TPMS - Tire pressure monitoring sensors?
- Thread starter DR1
- Start date
I got some knockoff sensors from ebay for my 08 chevy silverado. They expire quickly, some right out of the box!
I get "Pacific" sensors for my Toyotas, but Pacific makes the OE Denso models. These do fine.
Knowing your car would help us answer.
Paying more for generic sensors from a tire store may not help you at all-- they clone them with their tool then you're stuck going to them for support. And they'll wiggle/ weasel their way out.
I get "Pacific" sensors for my Toyotas, but Pacific makes the OE Denso models. These do fine.
Knowing your car would help us answer.
Paying more for generic sensors from a tire store may not help you at all-- they clone them with their tool then you're stuck going to them for support. And they'll wiggle/ weasel their way out.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Is there a tire shop you use and trust? Go with what they recommend.
Your OEM should be Denso, part number 5502300. Denso and Schrader are two of the biggest OEMs.
I would not mess around with the no-name Chinese knock-offs you'll find online for half-price. Spend the $30 to $35 bucks each and do the job once.
I would not mess around with the no-name Chinese knock-offs you'll find online for half-price. Spend the $30 to $35 bucks each and do the job once.
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Denso 550-2300 TPMS Sensor
I’d use Denso(which is really Pacific/TRW depending on what was OEM), Schrader or VDO Redi-Sensor. BH(Huf and a Chinese firm) is also an OEM. Some sensors will work only with a Bartec/Ateq TPMS tool to unlock them and update the firmware.
The clonable sensors have their place but are my last pick. I’d pick Autel’s sensors - you can buy a kit with their TS508 tool and 4/8 programmable sensors for $300-400. Keep in mind - Autel’s tool will only program their sensors. It will write and read the sensor IDs from the TPMS ECU. The Ateq/Bartec tools will program Schrader or BH clonable sensors.
The clonable sensors have their place but are my last pick. I’d pick Autel’s sensors - you can buy a kit with their TS508 tool and 4/8 programmable sensors for $300-400. Keep in mind - Autel’s tool will only program their sensors. It will write and read the sensor IDs from the TPMS ECU. The Ateq/Bartec tools will program Schrader or BH clonable sensors.
Discount Tire charges $60/each which covers the sensor, installation, (re)balancing the tire, and programming. It costs $30-35/each for sensors like VDO/Continental plus paying a shop to do the work so it makes little sense to buy them yourself.
For my car, they offer BH Sens, Schrader, and VDO - all priced the same so no advantage in one brand over the other.
https://www.discounttire.com/accessories/tpms/tpms-sensors-catalog
For my car, they offer BH Sens, Schrader, and VDO - all priced the same so no advantage in one brand over the other.
https://www.discounttire.com/accessories/tpms/tpms-sensors-catalog
Done carefully, you don't have to re-balance the tire. Only have to brake the bead near the sensor and perform the swap. My local W-M Tire & Lube Express charges five bucks a tire to swap sensors (*note* - I always carry in my tires/rims), making "buy-it-yourself" a pretty good deal.
I just put a new set of Schrader sensors on the Cruze and I bought a set of them a couple years ago for the Wrangler. Both worked perfectly for around $25 each. From what I read they make a lot of sensors for the OEM's but who really knows for sure.
I picked up a set off Amazon for my winter tires and they have been functional for three years now. No real brand name involved.
Rock Auto has recognizable brand names. Prices in CDN dollars. Multiply by 0.8.
Rock Auto has recognizable brand names. Prices in CDN dollars. Multiply by 0.8.
I don't think any tire shops try that though but yeah, I've seen videos or read that this is possible this way. Then again, doesn't this mean that the TPMS sensor needs to weigh almost exactly the same ?
I actually checked with a local WM about installing sensors I purchased and yeap, they charge just $5/tire. Problem is, they can't do the work.... Well, what I mean is they want you to drop your car off in the morning and leave it all day. Same thing with a flat tire repair (to install a patch).
Just went to Walmart today and stopped at the auto service department. They are "out" of sensors but the guy told me they sell them for $30 and they don't charge to install, program, etc. He did say they were a fully programmable sensor meaning they stock just (1) type that works for all (or almost all ??) vehicles but the brand he mentioned wasn't any that I'd ever heard of. He said they've not had any trouble with them or come-backs.
Looking on their website, I don't see the name or it's not ringing a bell looking at their website.
Looking on their website, I don't see the name or it's not ringing a bell looking at their website.That's a good thought. Your odds are better if you buy OE-like but of course improvements in design could lighten a replacement sensor.
Bead breaking is a killer app for the HF manual tire changer, but you could rig something with some 2x4 pieces mounted to the garage wall or even just lowering the frame of your jacked-up vehicle on the sidewall of a tire laying-down.
You won't disturb how the tire sits on the rim because beads that have been set for a day are dried up and virtually glued onto the rim-- and you have the inboard bead holding it all together.
I recommend for the first timer trying to sneak a sensor in "the gap" between bead and rim, to rig up some safety wire to the sensor. They are easy to drop into the tire while you're trying to fish the valve stem back through the hole. Once you get the sensor in place you can undo the wire or just leave it be.
CleanSump
Site Donor 2022
I have an old fashioned wire rope T-handle step installer. You can't lose the sensor in the tire if you fumble putting it through between tire and rim.
I've only replaced two with OEM and used a tire bead breaker we use for motorcycles. Took two people, but it pushed tire down enough to get them inside VW aluminum wheels.
I've only replaced two with OEM and used a tire bead breaker we use for motorcycles. Took two people, but it pushed tire down enough to get them inside VW aluminum wheels.
