TPMS

Have never been completely happy with the system. Only time it helped was when I picked up a nail, and within 5 minutes it came on. What I do not like is that it is only activated (by federal standard) when a tire has lost 25% pressure, for me at 32 pounds, a tire has dropped to 24.

Am toying with the idea of setting all tires to 40, then hitting the button to reset system. Then lowering pressure to my normal 32.

Then, with the 25%, TPMS will come on if I drop below 30 pounds.

Anybody see a downside to doing this ?

 

Sounds like a smart idea to me.
I would rather see all TPMS banned and have car owners taking on the responsibility of checking the air in their tires. But taking responsibility for your actions is a dead issue in the Socialist Republic of America! The government will take care of you since it feels you can't.

 

I'd be OK with the system if it worked under all conditions.

I drove through the desert in California last year and the sensors light came on. Once I was in a cooler environment, the light went off. Happened on the way out and the way back.

And on my wife's Suby, the programming of the sensors is so proprietary, that the dealership HAS to program them. Makes switching to winter wheels and back a PITA.

I with car78412, those who used to check the air in their tires don't need TMPS. Those who never checked the air, still don't, and mostly ignore the light.

Jeff in Flagstaff

 

I lowered the pressure in my tires for a trail run last weekend to 25 lbs front and rear and the TPMS light never came on. I had mine set at 33 lbs.

 

Actually, it has nothing to do with the government feeling you're too incompetent to maintain your tire pressures. The law mandating them resulted from public outcry after the massive recall of Firestone tires in the late '90's where over 100 deaths were documented from blowouts that resulted from tread separation. It's one of those things that could be reversed with enough public support (like the 55mph speed limit when it's time ran out), but not likely since the free market has jumped in (as it did with air bags) to profitably produce more elaborate (and profitable) systems. If that's not good enough, you could just hold a referendum, secede from whatever country you're aligned with and become an autonomous region as has become popular in some parts of the world. Yes, America has issues, but in most places you can still drink the water and public buildings barricaded with old tires negatively impacts tourism.

 

Try 23-24 pounds and see if it lights up.

 

Thank you comrade.

 

The tire TPMS sensors send out info on the actual tire pressure and the tire temp, and which tire it is, but Toyota's system only gives us a light bulb...
That's what pisses me off about it.