g-townmach

This might be a dumb question but do I need to buy a new set of TPMS's when I replace my factory Goodyear's? I plan on going to Nitto Invo's.

I am thinking that I don't but I remember reading about TPMS's that had to be replaced when the tire/rim were broken down... but that may have been the TPMS type that was in the valve-stem. C6's have the type that is attached the inner rim itself, correct.

Please advise, and thank you.

2vettes

You're TPMS do not have to be replaced. Just keep in mind that they are position specific; thus right front (RF) can not go anywhere else unless you want to have it reprogrammed.

BEZ06

No - you don't need new tire pressure sensors!!!

Here's how our C6 tire pressure sensors mount in OE wheels:










So, you can see that the valve stem is part of the sensor, and it's actually part of the antenna of the sensor to transmit the signal from the sensor to the TPMS computer in the car.

The sensors have a design life of 10 years, so the only reason to replace them would be if they are giving you problems that might indicate the battery is getting weak in one of them.

Your current sensors are programmed into the TPMS computer, and it knows which sensor is on which corner of the car from the order they were programmed in.

So.....just tell the tire shop to make sure they stay on the same corner of the car they are on now and no relearn procedure will be required.

If the positions do get mixed up they'll still work fine, but the DIC report of pressure won't correspond to the actual position - i.e., if the sensor that was on the left rear gets put in the right front, when the DIC says "Left Rear 20psi" it will really be talking about the right front. in that case you could have the shop do relearn procedure to reprogram them into the TPMS computer memory.

If you get new sensors make sure to get the proper ones for your model year - the 2005-2009 uses one part# sensor and the 2010+ uses a different one.

Bob

AORoads

and keep in mind that the tpms has a batt in each and they have a lifespan. not sure exactly what the years of usage are, but believe it's 10 years, but it could be less.

thank goodness bob above answered before me!!

WV Vette

No, you can use your TPMS sensors again. They only measure the air pressure within the tire but rmember they are location sensitive. Most major tire shops can reset the TPMS sensors after they install your new tires so you can drive away with no fault codes.

EVRose

I've read on here they last approx 7 years. I had one of mine start showing xx. I had some new wheels put on last month and Discount Tire said they last 6 years. I had them replace all of mine. $70each.

BEZ06

"Design life" for our C6 tire pressure sensors is 10 years - some will last longer than that, some less.

The 2005 C6 I used to have is now owned by my brother-in-law. It was built in Aug 2004. After almost 8 years all the sensors working fine.

YMMV!!!

Bob

Wayne O

Your TPS's should be fine, however, when you change tires I'd have the seals replaced to 'freshen-up' your sensors. For instance, Discount Tire sells a 'rebuild' kit which costs around $5 or $6. They generally do this as part of the tire swap.

Dave Carney

It depends on when this new set of tires will need to be replaced. I would not count on anything beyond 7 years for the sensor battery. So, how old will your sensors be when these new tires are done?

RobLo

Gonna get new tires on my '05 soon, the installer recommended new TPM's, said life expectancy was about 7 years and even if I don't replace them now, sometime in the future I will have to and then the tire(s) would have to be removed and remounted, easier (and cheaper) to change them now, price quoted was $42 each.....

peter pan

Good to see 7-10 years on sensors

MKenM

I had a problem with the TPMS on my Mercedes when I had new tires put on. About a week after the new tires were put on the information center told me that the pressure was low. I bought it back to the dealer. For some reason the TPMS on two tires were disturbed during the tire change process. They had to replace the seals as shown above. It would be good advise to have the seals changed to insure no leaks. JMO

BEZ06

with Wayne O and MKenM - get the "rebuild kits". They don't rebuild anything inside the sensor, but can reduce problems with the gasket/seal leaking.

Here are some sensors with good gaskets - they're often called O-rings, but they're a stepped gasket or seal that has those shoulders on it so the smaller part can fit into the hole in the wheel and the larger diameter part will seal against the inside of the wheel:




Here are some other sensors and you might be able to see that the shoulders are sort of rounded down and they probably won't seal as well as new ones - also they get harder/less flexible as they age:




And here's one that was probably overtorqed and split - obviously not what you want on your car:




BTW, the torque spec for the retaining bolt/collar that screws down onto the valve stem is very low - 62 INCH-lbs, that's only 5 foot-lbs!!!

Bob

JoesC5

If the sensors are 7 years old or older, and you expect your new tires to last more then three years, go ahead and change out the sensors while you have access to them.

LS WON

No need to if everything works fine regardless of age. "If it ain't broke don't fix it" save $$$ and time by not messing around with it only to have someone mess it up for you anyway.

Dave1998

3 of the orginal 4 sensors on my October 1997 built C5 are still working

Gearhead Jim

IIRC, the sensors transmitt more frequently when the wheel is rolling, so the battery life is actually some combination of years and miles. We are putting 15k-20k miles per year on the car, so I plan to get new sensors at the first tire change after 5 years or 50k miles.

Because of the distances and places we drive, reliability is more important to me than saving a few bucks.

Those who don't drive the car lot can probably use just the years as a guide.

dcarter0001

Can the batteries be changed out in the sensors?

JoesC5

JoesC5

They are potted in place. You can dig out the potting and solder in new batteries, if you have a lot of time on your hands.