Tire pressure sensor F5

Tire guy told me the ome sensors won’t work. My last aftermarket, another store flipped the sensors to work. That was a little sketchy bc it would break the sensors when someone takes them off. How has anyone been running oem sensors in their wheels? Is there a sensor that yal recommended that won’t break the bank?

 

I've always run the factory sensors in my aftermarket wheels. Most these days are made to accommodate them. Sounds like you're getting the run around (maybe he broke one and didn't want to tell you, so he just said it wouldn't work?). Or maybe your wheels are just one of the few that don't. What wheels are they?

 

Did you have to flip yours? These oem ones were on steel rims.

 

I've always had the Discount Tire up the street from me do my wheel installs. They've never mentioned anything about having to flip the sensors.

 

So I asked the guy if he could flip the sensors on my F5 SCS wheels he said he couldn’t unscrew them before dismounting ever. because my oem sensors were all one piece and would break whenever dismounting. Is that BS?

 

In order to use sensors from steel wheels on an alloy wheel, the sensors does have to be flipped. This prevents the body of the sensor from contouring to the shape of the alloy wheel. Once you try to de-bead the tire, the chances of breaking that sensor is extremely high. Ideally, you want to use sensors made specifically for an alloy wheel. The sensors are angled differently.

 

The tire guy was saying after mounting them there is no way to get them off without breaking. Since the sensor is all one piece. I thought you could unscrew and just pop it out.

 

There are rubber stem TPMS sensors and they do "unbolt" from the sensor.

I have a set of 4 OEM 2nd gen sensors for Aluminum wheels for sale.

 

He was making it seem impossible to do though. I told him he could flip it. He said due to the angle it will break the sensor when unmounting and that unscrewing/taking extra care is impossible. I guess that was a load he was feeding me.

 

So, does Toyota make an OEM alloy sensor? Or are we talking aftermarket?

I have OR wheels and will be throwing my F5s on and would like to have everything ready to go.

 

We're talking about OEM alloy and OEM steel wheels. Tons of Tacomas come from the factory with alloy wheels and some come with steel wheels.

Are your OR wheels alloy? If they are, the sensors from there will work with our wheels.

 

Thanks for the response Vin.

I dropped by a dealership and found about 3 different options. The "alloy" options, if I understand the information correctly is that it has a flexible joint where the stem meets the sensor and is not fixed like it sounds like the steel options are. I have the standard alloy machined faced 16-inch alloy wheels on my Tacoma currently. I suppose I could just pick up one more sensor for the spare. I just didn't realize that the OEM sensors are about $95 a pop.

I suppose the main questions for me is if it would make any sense to keep the old wheels and sensors intact in order to either keep or sell them, or just reuse those sensors for the new set up, (most likely what I will do). Maybe if there was a dependable aftermarket sensor it would be another option. But I've yet to hear much in the way of good reviews for aftermarket sensors.

 

OEM sensors do not have a "flexible" valve stem head, it's fixed. Generally those flexible units are aftermarket. The sensors from your 16" OEM alloy wheels with work with our wheels so don't overthink it. If they are only 1-3yrs old, I would have the tire shop take the sensors out and reuse them. They don't have to completely dismount the tires. If they're 4 plus years old then I'd consider new sensors since the battery might be towards the tail end of its life.

Pacific Industrial Co makes the OEM sensors. You'll need to do some research, but I'm sure they also make them for aftermarket companies as well. You'll get the same quality at a much better price point.

 

My new 23 tacoma came with rubber valve stem heads. I think they switched styles last year.

 

Thanks for the tip. The world of OEM sensors is new to me. I have a 2022 OR, but my previous ride is a 2002 4Runner that has a lot less tech. I was surprised that OEM sensors costs as much as they do, so thanks for the tip about Pacific Industrial Co. I’ll check it out.