Question about replacing TPMS/DIY bead breaking?!
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Question about replacing TPMS/DIY bead breaking?!
I've had a couple weak TPMS sensors for awhile now that would come and go at times. Well I guess a 120 mile round trip to and from Orlando was too much for them and they've given up completely.
I have 4 new sensors ordered (figured I might as well do them all at once since they're all 10 years old now), and I'd planned on taking them to a local tire joint to get them swapped in. But I've read several posts now on guys just breaking part of the bead loose just far enough down to swap the sensor, and I'm curious as to what procedure one might use for this.
I've broken many a bead loose on my own, but only on things like motorcycles, atvs, and tall pizza cutter car tires using a myriad of techniques involving jacks, 8' 2x4"s, running over them with another vehicle etc. I would think a wide, low profile tire like a C5's would present another set of challenges entirely.
Soooo ... anyone done it? pics?
I have 4 new sensors ordered (figured I might as well do them all at once since they're all 10 years old now), and I'd planned on taking them to a local tire joint to get them swapped in. But I've read several posts now on guys just breaking part of the bead loose just far enough down to swap the sensor, and I'm curious as to what procedure one might use for this.
I've broken many a bead loose on my own, but only on things like motorcycles, atvs, and tall pizza cutter car tires using a myriad of techniques involving jacks, 8' 2x4"s, running over them with another vehicle etc. I would think a wide, low profile tire like a C5's would present another set of challenges entirely.
Soooo ... anyone done it? pics?
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,768
Likes: 3,283
From: Phoenix area, AZ
I've had a couple weak TPMS sensors for awhile now that would come and go at times. Well I guess a 120 mile round trip to and from Orlando was too much for them and they've given up completely.
I have 4 new sensors ordered (figured I might as well do them all at once since they're all 10 years old now), and I'd planned on taking them to a local tire joint to get them swapped in. But I've read several posts now on guys just breaking part of the bead loose just far enough down to swap the sensor, and I'm curious as to what procedure one might use for this.
I've broken many a bead loose on my own, but only on things like motorcycles, atvs, and tall pizza cutter car tires using a myriad of techniques involving jacks, 8' 2x4"s, running over them with another vehicle etc. I would think a wide, low profile tire like a C5's would present another set of challenges entirely.
Soooo ... anyone done it? pics?
I have 4 new sensors ordered (figured I might as well do them all at once since they're all 10 years old now), and I'd planned on taking them to a local tire joint to get them swapped in. But I've read several posts now on guys just breaking part of the bead loose just far enough down to swap the sensor, and I'm curious as to what procedure one might use for this.
I've broken many a bead loose on my own, but only on things like motorcycles, atvs, and tall pizza cutter car tires using a myriad of techniques involving jacks, 8' 2x4"s, running over them with another vehicle etc. I would think a wide, low profile tire like a C5's would present another set of challenges entirely.
Soooo ... anyone done it? pics?
If you attempt to break the bead, and screw up the sidewall, or worse, the wheel itself (score, scratch, dent, etc.) you're stuck with a screwed up wheel or tire that you have to pay to replace/repair.
If you take the wheels/tires to a tire shop, and they screw up the wheel or tire, they pay to replace/repair what they screwed up.
Which would you prefer?
This:
Or this:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,498
Likes: 680
From: The beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast!!
I've done it before, but with proper equipment at the base Auto Hobby shop. My advice is to pay a few bucks & let the pros do it. Also I'd suggest you program the TPMS sensors BEFORE they're installed; just use a Sharpie to label each sensor for the appropriate wheel...eg LF, RF, etc. Good luck!
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Even if you were somehow able to break the run flat tire beads, pushing those stiff sidewalls in far enough to reach the sensors would be another challenge.
