TPMS Sensor Questions

[charbaby]

I have a few questions regarding TPMS sensors

*My 2023 Toyota Venza(OE 18" wheels, not 19") does not have a full size spare. Venza only has a space saver spare(limited use).
*I am installing a full size spare tire in the spare tire well. It'll fit for sure, as I test fit one of my wheel/tire from the vehicle.
*I found online, a Black Steel "brand new" 18x7...5x114.3...60.1 hub bore that fits(RAV4, Venza, Highlander, Camry, Lexus etc.) for $99 shipped.
*I recently had new Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus3 installed(at 20K miles) and I am keeping the best OE Dunlop PT20 as a spare(5-6 32nds) for this new Black Steel wheel.
*This black steel wheel & OE tire will be a better spare IMO! At least the overall diameter will be closer to my new Pirelli's than the OE space saver spare is, which isn't even close.
*And I can install this new spare should something happen while on the road/hiwy and finish my journey.

1) Does the OE space saver spare tire in vehicles have a TPMS sensor in it?
2) When the spare tire is installed on a vehicle(One with no TPMS sensor), does the TPMS light up in the dash?
3) Does it cause Traction Control to be defeated when the TPMS is lit on the dash?
4) Do I need to install a TPMS sensor in this new spare tire that I am putting in the vehicle? Which may never, ever get use!!!

What say you?
CB

 

[Leo99]

4) you probably don't need to but it will alert you if the spare gets low and a flat spare ain't no spare at all. (unless you have a way to pump it up with you)

 

[Nukeman7]

I have a few questions regarding TPMS sensors

*My 2023 Toyota Venza(OE 18" wheels, not 19") does not have a full size spare. Venza only has a space saver spare(limited use).
*I am installing a full size spare tire in the spare tire well. It'll fit for sure, as I test fit one of my wheel/tire from the vehicle.
*I found online, a Black Steel "brand new" 18x7...5x114.3...60.1 hub bore that fits(RAV4, Venza, Highlander, Camry, Lexus etc.) for $99 shipped.
*I recently had new Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus3 installed(at 20K miles) and I am keeping the best OE Dunlop PT20 as a spare(5-6 32nds) for this new Black Steel wheel.
*This black steel wheel & OE tire will be a better spare IMO! At least the overall diameter will be closer to my new Pirelli's than the OE space saver spare is, which isn't even close.
*And I can install this new spare should something happen while on the road/hiwy and finish my journey.

The following answers are based upon my personal experiences. With that said, your '23 Venza is probably similar due to Toyota's conventional protocols.

1) Does the OE space saver spare tire in vehicles have a TPMS sensor in it?

Typically, no they do not.

2) When the spare tire is installed on a vehicle(One with no TPMS sensor), does the TPMS light up in the dash?

It may depend on where the original (removed) tire is stored and whether the pressure is above the threshold. For example, if the original tire is left in the garage, the TPMS warning light will illuminate on the dash once you drive out of range. If stored in the trunk and still inflated above ~28 psi, it typically won't illuminate.

3) Does it cause Traction Control to be defeated when the TPMS is lit on the dash?

Depends on the vehicle, but most Traction Control systems rely on the signal from each wheel's ABS sensors, not TPMS transmitters (unless indirect TPMS like on newer Hondas). However, if the tire goes flat and illuminates the TPMS light, the circumference of a deflated tire should be able to to cause dissimilar ABS signal readings that would disable the Traction Control system.

4) Do I need to install a TPMS sensor in this new spare tire that I am putting in the vehicle? Which may never, ever get use!!!

You don't unless you want to keep the TPMS warning light turned off when the new full size spare is installed. Some owners install TPMS sensors on the full-size spare because they routinely rotate between all 5 tires.

 

[Pelican]

I have a few questions regarding TPMS sensors

*My 2023 Toyota Venza(OE 18" wheels, not 19") does not have a full size spare. Venza only has a space saver spare(limited use).
*I am installing a full size spare tire in the spare tire well. It'll fit for sure, as I test fit one of my wheel/tire from the vehicle.
*I found online, a Black Steel "brand new" 18x7...5x114.3...60.1 hub bore that fits(RAV4, Venza, Highlander, Camry, Lexus etc.) for $99 shipped.
*I recently had new Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus3 installed(at 20K miles) and I am keeping the best OE Dunlop PT20 as a spare(5-6 32nds) for this new Black Steel wheel.
*This black steel wheel & OE tire will be a better spare IMO! At least the overall diameter will be closer to my new Pirelli's than the OE space saver spare is, which isn't even close.
*And I can install this new spare should something happen while on the road/hiwy and finish my journey.

1) Does the OE space saver spare tire in vehicles have a TPMS sensor in it?
2) When the spare tire is installed on a vehicle(One with no TPMS sensor), does the TPMS light up in the dash?
3) Does it cause Traction Control to be defeated when the TPMS is lit on the dash?
4) Do I need to install a TPMS sensor in this new spare tire that I am putting in the vehicle? Which may never, ever get use!!!

What say you?
CB

As much as I hate these spacesaver tires/wheels you must remember that they are there to take you from where the regular tire failed to the nearest tire-shop at a low speed. They are not there to do what a regular tire does, so all your worries about TPMS are moot.

 

[charbaby]

4) you probably don't need to but it will alert you if the spare gets low and a flat spare ain't no spare at all. (unless you have a way to pump it up with you)

Yup! I keep a mini compressor in the hatch, 4 way lug wrench, tire gauge, some tools, first aid kit, etc., etc.

