The automotive industry has developed numerous ways to keep you safe on the road. Air bags, check engine lights, SRS lights and GPS units all offer benefits for drivers. One of the most recent (and annoying) developments is that of the TPMS sensor. TPMS stands for Tire Pressure Monitoring System; this system is designed to monitor your tire pressure while driving and alert you when a tire drops a specific amount below OEM specifications. In theory, this is a great aid for consumers, especially those who cannot or will not check their own tire pressure periodically.
However, the TPMS senor can be a pain if you intend to add custom wheels to your ride. Why is this, you ask? The TPMS system relies on a sensor, which is unfortunately mounted inside your wheels. That means that if you replace your wheels, you will no longer have the sensor. Can you live without it? You most certainly can, especially if you go out and buy a tire pressure gauge and test your tires yourself. However, the TPMS light will remain on in your dash, causing annoyance. If you can live with the light remaining on all the time, there’s nothing to worry about. If you can’t, you can do a few things.
The best option is to purchase custom wheels that are manufactured for your exact make and model. You will find that many of these include a mounting location for your TPMS sensor, which means you can just swap the sensor over to the new wheels and get back on the road. However, wheel with included sensor mounting locations are going to cost you a bit more than a standard wheel, so be prepared to shell out some cash.
Some aftermarket wheel manufacturers have risen to the challenge, though. You’ll find several products on the market to help you fit your OEM TPMS sensor into your aftermarket wheels. These are an affordable alternative to shelling out additional cash for an exact match and give you a much wider range of options. There are straps that can be used to hold the sensor in the wheel on certain makes and models. Many manufacturers use a valve stem/sensor combination that can be transferred with a special cap available through some aftermarket manufacturers. Regardless, there are ways around the annoyance of TPMS, without having to shell out major cash for it.
One last option is to purchase OEM wheels. Surprisingly, many automakers have their own lines of custom wheels that match the TPMS system perfectly. The drawback to this method is that you have very little choice in size, color, wheel design and finish. You will also pay through the nose for the privilege of owning manufacturer-crafted wheels. Everyone has been hit with sticker shock at the dealer for even the smallest OEM item; custom wheels take that shock value to an entirely new level. So, to sum up, the best option is to find an aftermarket wheel that comes with a TPMS mounting system that can be used on your car, rather than one designed to hold the OEM TPMS sensor exactly the same as the original.
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Help answer the question about custom wheels
where to look for custom wheels for 2005 dodge ram?i am starting to look for new wheels and tires for dodge. also it is 4wd, so i want to find wheels and tires that look good.
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Eric Ferguson -
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Andy’s Auto Sport offers a full line of aftermarket automotive parts including body kits, carbon fiber hoods and more. For more information, visit Andy’s Auto Sport online.
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Very interesting. Can you give us a bit more info on the R or ZR ect. What all the differant terms are and what they mean. Thanx