Gearhead Jim

While on a trip recently, I had to buy two new rear tires. With new sensors waiting for me at home, I had the original sensors re-used.

Here's the thread with details:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...flat-tire.html

Now that I'm home, I want to get my new sensors in those rear wheels. Obviously, the wheels will have to come off the car. But I've heard that it's possible to replace the sensors without actually dismounting the tire from the wheel, that saves time and re-balancing.

Any tips on what to have done, or things to avoid?
Thanks!

Vette junkie

Also.........what is the lifespan of a TPMS before replacement is advised? I'm sure they don't last forever.

wayback

You just need to break the bead and reach in to swap them out. Run flats will need to break both beads and remove one side of the tire as the sidewalls are too stiff to flex one side enough to reach in.

1bdvet

I'm not expert, but I do think you need tire machine to break the bead of the tire to gain excess to the sensor. Just letting out the air, isn't going to break tire bead enough for you to get your hands in there, cause if it's snaps back, you might loose fingers.
Don't take any chances, few dollars verse lost of fingers, you weight the differences.

Gearhead Jim

I think it's officially about 10 years, but that seems to be stretching it. The existing sensors have 4 1/2 years/50,000 miles, working fine now but might not make it through the life of the new tires. I hate having to get work done while on a road trip, so I'm replacing somewhat early.

Gearhead Jim

This will definitely be done by a tire shop, but I suspect they don't have much previous experience on this trick.

cclive

I have replaced valve stems without dismounting the tire from the wheel. It takes a tire machine but if they are smart enough to mark the position of the tire on the wheel, the wheel will not require re-balancing. As was said above, breaking the bead and reaching in is the way to do it. I haven't done it on a runflat but I can imagine that the stiffer structure of the tire would make it a bit more difficult.

It's the same procedure as for replacing a bad valve stem, so I would think most tire places would be familiar with it.

Fiss

LOL at thinking you can just break the bead and reach in. Yeah, try that and let me know how it goes

cclive

I've done that myself without even having a tire machine, but as I said, the stiffer structure of a runflat would make it a bit more difficult.

MikeyTX

It can be done that way w/o issue. I've watch both Firestone and Discount Tire store personnel do it to replace a bad sensor.

Vette junkie

I've got 8 years on the "Chevy" and 7 years on the Denali and so far they seem to work and remain accurate when checked with a good quality tire guage. But as they say....everything comes to an end eventually.

HOXXOH

I consider the 10 year number to be the average time for the average use. Since the sensors essentially only transmit when the car is driven (they actually do a little bit after the car is not running), the time of service is more related to the number of data transmissions.

The average car driven 12K per year at 30MPH for 10 years will produce X number of data trasmissions. You do the math to fill in your particular information.

I have about 98K on my original '08 sensors. I ran about 6K with no sensors and 4K with clones. I average about 35 MPH overall. I'm planning to replace tires and sensors with the next tire change around 110-112K, because I expect the OEM ones would fail before I wear out that set of tires.

I guess that means I expect the life for me to be in the 7-8 year and 130-140K range, so I'm changing early too. Just not as early as you.

Jimmy C-6

Actually a tire shop will have lots of experience with this if they do a decient bussiness. Most newer cars have TPMS.

Look at all the cars that have them.
http://www.tpmsdirect.com/Buy_Origin...ors_s/1613.htm

Johnathon59

How much are the sensors $$ ( OEM ) to replace ?

RoadkingC6

Check out one of the vendors on this forum Bobs House of Wheels i got OEM sensors from him for $180.00 shipped to my house.

AORoads

tpms is becoming more common because now, it's on every new car. but reaching in on a stiff sidewall runflat will be a machine-assist only I'm fairly certain. I would tend to agree with HOX that if I get 8 years or so out of a set, that's good, maybe longer, but after all, it is just another "battery." and we know how those go out on cars. which means my OE sensors will be at six years this Aug.

truckplay

the tpms is inside the wheel (all you see is the stem antenna) you have to dismount the tire, unlikely you will be able to collapse the tire enough (no chance on a runflat) some cars have tpms problems early (usually imports) domestics last longer, my 05 still works fine. new sensors are @ $50-75 each.

3 Z06ZR1

King Kong is not reaching in and taking out the TPMS with out taking off the tire!

3 Z06ZR1

Clueless idea at best!

exracer28

I don't understand why so many people say that the tire has to come off. I swapped sensors on my track wheels yesterday and with my tire machine all I did was break the bead on the outside and when compressed I just changed the sensor. Not hard to do but then I like to do the work on the car by myself and I have always done things like this myself. It seems like we have lots of folks that do not work on their car but are telling others what can and cannot be done.