- Hey guys what's going on?
It's Alex from Fitment Industries and today we're going
to be talking to you about everything you need to know
about TPMS sensors, which actually stands
for Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensors sensors.
But we're not gonna say it like that.
Hey guys what's going on?
It's Alex from Fitment Industries
and today we're gonna be talking to you
about something a little bit special.
We're going to be talking to you
about TPMS sensors which if you really think about it,
I say sensors twice because TPMS stands
for Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems.
But when we talk about TPMS sensors there's really not
a lot that anybody knows about them, which makes sense.
But TPMS sensors are kind of like a cavity,
you're eventually gonna have to deal with one,
they're kind of a pain in the (beep).
But they're necessary to make sure that your
mouth doesn't look like a war zone by the time you're 25.
TPMS sensors have been something that
hasn't been discussed in the comments for a long time
so we thought we would touch base on it
and what they are, what they do, and why.
You probably need them even if you don't want them.
So like I said before, TPMS stands for
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems.
Now if you go out there, there are two other
interchangeable words you can use for the M and the S
which is Mystical Sinking because TPMS sensors
are just kind of a weird tool that
nobody really can quite understand
or work around when it comes down to aftermarket
wheels with TPMS sensors in them, and that makes sense.
Tire pressure monitoring systems originated
in the early 2000s, and most vehicles,
especially 2007 or newer, come required with TPMS sensors.
It has something to do with the federal government
wanting to make sure that you keep your stuff inflated
so that you get good gas mileage and
of course that you're safe on the road,
but not of us really like to deal with them
because they are kind of a mess.
So, if you go to Google, and you type in RTPMS sensors,
you're gonna get the following options.
You're gonna gett legal, required, optional.
Do they cause cancer?
You're probably not gonna get that last one,
but you're probably going to see
a bunch of people asking what, why,
and who, and what the hell are they,
and what do they really do in your car.
TPMS sensors play a special role,
especially in the aftermarket community
because a lot of vehicles, especially now,
are modified, and they are 2007 or newer.
And when you buy wheels and tires from us,
which some of you do, you have the option
to add TPMS sensors into your package
or just your wheels because you're going to
need them for you vehicle, but not a lot of people choose it
and they just, I really can't stress this enough,
just a lot of people don't care about them,
but here is why they're so important.
So, if you go out onto the wonderful world
of the internet, you're going to realize
that some states actually require TPMS sensors.
Other states do not, and other states it's just
something that if they feel like it at the DMV,
they will make you go and check your TPMS sensors.
So, if your in a state that requires TPMS sensors,
there's just no way around it.
You're gonna have to buy TPMS senors.
There's just the end of it.
So, what happens is once you actually get
your TPMS sensors, we go and we
install them onto your wheels.
It's the same thing like when we check your bolt pattern,
offset, and all that sort of stuff
when they come into our doors, but
once they actually get to your doorstep,
if you're looking to get the TPMS sensors working,
it takes a little bit more than just throwing them on.
Now, most vehicles have a bunch of different processes
and ways that you can go about
essentially aligning your TPMS sensors.
Some are very simple.
Toyota has made it extremely simple
to go and calibrate your TPMS sensors.
Others require a much more sophisticated approach.
If you look at the Mercedes AMG,
you might as well just kiss your butt goodbye
because it takes around 24 steps.
You gotta turn the key on, turn the key off,
turn the steering wheel, turn the lights on,
turn the lights off, turn the key
back off, turn the key back on.
Then, you gotta put it in neutral,
and there's a lot, trust me.
It's not as difficult as it seems,
unless you're planning on going to do it yourself.
If you are going to do it yourself,
I dropped a link in the description below
where you can actually go and see the
exact instructions on how to get TPMS sensors
calibrated on your specific vehicle,
but if you're looking to just get the tires
and wheels thrown on right away.
Once they come to your doorstep,
all you have to do is visit an auto parts shop
or a dealership, and they should be able to calibrate
your TPMS sensors for probably around 40 to 50 dollars.
If they're charging you anything more than that,
like 100 and 150 dollars, they're probably overcharging you.
Go to a different shop.
TPMS sensors are something that's
a little bit of a nuisance, but
they are especially important in
today's current market and aftermarket wheels
because what happens is when you don't run those sensors,
you obviously get the little yellow
light of death on your center screen,
and on top of that, it's just annoying
to deal with every single time.
So, if you're one of those people
that puts tape over your check engine light,
and then you're gonna put it over
your tire pressure monitoring system,
just leave the video and come back
when you want to do it right, just saying.
TPMS is just something that you
kind of have to deal with in today's current market.
You can't also reuse old TPMS sensors
because of one very common problem.
The TPMS sensors in your OEM wheels
is pretty much used to a certain thickness
of wheel, meaning that the sensor can get carried over
because of how thick the actual wheel is.
Some aftermarket wheels are a lot thicker,
while some are a lot thinner, and
because of the difference in thickness
of that barrel, you may not be able to use
your OEM TPMS sensors to save a
hundred bucks because it just won't read.
It's just a pain in the butt.
So, once you figure out if you're gonna
decided to run TPMS sensors, which I hope that you do
if your car has them, and once you decide to buy
wheels and tires from us or if you're just getting
TPMS sensors in general, and you want to know
how they work, it's usually two options.
You have the option of doing it yourself
with a six pack and hopefully you have hair to pull out
because it's going to be terrible,
or you have the option of just going to a dealership
for 50 bucks, and then they'll do it there.
The final thing is just understanding
the TPMS system as a whole because what happens now,
in a lot of newer vehicles especially
with Mercedes and European vehicles,
is that the TPMS sensors have now become
more integrated with the systems overall ECU,
meaning that the TPMS sensors are going off
because it reads that's a problem.
It will start to affect other issues of your vehicle.
It may think that there's something wrong with the wheel.
It could try to overcompensate because
of something that's happening on the aftermarket wheels.
And it's just a huge pain in the butt.
So, the point of this video was not necessarily
to try and sell you on TPMS or talk to you in detail
about how TPMS works or the fact
on why you can't use OEM TPMS.
It's just to let you guys know
that if you do have a vehicle out there
that does have TPMS sensors, you're likely going to
want to buy them when you get new wheels
because it is such a pain in the butt to deal with
wheels that don't have them, or trying to use
OEM TPMS sensors for your new wheel.
So, if you wanted to know what TPMS sensors were about,
that's about as much as we think is important,
but obviously, I'm sure you guys have questions or comments.
So, drop them below, and we'll be sure to answer them.
Of course, let us know what you'd like to see next,
and also don't forget to subscribe
and check out fitmentindustries.com
if you're looking to get wheels, tires,
suspension, airlifts, and all that sort of good stuff,
but I'm Alex from Fitment Industries.
I'll see you later, peace.
(instrumental music)