Tire Pressure Monitoring System????

[dhally]

Our van has the Ford OEM TPMS. When I got snow tires/wheels, I bought new sensors but they turned out to be the wrong ones (Ford apparently changed systems). So in the winter the warning light is on all the time. Now I am getting a "TPMS Failure" warning.

I've spent some time and $$ trying to keep this system running, mainly to eliminate the warning lights. But I drove around for years without a TPMS. I did have some flats but never caused a crash.

I'm beginning to question how effective of a safety system this is, considering its reliability.

[salivan]

And you get to read the instruction manual after every tire rotation.

[dhally]

Originally Posted by salivan

And you get to read the instruction manual after every tire rotation.

It's even better than that - I don't have the reset tool since I got the van used. However most tire shops have the tool and will do the reset for me. Or the dealer will do it for free. But I'm beyond all that now...

[geoffff]

Originally Posted by ANZAC

In what scenario are you thinking the metal valve stems would break off road?

Well, it's happened to me. Once I got a tire replaced, and for some reason the tire shop gave me a metal valve stem -- and it later snapped off on one of my adventures. On my trips, I usually do end up with plenty of scuff marks on my sidewalls. So, I'm afraid of the various situations where my wheels & rims scrape past something rigid -- rocks, logs & such. Do any of you successfully run rigid metal valve stems with rock crawling situations?

Scuff fun:


Broken metal valve stem:


-- Geoff

[daveb]

I like a rubber housing with gold metal inserts myself. I usually ask for the best rubber types they have during tire rotation. JMO
I've broke and bent the full metal ones plus I've have had the gasket crack which was my fault for not maintaining them during rotation. I've yet to have a rubber one ripped out but just had one leak last month so I guess they can all have problems. There are flush mounts but have been told you'd still have the gasket issue cracking/leaking and you also have to keep the insert in the vehicle to air up/down. My luck is I'd loose it.

[geoffff]

Originally Posted by daveb

There are flush mounts but have been told you'd still have the gasket issue cracking/leaking and you also have to keep the insert in the vehicle to air up/down. My luck is I'd loose it.

Good to know! I was considering looking into flush-mounts, but -- yes, I'd definitely lose that insert.

-- Geoff

[ANZAC]

There are also metal stems that have a rubber base. Both of those wheels, the steelie and the alloy really have the stem facing outwards, mine face more towards the hub. Personally I think you are overthinking it. I've driven in all kinds of rough terrain (exploring, search and rescue, rallying) and never ever had any kind of valve stem issue, I think you just were unlucky.

I was able to find a new old stock Hella system on eBay for my van. I have one in my Forester and other than the tire place breaking a TPMS sensor, they've been very reliable. The other issue you need to look at is max pressure the TPMS can handle, some of them like the Hella are spec'd at 60 PSI.

Personally I like the comfort of being alerted to a potential tire heat/pressure problem.

I looked at Orange and a few others but I've not seen anything that is a slam dunk top recommendation for an aftermarket TPMS. I have some recent experience with programmable sensors and OEM TPMS, but that doesn't apply here.

[geoffff]

Originally Posted by ANZAC

There are also metal stems that have a rubber base.

The TPMS systems that replace your stems don't use a rubber base as far as I can tell.

Yeah, I'm probably overthinking it.

-- Geoff

[ANZAC]

Originally Posted by geoffff

The TPMS systems that replace your stems don't use a rubber base as far as I can tell.

Yeah, I'm probably overthinking it.

-- Geoff

Sorry yes I meant generally, not for TPMS.

I think the bigger question is tire section width vs wheel width and how much rubber you have out there, the type of tire and side wheel, quality/rating of wheels etc.

But it is still unresolved what is a great TPMS suitable for our vans.

[BroncoHauler]

My TPMS