But I am guessing about the latter.
Laborsmith
But I am guessing about the latter.
Laborsmith
laborsmith
New member
I believe I have seen them for about $40 each. Maybe at the Tire Rack or Discount Tires? Although uou get used to the light, cars these days have so many interconnected systems that I would not run w/o them.
Laborsmith
Laborsmith
