Well I have searched, and read a bunch of threads. I couldn't use the TPMS on my new wheels due to the angle of the valve stems on the new wheels are at 90* whereas the stock rims are angled to have the sensor at the rim. I've read the PVC tube trick where you put the TPMS in a tube with a valve stem to pressurize it, essentially tricking the ECM. Has anyone done this and does it work? Or is there another way to turn off the light on the dash? If not I can live with it, but if there's an easy trick to turn it off I'd love to hear it. TIA!

 

i've heard of guys having the spare tire drilled for 3 more valve stems and put all 4 in the spare.

not sure if that would work or not. one time i had a flat and hung the spare, but later aired up the original tire with the sensor and threw it in the bed.

at first i was pretty sure the TPMS was fooled for good, but after about 20 miles or so, the light came on and displayed a "Tire sensor error" message in the display.

the system doesn't know which sensor is in which location, but apparently it knows that there should be 2 in the front and 2 in the rear .... somehow anyway.

have you tried contacting the tire maker to see if there is a sensor they know about which would work?

 

I haven't, Mike, had them installed Saturday morning and left for the beach that afternoon. Maybe if I have a few minutes today I'll shoot them an email or if I have more time than that I'll call them. Thanks for the input

 

What about running TPMS bands rather than the one connected to the valve stem?

 

I did the pvc pipe trick on another brand and it worked fine...just haven't tried on my Ford because I have the stock wheels.

 

TPMS bands are an AWESOME idea.

i'd rather have those regardless, that way carless technicians don't break them and replace them with sensors that quit a year later ...

 

I think I'll try the PVC trick first but yes the bands sound like a great idea. I just spent a lot on wheels, how much are bands? Might you have a link? Thanks for the replies

 

I was having TPMS issues with my truck. I wanted to disable them & thought of using the PVC pipe trick. I was told it wouldn't work because the sensors have to be spinning. They measure air pressure and RPMs. If the RPMs do not match you'll get tire pressure sensor fault.

I put my spare on and drove around to see what would happen and I did get the tire pressure sensor fault error. Since it was the same error I was getting anyway I don't know how valid the test was. Let me know what you find.

 

that's exactly what mine did with the drive tire in the bed and the spare on the front. did not consider that it would be because it wasn't spinning, but that's entirely possible.

 

Try Here

 

What is the size and model of the rim Tim? Are you saying you do not have ANY installed at the moment?

Edit:
Ok so you got the D513 Fuel Throttle rims at size 20x9 correct? Honestly Tim they lost TPMS sensors to the right of the rim. I would give them a call and ask them, it looks like they have a pretty straight. They are $159 for 4 of them ($40 per TPMS) and they did not list a price for 5.

Another idea would be to try and install your original TPMS sensors as they have already been "learned" and use a valve extender.

If it were me I would have purchased the TPMS sensors to make it look and work stock....but that is me. (unless the tire company could make the stock ones work of course...lol)

I do have to say the band look like a great idea not to mention they will actually WORK AS DESIGNED!

 

Ya got me Mike, but I was on my phone when I posted that, and at work maybe? I'll look into it

 

18x9 Fuel Throttle, no sensors currently. I use the balance beads in my wheels so I don't have to deal with the wheel weights. IIRC he said that the sensors would get beat up, I'm assuming due to the beads in the tires. I don't drive the truck much, since I've had the work truck for a year now. I'll look into the bands, but I'm not in any hurry since I don't have to deal with the light/fault unless I drive it on the weekends. I had planned on using the stock sensors until my tire shop pointed this out to me while they were switching my tires to the new rims. My plan is to get a used set of 275/70-18 tires to mount on the stock chrome clad rims and run them in the winter, with the sensors, and they would also be used for inspection in April

 

Hmm ok fair enough...I know a lot of guys that would use the balance beads (DynaBeads to be specific) for their motorcycles and loved them. I personally didn't want to have to retrieve them when changing tires. I went with Centramatic wheel balancers. They are built into a plate that goes on to your studs and then the tires bolt on. The plate has a ring that has the balancing weights in it and I can personally say they work EXCELLENT!! I used them on my motorcycle for years. They were really invented for semi's, uneven tire wear, and mud that may stick to tires and put them out of balance.

They were a bit on the expensive side ($200 for two), but in my mind worth the price. Here is a video of how they work. (A lot like the DynaBeads with less mess and fuss) I don't think they have them for 1/2 ton trucks yet...I might call them and ask them about it. I know for sure they make them for 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks.


For prosperity's sake I am adding a video on the DynaBeads:


I have not once had any balancer leak on me...and the hardest part is to get people to NOT put on balancing weights when they rotate the tires...lol They look at you strange and you explain to them the reason why and they say oh ok.

DynaBeads and the Centramatic balancers are ALWAYS working towards balancing your tires throughout the life of the tire. Some people can argue that if you rotate and balance the tires on the regular schedule you shouldn't have to worry about it. When using these items for balancing your tires AT NO TIME will the tires be out of balance. (I know you know this Tim just stating it for people that haven't used either of these items before )

Centramatic also makes them for trailers.

Tim honestly I don't see how the beads would beat up the TPMS sensors because if you think about it while the tire is rotating the beads will usually remain spread out and against the tire (centrifugally), and at low speeds I don't see them harming the unit.

Edit:

I just came across this video for the DynaBeads...hmm not a good thing.

 

I will check out the videos when I get home but I've had the beads in the last 5-6 sets of tires over a few different trucks. 2 reasons I stick with them, no rebalancing and no ugly wheel weights