2011 spare only tmps

If you don't care about the caution light in the gauge cluster and just want to know the spare tire pressure, an aftermarket TPMS is the easiest way to go. The sensor screws onto the tire valve like a valve cap, and you stick the small display on the dash. There are 4-sensor and 2-sensor kits (for motorcycles) on Amazon.

 

TPMS is meant to alert you of a sudden tire deflation while driving and to save your life. Not to replace an air gauge. Twice since owning a vehicle with TPMS I've had the light come on when driving on interstates at speeds of 70-75 mph. Both times I'd driven over unseen road debris that punctured tires. I had just enough advance warning to get to the shoulder and stopped before the tire went completely flat. Both tires were damaged too badly to be saved. Had they gone flat at those speeds there is a good chance I wouldn't be here to type this.

Sensors typically last 7-10 years, although I got 14 years out of the ones on my Tacoma. A tank of gas costs more than it costs to replace all 4 sensors in your truck. I think $60 every 7-14 years is pretty damn cheap to keep working sensors.

I wouldn't worry about sensors in the spare, THAT is what an air gauge is for. I've been keeping a small air compressor, plugs and plug tools in all of my vehicles for over 30 years now. I've only had to resort to the spare once in that time and even if it were a little low, I can air it up. I've lost count of how many times I've used it. Mostly to help other stranded drivers.

I can usually put enough air in a flat to make it to a tire shop and have the repair done right without having to use the spare. It is faster, cleaner, and safer to do this than use the spare. On a few occasions I've had to plug a tire to get there. On one of the incidents above I was had to put 3 plugs in the tire to get it to hold enough air to make it to the next exit and to a tire shop. They couldn't save the tire, but they put my spare on and charged me $10. The 2nd one just wouldn't hold air even after 4-5 plugs and that is the only time I've had to actually put the spare on myself.

 

Where can I get 4 new TPMS sensors installed and programmed for $60???? I've been quoted a handful of times around $200 or more.

 

1. Yes, this would work.
2. Yes, they remove old and add new to the computer
3. They probably do set the PSI, but that's on the truck side, not the sensor. And you can reset to whatever pressure you want my setting your tires to whatever pressure you want them to be, then pressing the TPMS button under your steering wheel.
4. Some states have laws, and believe me I was surprised about this, that won't let anyone install TPMS outside manufacturers spec, or remove TPMS as it is a safety feature of the vehicle and can't be tampered with. If it dies, they can't force you to fix it, but say you have new rims installed and don't want new TPMS, some states they legally cannot put them on your vehicle without TPMS if your rig had working TPMS when you brought it in.

 

this. it wasnt that expensive according to my buddy.