Proactive replacement of TPMS sensors?

[Dave P.]

My daughter's 2018 RAV4 is in need of two front tires. Given the year of the car, I'm thinking I should have the tire shop replace the TPMS sensors as well just to ensure the batteries don't die 3 days after the tires are installed. Would you just let the tire shop install whatever one-size-fits-all sensors they have?
Buy two from Rock Auto where they run anywhere from about $20.00 to $50.00 each and then pay for installation? Go to Toyota and buy them there?
From what I see, tire shops are charging close to $100.00 to install and program each sensor!

 

[Leo99]

I bought tires recently and I think it was $10 cheaper to get new TPMS at the same time as the tire installation. About $50 vs $60. So, you're not saving much by being proactive. Just the hassle of taking your car into the shop a second time. They only replaced the one TPMS that was failing.

 

[oldcodger]

I replaced them all when the first one failed at 110,000 miles.

 

[bdcardinal]

When I got new tires on the Mustang last June I had them do the sensors as they were 11 years old and probably going to start dropping out one at a time.

 

[KGMtech]

When I scrapped our 2009 Ford Flex in 2024, the original TPMS sensors went along, working perfectly. So the OEM's lasted 15 years, YMMV.

 

[Nukeman7]

Most of them have 10 yr. batteries installed, so at least 3 - 4 yrs. left on the OEM sensors? If there is only ~$10 savings to replace them now, I would wait until the batteries die. TPMS is a convenience, not a necessity (or really a safety feature, per se).

I was quoted $60 per tire by Discount Tire for replacing the TPMS sensors without buying any tires. WalMart Tire Centers allegedly charge ~$30 to replace the sensors.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Replace them every 10 years or every other set of tires.

 

[edyvw]

My daughter's 2018 RAV4 is in need of two front tires. Given the year of the car, I'm thinking I should have the tire shop replace the TPMS sensors as well just to ensure the batteries don't die 3 days after the tires are installed. Would you just let the tire shop install whatever one-size-fits-all sensors they have?
Buy two from Rock Auto where they run anywhere from about $20.00 to $50.00 each and then pay for installation? Go to Toyota and buy them there?
From what I see, tire shops are charging close to $100.00 to install and program each sensor!

Ebay has OE sensors. I always get there.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Yeah but then that little light in our '13 GS350 might go out...

 

[rijndael]

Ebay has OE sensors. I always get there.

What is the counterfeit likelihood?

 

[SC Maintenance]

Discount tire charged me $60 each total, installed. I don't remember the brand - whatever they were selling. It doesn't seem to matter if your doing 1 or 4, with new tires or without - they were still $60 each. I did all 4 because I was there, but it was 13 years old - one had stopped working maybe 6 months earlier.

 

[Owen Lucas]

I'd be proactive and change them, $120 for the front is a good deal as the tires might outlast the sensor batteries.

 

[edyvw]

What is the counterfeit likelihood?

Not sure.
On Tiguan they did 11 winter seasons, 6 so far on summer set.
On BMW 3 seasons on winter set, 4 on track set, 3 on summer set. On summer setI am getting intermittent error from one sensor. Will replace it in few weeks when I rotate tires.
I had on Sienna 4 winters before trading in car and now on Sequoia on winter set.
So, in my experience, they were ok.

 

[loneryder]

My daughter's 2018 RAV4 is in need of two front tires. Given the year of the car, I'm thinking I should have the tire shop replace the TPMS sensors as well just to ensure the batteries don't die 3 days after the tires are installed. Would you just let the tire shop install whatever one-size-fits-all sensors they have?
Buy two from Rock Auto where they run anywhere from about $20.00 to $50.00 each and then pay for installation? Go to Toyota and buy them there?
From what I see, tire shops are charging close to $100.00 to install and program each sensor!

I just had them done with new tires on my 15 ML 350. They were 10 years old and that's about their expected life. They were about $45 each installed. I have a 14 E350 that I had replaced all of them 2 years ago and one totally died. They were done at Costco so I assume they used good ones but who knows. I agree with what you are doing.

 

[Variant_S]

TPMS is a convenience, not a necessity (or really a safety feature, per se).

It is a safety feature to me. When the light came on at 80 mph on I-80 in Wyoming, I was able to get the car to the shoulder without losing control.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

On my 13' CRV, I had all 4 replaced in 2022. Can't stand an idiot light,, lit up on the dash !! Drives me nuts !

 

[Paco Pena]

Toyota's tend to be picky about TPMS units. Many aftermarket ones will not play nice with the system. One of those parts that I would go with OEM when it fails. They can go a LONG time before crapping out. I wouldnt replace until you have to myself.

Paco

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Finicky Asian cars !!!

 

[FowVay]

The last RAV4 that I did the sensors in had lasted 12 years. The vehicle was a 2010 model and I replaced all 5 in 2022. I think that if I were in your shoes then I'd wait until closer to the 10 year mark before spending the resources. If it's not going to leave you stranded on the side of the road then wait for failure.

 

[rijndael]

I have a 2010 Highlander, the origional TPMS in the spare tire just went bad. Not a bad run....