TPMS Sensors
Tire pressure monitoring has been required on light vehicles sold in the United States since the 2008 model year, which means if you are building a second set of wheels for a modern vehicle, you need a second set of sensors or you will drive with a permanent dash light.
There are two system types. Direct TPMS uses a battery-powered sensor inside each wheel that measures actual pressure and radios it to the vehicle. Indirect TPMS uses the ABS wheel speed sensors to infer that a tire is low because it is rolling at a slightly different rate, and needs no hardware in the wheel at all. If your vehicle displays individual tire pressures, you have direct TPMS.For direct systems you can buy OE sensors matched to your vehicle, or programmable universal sensors that a shop clones to your vehicle protocol with a TPMS tool. Programmable sensors are usually cheaper and cover far more applications from one part number. Either way the vehicle needs a relearn procedure after installation so it knows which sensor is at which corner. Some vehicles relearn automatically after driving, some need a specific key and pedal sequence, and some need a scan tool.
Sensor batteries are not serviceable and typically last 5 to 10 years, so if you are mounting new tires on wheels with older sensors it is usually worth replacing them while the tire is off.
Before you buy
TPMS Sensors: the questions people ask
How do I read a tire size?
Metric sizes give section width in millimetres, then aspect ratio as a percentage of that width, then rim diameter in inches. So 275/60R20 is 275mm wide with a sidewall 60 percent of 275mm tall on a 20 inch wheel. Flotation sizes are simpler: 35x12.50R20 is 35 inches tall and 12.5 inches wide on a 20 inch wheel. Every listing here also publishes the overall diameter worked out for you.
Will a bigger size fit without a lift?
Usually one size up over stock clears on a half ton truck with a leveling kit. Going from a 33 inch to a 35 inch tire almost always needs a leveling kit plus trimming at the front bumper corners. 37 inch tires need a real lift and normally a re-gear to get the drivability back.
What do load index and speed rating mean?
Load index is the weight one tire carries at its rated pressure. Speed rating is the sustained speed it is certified for. Never fit a tire with a lower load index than the placard in your driver door jamb calls for. On a truck that tows, going under the placard rating is the commonest cause of a tire failing under load.
Do tires arrive mounted?
Loose tires ship on their own and need a local shop to mount and balance them. Wheel and tire packages ship mounted, balanced and ready to bolt on.
How fast do orders ship?
Orders ship from a United States warehouse, normally within 1 to 3 business days of clearing. Orders over $199 ship free, and below that a flat rate is shown at checkout before you pay. Tracking is emailed as soon as the shipment is created.
What can I return?
Unmounted, uninstalled parts in original packaging can be returned within 30 days. A wheel that has had a tire mounted on it, and a tire that has been fitted, cannot be returned because neither is new any more. That is why we check the fitment data on every order against the vehicle you give us before it ships.
Can someone check fitment for me before I order?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Send us the year, make, model, trim and what is on the vehicle now, and we will tell you what fits, what will rub and what it takes to clear.
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