To TPMS sensor OR to NOT TPMS sensor...

[PltFX4]

Have a 2019 Lariat with TPMS in/on the factory 18" wheels. Spare tire is 16" or 17", don't recall which but not matching the other 4. So I bought a OEM 18" wheel and appropriate tire to use as THE spare.

Question: Should a TPMS sensor be added to the spare (just because one can) or not bother?? (and save $50-$60)

Manual says spare CAN have TPMS sensors, but per the dealer, not all did and what determined which spares got them is unclear. Additionally, the manual regarding TPMS resetting and retraining does not include mention of the spare. Says if the spare is used (due to a flat) the low pressure warning will still show due to the presence of the flat and implied lack of TMPS sensor in the spare now on the truck. Thus, dazed and confused as usual.

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[RangerPNW]

Its more a convenience thing than anything else. You technically don't even need the sensors, i went about 3 years without them. That being said, now that I have them again I don't necessarily want to deal with not having them so my two cents would be to just get one thrown in the spare IF you're replacing the tire already. But I wouldn't go out of my way to get one installed.

 

[Grumpaw]

Ya know, there was a time when there were no tpms....we used a good ole fashioned tire pressure gauge.....once a month. To this day I still do.
Back in them olden days, when I had a covered wagon, we were more concerned with termites eatin the wheels......
As for your spare....save the $$$. Your not likely to have the spare on for any length of time....just long enough to hit the Discount Tire to fix/repair the flat.

 

[NotBudule2]

Ya know, there was a time when there were no tpms....we used a good ole fashioned tire pressure gauge.....once a month. To this day I still do.
Back when I had a covered wagon, we were more concerned with termites eatin the wheels......
As for your spare....save the $$$. Your not likely to have the spare on for any length of time....just long enough to hit the Discount Tire to fix/repair the flat.

Your wagon was covered ??? You guys must have been rich !

 

[Grumpaw]

Your wagon was covered ??? You guys must have been rich !

Needed the cover to keep the dust off....didn't have cabin filters either back then !!!

 

[Grumpaw]

To the OP....you've probably already replaced your OE tires, so your spare isn't going to match your current set, and you'll probably still have toe OE spare thru the next set....so your spare is going to most likely remain your spare.....which will remain your emergency tire....just check the psi every few months. I check mine 2-3 times a year and it has never varied more than 2-3 psi....probably more related to air temps than loss.

 

[Joeiconic]

I was leaving work the other day in my other car and immediately got a warning that I had a low tire. I confirmed with my gauge that it was 6 lbs low and a quick inspection found a nail. It is a low profile tire and it was hard to tell it was low by visual inspection. Anyway, I was able to get to the tire shop before they closed and got it fixed. So, the tpms saved me from getting up to a flat the next day.

 

[PltFX4]

To the OP....you've probably already replaced your OE tires, so your spare isn't going to match your current set, and you'll probably still have toe OE spare thru the next set....so your spare is going to most likely remain your spare.....which will remain your emergency tire....just check the psi every few months. I check mine 2-3 times a year and it has never varied more than 2-3 psi....probably more related to air temps than loss.

Well to complicate this a little further, the wheels in question are my summer 20" Fuel wheels. Also as I have the Pedders Big Brake calipers on the front, (which the OEM spare won't go over) I have acquired a 5th OEM 18" wheel (plus appropriate Blazek snow tire) for the winter and have disposed of the OEM spare.

THUS, it was/is at the time the 5th tire will be installed on said wheels, the question of TPMS sensor comes into play as it is the most convenient time to add if I was going to.

I don't expect to have to actually use the spare (sure hope not) but one never knows. Also, I have not problem checking the tire pressure manually on a regular basis and do that anyway.

More a general discussion of is the bang worth the bucks... and if I did, how would the TPMS system handle the 5th sensor.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

So if I get that right, you are not rotating the spare into general use, it's just a matching 18" rim to fit over the + size calipers? If correct, I wouldn't bother with the TPMS. If you are going to go to a 5 tire rotation, get the TPMS in all.

I have 6 summer wheels, all have TPMS, and I rotate through all 6.

The factory 18" rims, I set up for 32" winter tires, and put a similar size on the 17" spare rim. I have the TPMS in the 4 main winters, but didn't bother for the spare. It will only be on for a day or two at most, and hopefully very rarely.

 

[Dereku]

I have been tpms free for 2 years. Got a set of take offs without em. I dont miss them. New tires will go on my oem wheels for the winter and ill have them again. Im no worse for the wear.

but if you need your spare it would be nice to have it if the other 3 would as well.

 

[PltFX4]

So if I get that right, you are not rotating the spare into general use, it's just a matching 18" rim to fit over the + size calipers? If correct, I wouldn't bother with the TPMS. If you are going to go to a 5 tire rotation, get the TPMS in all.

I have 6 summer wheels, all have TPMS, and I rotate through all 6.

The factory 18" rims, I set up for 32" winter tires, and put a similar size on the 17" spare rim. I have the TPMS in the 4 main winters, but didn't bother for the spare. It will only be on for a day or two at most, and hopefully very rarely.

@JACKSMYDOG Yes, you are correct.... not rotating 5th wheel into the on axle usage. Why you may ask... lol, more fine details... both the snows and summer tires are directional... so I have to pick which side of the truck do I want the spare mount for. As the right front is the likely to have a flat (in the US) I have rotation direct set for right side of the truck.

I know I could still fit it into a tire rotation of the now 3 right side wheels and tires but I'm good with just alternating rears to front and fronts to rear at spring and winter change over. If the I have a left side flat, the spare will just have to turn the wrong direction till I get to a tire shop.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

@JACKSMYDOG Yes, you are correct.... not rotating 5th wheel into the on axle usage. Why you may ask... lol, more fine details... both the snows and summer tires are directional... so I have to pick which side of the truck do I want the spare mount for. As the right front is the likely to have a flat (in the US) I have rotation direct set for right side of the truck.

I know I could still fit it into a tire rotation of the now 3 right side wheels and tires but I'm good with just alternating rears to front and fronts to rear at spring and winter change over. If the I have a left side flat, the spare will just have to turn the wrong direction till I get to a tire shop.

Ya makes sense. My winters are directional, but not the spare. I put a mid-level Wrangler on the spare rim. It can go on either side, and was much cheaper than my X-Ice winters.

 

[VAMike]

if you aren't rotating the spare through the active set I wouldn't bother with TPMS

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