TPMS Sensors - Are They The Same For Steel & Factory Alloy Wheels

2012 Tacoma AC - plan to purchase some factory alloy wheels to replace the steel wheels on my truck. As the post title says, are the TPMS Sensors the same for either wheel? I want to re-use if possible. Thanks.

 

Is it safe to assume that TPM's only work with tubeless tires?

 

no they are different, also the lugnuts are different you cannot use the steel lugs for use on the alloys, there is tons of info on the site use the search

 

The wheels I'm looking to purchase come with the lug nuts. Thanks

 

Did a search, looks like these are the recommended Denso sensors listed on eBay. I thank the original poster for the info.
Steel wheels

$38 Denso 550-0104 TPMS Sensor

550-0104
Alloy wheels

$36 Denso 550-0103 TPMS 315-MHZ Sensor for Toyota/Lexus with Factory Alloy Wheel Options. (THIS SENSOR MUST BE PROGRAMMED BEFORE USE)

550-0103

 

after using the proper alloy sensors in the alloy rims, your computer IDs has to be changed in order for the TPMS to work

 

Can you point to this procedure? Thank you.

 

Either go to Discount tire and have them do it or buy the pirated Techstream for ~$40, install it on a laptop and do it yourself. Get the sensor ID numbers off the new sensors before you mount them in the wheels.

 

https://youtu.be/OfUQ8uwK9eM the new alloy sensors need to be re-registered into the ECU in order for the TPMS light on dash to work properly

 

This would be similar for a 2nd gen Tacoma? Thank you

 

You can use the TPMS from the steel wheels, they need to be rotated to fit into the alloys, and you need to make sure that any subsequent tire changes you inform the shop in advance that the TPMS units have been rotated so they don't break them off when they're changing the tire.

 

it would be exactly the same for 2nd gen sensors, I was thinking about going to alloy rims on mine from steelies and theres a lot of things that need to be changed in order to do the switch up, I decided just to keep the steelies and just get new tires which im still researching, also 3rd gen alloys TPMS sensors CANNOT be reprogramed to work with a 2nd gen truck and vice versa, theres a lot info on this subject here on TW ive read all of it

 

true, from what ive read not all tire dealers are willing to take the risk of breaking them during install or tire removal because the tire guy might not be aware and break the bead opposite the air valve and crunch them

 

It is supposedly standard procedure for them to drop the TPMS inside prior to breaking the bead. I have the steel sensors in aluminum factory wheels and remind them to anyway. And each time they tell me that "it's standard procedure...."

I've had two sets of tires installed with the steel TPMS on the aluminum rims and no issues.

 

I would definetly be reminding them

 

Yeah, I'm paranoid. If they get a new guy and he doesn't know procedure yet and breaks one (or 4), they'll tell me I should have told them. And I'll be buying sensors.

I did what the OP wants to as my truck was low optioned and only came with steel wheels. I got a set of almost new alloy wheels for $160 with the lug nuts and reused the OE steel wheel sensors. No issues.

 

I did the same on my base 12 and base 17. Steel to factory alloy. OEM TPMS, no issues.

 

ive been looking around for a good set of knockoff 2nd gen 16" alloys they are getting tough to find on the East coast most are already bubbling up the paint from road salt, right now im looking for a new set of all season tires so I can ditch the Dunlops, the MICHELIN Defenders are great tires but im at 120k miles and really don't have the funds right now for them, do u have any good ideas on a good Brand all season tires at the 245/75/16 size