justride
Well-known member
Is it nesessary to have TPMS on snow tires. I don't want to spend money on them!
TPMS on snow tires?
- Thread starter justride
- Start date
Short answer is NO
Automobiles have been driven for over a century before TPMS was invented, so IMO, not necessary.
Things to consider:
- my Tacoma flashes an error on the dash if it cannot find the TPMS sensors in the wheel. If you're okay with looking at a yellow light on the dash the entire winter, then go without it.
- if you regularly check your tire pressures manually, then you don't need TPMS. If you're the kind of guy that gets all their diagnostics via warning lights, then maybe don't skip the TPMS.
- I like to run lower pressures on my winter tires - it's an off-roaders trick to get a little more grip at the expense of faster wear. My Tacoma's TPMS expects 32 psi on all four corners, and will flash a warning if the pressures dip below 27 psi. On a cold morning, sometimes a tire or two will trip the low pressure warning until they get up to operating temps. Again, if you run lower pressure and are okay with these warning lights, then have at it.
Not necessary but they're so cheap now why not put them in
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Like some have said, you will see the TPMS light come on, depending on what make your car is there's an option to turn that light off in the programming just for winter tires installs. Maybe google it or reach out to your dealer.
Keep in mind that it is a safety feature of the car
Keep in mind that it is a safety feature of the car
Sometimes it puts the system into default/nanny mode. Get stuck in a ditch and want to turn off the traction control to rock yourself out-good luck.
I know this isn't a big concern for the majority of drivers out there, but i quite often turn my VSC off for better mobility at snow covered intersections
I know this isn't a big concern for the majority of drivers out there, but i quite often turn my VSC off for better mobility at snow covered intersections
Some vehicles are pricks about reprogramming. There is no excuse for tpms not to be able to store 9 tires without needing to be reprogrammed.
As for OP's question, my car has indirect tpms using wheel speed sensors so all tires automatically have tpms at zero cost. Not quite as precise and you could start driving on a flat before it notifies you though.
Glenn/RZ500
Well-known member
And if you purchase your winter tire/rim package from a dealer, they`ll put them into your winters, `cause the OEM 3 seasons came with them. Heavy legalese no doubt, they`re just covering their arse.
At the right shop TPMS is not expensive at all. Robust aftermarket sensors & programmers have been on the market for many years now. It beats manually checking your tire pressure once a week. And how many years do you keep the same set of snow tires anyway? It's probably a few!
However I wish the sensitivity was adjustable. One car in the driveway will let the tires get quite low before it ever makes a peep, another car will start freaking out once they drop 4 psi below spec
However I wish the sensitivity was adjustable. One car in the driveway will let the tires get quite low before it ever makes a peep, another car will start freaking out once they drop 4 psi below spec
How low is quite low? 4 psi drop is already a lot. I can pick up 4 psi on summer tires as turn in changes. On snows, traction is so variable that it's harder to feel the difference.
My 2025 Ford has an app that notifies you of low pressure. I have to clear the notification every time it happens. And funny enough the vehicle picks up the tire monitors that are stored in the garage.
Short answer is the vehicle drives just fine and I get an alert on the dash once I drive approximately 10 kms from home. It’s inconvenient at times but, I bought the rims and tires without the monitor and kind of regret it.
Will see how many seasons I get out of them before I bite the bullet and get the sensors installed. Maybe before I need replacements but, likely not. I’m too cheap and I’m the guy driving most of the time.
Edit: I believe it also keeps a record the dealer can see. The app asks if I’d like to book an appointment to have the vehicle looked at.
Short answer is the vehicle drives just fine and I get an alert on the dash once I drive approximately 10 kms from home. It’s inconvenient at times but, I bought the rims and tires without the monitor and kind of regret it.
Will see how many seasons I get out of them before I bite the bullet and get the sensors installed. Maybe before I need replacements but, likely not. I’m too cheap and I’m the guy driving most of the time.
Edit: I believe it also keeps a record the dealer can see. The app asks if I’d like to book an appointment to have the vehicle looked at.
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Dirty Frank
Well-known member
The last set of TPMS sensors i bought were less than $50 all in from amazon and FWIW haven't had any difficulty with mating them with my domestic made vehicles.
Not that hard of a decision IMO.
Not that hard of a decision IMO.
Unless you own and F’n Toyota . Bought a factory rim set and winters tires from the dealer . Only Toyota senors will fit in the rim , aftermarket had a different configuration and it was a no go. And Toyota can only store one sensor set , put the summers on and it’s another $thirty dollar service charge to reset . Never seen such crap . My F one fifty would store info on multiple sets of tires . I’m driving my last Toyota product.
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Sent from my iPhone using GTAMotorcycle.com
Mad Mike
Well-known member
A better idea is to run a smaller rim and skinnier tire in the winter. (Keep circumference the same).
The smaller rim increases the sidewall height offering more impact cushioning over ice and snowpack, your tires skip and spin less. The skinnier tire increases grip by concentrating pressure on the contact patch (smaller), and reduces plowing as they knife thru snow and slush.
Airing down is only good in deep snow at very low speeds - think snowshoes (usually when you’re stuck or navigating a deep snow slowly on an unplowed road). It makes driving riskiest at road speed as the reduced pressure at the contact patch causes more slip and slide, skip and spin, in icy, snowpack or slushy conditions. Your tires wear faster and are sloppy on clean roads.
I drive on snow 6 mos a year, my summers are 265/60-18, my winters 225/85-16.
On my current car, I have run (iirc) 195/65R15, 215/60R16 and 225/45R17 snows. All Michelin xice. Best bite in the snow by far was the 195s. On dry winter roads, the 225's don't give up nearly as quickly.
Glenn/RZ500
Well-known member
I used that kinda` setup on my cars waaaay back. Long before any safety nannies and the bombardment of technof***ery on vehicles now. What`s your take on the rim/tire difference affecting the speedo, ABS, stability and on and on?
If all of the tires are close to the same size, abs, stability, etc is essentially unaffected. Obviously major change in tire size can effect speedo and odo. With all of the tires I have had on my car, speedo has varied from gps speed 2% higher than indicated to gps speed being 2% lower than indicated.