 

[jadmt]

on my vehicles with full size spares that get rotated in ie a Jeep wrangler and Ram Power wagon....the tpms is only active when it is on a rotating wheel...ie the spare can be flat and it will not trigger the warning in the dash.. our CRV the thing that triggered the dash was when one tire was low and therefore the system detected it was a different size so again it had to be rotating so on any of these vehicles the tire pressure monitoring system did not care about the spare until it was being used....I too am in the camp that if I get a flat I am usually in a place where a temp spare is not going to cut it for me....imagine getting a flat in he middle of nowhere and on a holiday with no tire shops in sight.....Travel in Montana and the dakotas and wyoming etc and you can go a long ways before finding a shop and then the chances of them having something that fits any of my vehicles are slim....

 

[The_Jeff]

I can speak for my late model Prius.

There is space inside the computer to remember a fifth sensor ID, but I'm not sure how to get it to listen to or respect it. In fact, when programming new sensors, I don't know how to add a fifth.

Toyota sensors have a seven character hexadecimal ID that is unique per wheel. These need programming with a scan tool. If you switch to a spare, the TPMS light will be on either because

- the tire is flat and the sensor is communicating that fact

- the tire and rim are elsewhere and the missing sensor is considered an issue.

If your fifth rim has a sensor or installed, you can use an obdii dongle like Carista(tm) to overwrite the flat one, if you feel you'll be running this way for a while. It's such a hassle, IMO, I'd just leave it and drive with the light on for a week.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

A donut may or may not have a TPMS sensor in it. Full-size spares will have one.

As much as I hate these spacesaver tires/wheels you must remember that they are there to take you from where the regular tire failed to the nearest tire-shop at a low speed. They are not there to do what a regular tire does, so all your worries about TPMS are moot.

Altimas were sold in Canada

I can speak for my late model Prius.

There is space inside the computer to remember a fifth sensor ID, but I'm not sure how to get it to listen to or respect it. In fact, when programming new sensors, I don't know how to add a fifth.

Toyota sensors have a seven character hexadecimal ID that is unique per wheel. These need programming with a scan tool. If you switch to a spare, the TPMS light will be on either because

- the tire is flat and the sensor is communicating that fact

- the tire and rim are elsewhere and the missing sensor is considered an issue.

If your fifth rim has a sensor or installed, you can use an obdii dongle like Carista(tm) to overwrite the flat one, if you feel you'll be running this way for a while. It's such a hassle, IMO, I'd just leave it and drive with the light on for a week.

Would this 4runner method also apply to your Prius and the OP's Venza?

 

[Pelican]

A donut may or may not have a TPMS sensor in it. Full-size spares will have one.



Altimas were sold in Canada

Can't get the connection with TPMS

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Yup! I keep a mini compressor in the hatch, 4 way lug wrench, tire gauge, some tools, first aid kit, etc., etc.

Same here. I even keep a battery powered impact wrench in case of need on side of any very busy and dangerous highways.
Several years ago , as I was stocking my own cars with emergency essentials, I thought about the two sons and their families who happen to travel a lot. I ended up over time slowly stocking their cars with the same items. I guess the old Boy Scout saying stuck with me from the mid 70s. "Always be Prepared!"

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Honda must use one of the most simple type of TPMS stems and systems available.
Why? Well, since we have owned several new and used Honda Accords, from LS, SE, Sport and EXL models since the early 1990s, there has been zero issues at all. I have never had to deal with the replacement of any tire stems. The only TPMS item that I have ever had to deal with was for myself to use the owner manual and then to re-set to re-calibrate the system once in a while when I had any tire pressure loss due to any nails or actual tire replacements.
I have had two friends who own Toyota trucks who have told me that they have had the Toyota TPMS cost them some dollars when they needed minor maintenance or replacements. Either after buying new tires or after fixing flats. Not exactly sure why or what is actually different from one make to the next? There should be some generic swap out parts at the very least.... to help owners avoid costly fixes.

 

[charbaby]

On some Honda's, they use sensors on the wheel hubs to determine the ride height and not psi.
I actually like this type of TPMS as I still use a pencil style tire PSI gauge and keep one in the vehicle and like the old school way of doing things sometimes. My Nissan's & Toyota's use the valve stem type of sensor that gives a reading in-dash for each wheel. I like this too and have not had to replace the sensors as of yet.

 

[charbaby]

As much as I hate these spacesaver tires/wheels you must remember that they are there to take you from where the regular tire failed to the nearest tire-shop at a low speed. They are not there to do what a regular tire does, so all your worries about TPMS are moot.

Right, I get that! Which is why I want a full size spare in the size of my other 4 tires.
However, if I am driving out of state on vacation and I get a flat tire, I want to be able to throw on a full size spare tire and finish my trip or at least get to my next destination or hotel for the overnight.
Maybe in the morning, I'll repair the flat tire if possible as I keep a plug kit in all vehicles, put the repaired tire back on the car & get going again. I have no problem plugging a tire in the parking lot of the hotel. If the flat tire unfortunately has sidewall damage, I can at least keep the spare tire on the vehicle and finish my whole trip until I actually get home again.

 

[charbaby]

Thank you all for your input. I only want a TPMS sensor in the spare tire so that if the spare is installed, I won’t temporarily disable traction control, if this is indeed the case. Otherwise, I don’t care if the spare tire has a TPMS sensor itself. I do know of vehicles that will disable TC when there is a TPMS fault. And I know of other vehicles(HONDA) that will temporarily disable TC if the TPMS is not initialize(calibrated) when changing tires or sometimes when rotating tires or changing over from winter to summer tires, etc. I always initialize the Honda TPMs after any of the above just as a precaution. Otherwise it will trigger in the middle of my driving.
My Toyota’s and Nissan’s(thus far) have always recalibrated the TPMS automatically just by driving, which is the way it should be!