New tires with TPMS

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I'm pricing some tires for my 2008 Sienna...I asked a tire shop today if they rebuild the TPMS and they said they never do. I thought I read it was strongly recommended, if not mandatory to replace the TPMS seals when tires are changed. Any thoughts?
 
It isn't required, but I probably would. Think of it as the same as replacing the old-style rubber valve stems.
 
The critic, is right, not needed.

However if you feel the need too, most, if not all toyota dealers sell a rebuild kit. It consists of an aluminum washer, rubber (maybe silicone) custom shaped ring and maybe a valve steam seal. FYI it takes a standard valve steam seal.

The aluminum washer practically last forever if you leave it alone. The rubber seals feel very flexible, even on relatively older vehicles, as long as there not over tightened.

Most common problem on toyota TPM sensors, people breaking them, while mounting and un-mounting tires and leaking valve steam seals.
 
With low miles, it might be a case of if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I understand wanting to keep it reliable and get new parts in there, but consider that the newly installed parts might not seal well, and replacing the originals might open up a can of worms with reliability, because of the possibility of getting a bad seal when you install new parts.

A neighbor of mine purchased a new Jeep. It was one of the fancy ones with the monster turbo-charged engine made in Mexico. One of the TPMS seals had a leak that would only act up on the coldest days. He first thought it was the tire. Then he thought it was the tire seal, then the rim. The tire would go flat over night, but only on the coldest nights. What a PIA that was. He would have a flat on the coldest mornings. It took him so long to figure out what the problem was that it was out of warranty by the time he figured it out.

In other words, if the mileage is low enough you might statistically be better off not putting new parts on it.
 
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Originally Posted By: The Critic
It isn't required, but I probably would. Think of it as the same as replacing the old-style rubber valve stems.

Exactly.
If you have a 2008 model, it's possible those seals are 4 years old. Ask yourself, would you re-use 4 year old valve stems?
 
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