Has anyone tried running without tire sensors? Just wondering if there are any issues with reduced power, or other error messages. Thanks

 

been running without them in my C5 for better part of 13 years....aside from the annoying Service Tire Pressure Monitor I have had no ill effects...

 

Big difference between C5 and C7 electronics. I've seen it written that the car senses whether tires are warm enough to allow use of maximum handling algorithims. If this is done through air pressure sensing, then running without TP sensors would be a bad idea.

 

Yes these are the things that I am not sure of, I know the tire temps are also measured through the tire sensors. I read somewhere that if you turn all of the nannies off it will disregard the tire temps as far as throttle reduction etc. I think this weekend I am going to install the track wheels and tires that don't have any sensors and just go put 30-40 miles on it and see how it reacts. Thanks

 

The rest of the forum will certainly benefit from some real world experimentation!

Thanks

 

We are all waiting to hear the results.

 

I was just about to post what if you change out wheels and tires for track use....
I would think at the track you would turn all that off anyway.

 

Update, I installed the C5ZO6 wheels and tires tonight with no tire sensors.
This is the tire pressures showing on the dash at first start up even though there were no tire sensors.




The dash stayed this way for 14 miles with no low tire light or warnings. At 15 miles it showed a low tire on the left front. About 1 more mile and all of the tire sensors showed nothing and I got a service tire monitor message.



A few seconds later the low tire light starting flashing and the service tire monitor remained. I hit the enter button on the steering wheel to dismiss the service tire monitor and it cleared.



After another mile or so the low tire light stopped flashing but remained on for the 5 or so miles till I got back home.
I shut the car off and restarted the car and the low tire light began flashing again, I just sat there and let the car idle and roughly 2-3 minutes later the low tire light stopped flashing and just stayed on steady.
I tried the car in sport and track modes with the tire light on and service tire monitor messages on, there were no other messages displayed and I ran the car up through the gears and did not get any reduced power or other intervention of any other systems. I will drive some more tomorrow in the day light to see how it does.

There are some clearance issues up front with the brake cooling ducts (more so the deflectors that bolt to the lower control arms to help direct the air from the brake ducts to the brakes) I think these may have to be removed or they will be ground down if you turn the wheel anywhere near lock.



These stick out a little more than I was expecting.

 

That light in your c7 acts just like the light in my 2012 colorado on my truck I have the sensors in a pressure vessel I made out of plastic pipe.

In the summer I have no problems but it cold weather I get the low tire light just like your c7.

A pressure vessel may be a good idea for your track tires, or for running without them in the tires.

 

launch control and competitve driving mode does not work.

 

Thank you, I don't care about launch control for the Road Course but I did not realize it affected competitive driving mode. I have not tried it yet, what kind of message or symptom did you get when you tried it?

 

you have full power, but wont go into those modes, one press takes off TC the 2nd click instead of putting you into competitive driving mode just puts TC back on. its like your car never had launch control or comp driving. f.y.i, i play with tire sizes and pressures way to much, i also know if you drop tire pressure to low when running autocross and then take a lunch when you come back dash is saying tire pressure's to low, you still have full power and when tires get hot lights go off.

 

On my C6Z any problem with the TPMS puts the car into full nanny mode. Comp mode can't be selected and the car's top speed is limited to 55 mph in curves. If a sensor goes bad in the middle of a 100 mph curve the EBCM will apply the front brakes to slow the car to 55. Putting sensors in a cannister doesn't work since they aren't broadcasting while the wheels turn. I can run for half hour with no sensors if all I do is let the car sit by the street tires or take my cannister along with me in the rear storage cubby. Earlier models than the 08 can run for up to an hour while newer models can't go a half hour. On a C6 the only way to get around this problem is to pull the connector to the steering sensor.

Your test of the C7 should be run driving 65 to 70 mph through some turns after running with no sensors for up to an hour.

Bill

 

this is why i spent the 45 dollars each and put them in track wheels, my test happened because, CHECK THIS OUT!, if you dont let the car sit ( sleep) for 20 minutes after the last/only tire is changed/moved then the car does not read the new/moved sensors. it drove me nuts, i changed my wheels back and forth stock/track wheels at least 20 times sence then. you have to let the car sleep? sit off for 20 minutes. no kidding

 

So you are saying the car will not complain for 20 minutes after you install wheels with no sensors? That sounds similar to the later year C6s. As I said my 08Z would go for a half hour but I know newer models got even less time.

Bill

 

3 to 5 miles before you lose launch and com mode with no sensors, what i was trying to say is when i change all/any wheels,/ track to street or street to track,( SENSORS IN ALL 8 WHEELS) I HAVE TO LET THE CAR SIT for 20 minutes (off, not running ) if the car is not shut off for 20 minutes after you change/move wheels it wont read the new/changed sensors and will act like there are no sensors in wheels. yes it's nuts and drove me nuts untill i read manual. and dont forget to drive the car a few miles after changing sensors, after letting car sleep for 20, or it will just read the sensors that you just took off( if any) what im saying is if you take tires off that have 35 lbs air and put on ones with 20 psi the car will not tell you untill you drive the car a few miles.

 

I put the stock wheels and tires back on today. I drove the car for 2-3 miles and the car self learned the tire sensors one at a time and the low tire and service tire monitor lights vanished.
The testing that I accomplished showed no negative effects of driving this car with no tire sensors. I would rather have tire sensors in these wheels, but these are not my wheels and I also do not have time to get them and install them right now. I am going to run the stock Michelins a session or two and then switchover to the C5Z wheels and tires. I will report back if I have any problems. Thanks

 

OP are the Zo6 wheels you are swapping 18" 19"s??? I assume they are ????

Is your C7 a Z51?

 

Yes 18x10.5 C5ZO6 wheels with 315/30/18 Nitto's.
Yes the C7 is a Z51.

 

What kind of driving did you do to prove the car would work properly with no sensors? Did you have it above 55 mph in curves? My C6 doesn't have any issues as long as the speed is 55 or lower. I copied this from Page 38 of the C7 Owner's Manual that I downloaded from the GM Parts House web site:

If the Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) system is malfunctioning and the
DIC displays SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM, StabiliTrak will
be affected as follows:
. StabiliTrak cannot be turned off by the driver.
. If StabiliTrak is off, it will be turned on automatically.
. Competitive Driving Mode or Performance Traction Management is unavailable.
. StabiliTrak will feel different in aiding and maintaining directional control.

On page 10-55 the manual also indicates failed or missing sensors will cause the Service Message to light.

It certainly sounds like the system has the same response to the lack of tire pressure sensors as the C6 has.

Bill