Looking at getting a new set of wheels and tires. I want to leave my factory set alone to put back on later.

TPMS sensors are pricey (about 70 ea). Want to know if anyone has gone TPMS less and what it does to the car. Does it throw a code, go to a reduced power mode? Any info is appreciated.

 

I haven't personally tried driving without sensors, but heard enough bad thing's about not, just included them in my second setup. Some claim, not being able to turn off traction control, to cutting engine power. Also bought a program tool, as you'll be needing that too. No big deal, as all of my cars are TPMS now.

 

Check around, I'm not sure what the part number for the ones in the C6 are but when I had my Camaro I bought an extra set of rims and needed sensors for the TPMS. From Chevy they were pretty expensive. I bought an OEM set of 4 from a Camaro vendor for $100. I'm pretty sure some of our vendors here might have some pretty good prices.

 

No, the sensors are not 70 bucks a pop, unless you buy it from your local dealer. I picked up a new set on fleabay for 50 bucks and 120-160 is the common price. Rolling without sensors is bad idea IMO, especially when you ditch the runflats. If you do not have money for sensors, you should not be buying new rims and tires.

 

If you're driving on runflats, don't drive without tire pressure sensors!!!

With the stiff sidewalls you just don't get any handling feedback if you lose pressure while running straight down the highway. However, when you take the off-ramp or next curve in a spirited manner and build up a sideload you might find yourself in the guardrail or curb and wonder why.

I highly recommend sensors in your tires. Your profile says you have a 2008, so you need sensors for the 2005-2009 model years. Most forum vendors sell new sets of 4 for around $250, however Bob's House of Wheels sells them for about $180, IIRC.

Take a look on eBay and you can find a set of 4 used ones for less than $100 - do a search for the GM part # of 25758220. I've got a set of used ones in my ZR1 wheels right now and they work great!!

Like Vette5.5 says, you'll need a TPMS tool to program them in.

Bob

 

When I first changed my wheels I drove without the sensors.... Seeing that stupid light on the dashboard every second of everyday drove me crazy. It took about 3 days for me too finally give in and mount my sensors.

 

You can buy a set of Orange Electronic sensors brand new for $130 shipped (and no sales tax)...and they work great.

 

Great info, thanks guys.

Now what's the deal with this TPMS programming tool? Expensive?

 

Here's one for $68.57:

https://gmspecialservicetools.spx.co...s.aspx?id=5677

If you'd rather support a forum vendor, Katech has the same tool for about $100.

Tire Rack has an ATEQ tool for $110:

http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/...jsp?brand=ATEQ


There's a video below showing how to do the procedure, and in it I'm using a TIPS Tool. I've got a couple of them I've purchased over the last few months when I see them available at a good price. I've got a used one like the one in the video (except its actually a KTI pst tool - exactly the same as the one in the video but it's red), and a brand new green TIPS Tool.

I'm passing them on at my cost plus shipping - $130 shipped for the used KTI; $140 shipped for the TIPS.

The very basic tools in the links above don't really do any diagnostics, but they do work great to program sensors into the TPMS computer in the car.

The TIPS/KTI can do simple diagnostics, i.e., you can trigger a sensor in your hand or in a tire (without putting the car into the learn mode) and if the sensor is good the TIPS/KTI will pickup the signal transmitted by the sensor and the tool will beep and blink a light - which confirms that the sensor battery is good and the sensor transmitted its data, indicating the sensor is in good shape.

I've also got a used OTC 3833 available for $240 shipped - it looks like that Isuzu tool in the 2nd video with the screen that shows the sensor ID#, tire pressure, battery condition, etc., on the screen, but the OTC 3833 has a menu with dozenss of vehicles and model years to select from to check sensor's on most all vehicles that have them.

If anybody needs a TPMS tool - TIPS/KTI or OTC 3833 - let me know!!

Bob


This video shows how to put the car into the learn mode and use a TPMS tool to trigger each sensor to program them into the TPMS computer in the car:




And click the thumbnail below to go to a video where I'm using several different tools on an unmounted wheel - the video shows the diagnostic capability of various tools:

 

I have an extra set if your interested, $60 shipped. Grey in color #25758220.

 

I'd grab either the Tips or KTI tool from Bob, as he's the guy that helped me out with mine. Nice thing about these tools, is they're two way communicating. This means you can check the sensors on your second setup, before mounting them on the car. Very nice feature.

 

 

In my case, driving without TPMS just gives me an error on the DIC.

No other issues encountered.

However, only don't do it with runflats - that's looking for trouble.

 

And they can be cloned to match your OEM sensors, so you never have to reprogram when changing wheels back and forth. Just make sure you store the unused wheels 40-50 feet from the car, so you don't pick up a short term wrong signal. It'll correct itself if you drive away, but make you confused at first.

BTW, I drove about 8000 miles on runflats with no sensors and no problems, before getting the OE ones. Just do a tire gauge check more often. One quick check with a digital thermometer aimed on the tire sidewall immediately after a drive, tells a lot without having to bend over and take off a stem cap.

 

Just had new tires put on, installer replaced all 4 TPMS with OEM's, cost $43 each.

 

When you say encountered no problems, are you able to turn off traction control or active handling, as this is usually a problem, especially for track days. Honestly, the car's equipped with the system, so why not take advantage of it, for all tire setups.

 

Been Running my Forged 360's without sensors for a while now. Just when you start car it says service Tire pressure sensors. Press the reset or whatever button and it go's away. no biggie in my case.

 

Don't want to sound like Chicken Little, but there is a reason GM installed those sensors, before the law required.

Daily checks with the hand gauge help with some problems, but not others.

(End of Sermon)

 

Totally agree, can't understand why anyone would even consider running without sensors...just my 2 cents.

 

with Jim!!!

Here's a picture of the warning on the sidewall of the Michelin PS2 ZP tire:



ZP (Zero Pressure) is Michelin's term for runflats, and there is almost the exact same wording on Goodyear EMT runflats.

Essentially it says: DO NOT DRIVE ON RUNFLATS WITHOUT TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS!!!

It also says: When the tire loses pressure, don't drive faster than 55 mph, and AVOID AGGRESSIVE DRIVING!!!

How are you going to know if a runflat tire has lost pressure unless you have sensors???

I'm not a lawyer or insurance adjuster, but if you totaled your car into a guard rail or tree and claimed "the tires just wouldn't grip when I turned", and I found out that you didn't have sensors in your runflats, that alone might be enough to deny an insurance claim, or to go after you for a huge settlement if you injured or killed someone in another vehicle.

I'm not a cop either (but I used to be a Federal LEO!!), and likewise if the cop investigating the accident found that no sensors were installed, he might might be able to cite you just as if you weren't wearing your seatbelt.

Because.....beside that warning on the tire, tire pressure sensors and a TPMS are federally mandated systems in all 4-wheeled vehicles less than 10,000 lbs since September 2007 (the start of the 2008 model year), and even before that a certain increasing percentage of a manufacturer's new vehicles had to comply during the several years before that Sept 2007 date - and that's why when the C6 came out in the 2005 model year it had a TPMS system that could not be disabled.

So, if you're running without sensors in a C6 - runflats or not - you're not in compliance with the law. Essentially you're doing the same thing as driving without your seatbelt fastened or with your airbags disabled.

So....go ahead and run without sensors if you want, but just be aware of possible ramifications of what you're doing.

OFF RANT!!!

Bob