Do I need TPMS?

I visually check all my tires before I drive every time.

 

I disabled the TPMS system in my Tacoma. That being said am glad that my wife's car with low profile tires has it.

 

That narrow of a board might not be good. I normally use the foot of my hi-lift jack. The tire machine at most tire places doesn't push on the sidewall of the tire with anything much bigger than that.

 

That's a term that's a bit misleading if someone has never actually changed tires themselves.

A better phrase might be 'break the seal' where the tire fits the wheel. Which happens to be named the bead.

Done properly there will not be any tire damage.

 

They were mandated in 2008. It doesn't have to do with MPG. You wouldn't deliberately underinflate your tires for normal on-road use, would you? This helps you realize when it is getting low and, as mentioned in another comment, gives you advanced warning in case of a tire going flat at 70 so you can safely stop.

 

Avoids last minute questions to an internet full of strangers seeking advice.

 

I picked up a chunk of flint on the edge of the tread once on a gravel road, and the tire was going down pretty quickly. TPMS was useful then, alerting me quickly before the tire was completely flat. But I drove for years without it. I don't need it, but I like having it -- especially now that it shows actual pressure in each tire and is accurate.

 

TPMS was mandated by regulation with the intent of being a safety feature. NHTSA expected TPMS to reduce traffic fatalities by 119-121 each year in the US: https://one.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/rulings/tpmsfinalrule.6/tpmsfinalrule.6.html#IV_1 That's about 0.3% of traffic fatalities each year in the US.

 

Be'ins as it's there, I want it to work, just hate to pay the cost of keeping them going. Just remembering when I put on the new wheels, tires, & TPMS, on my Taco, 18 mo. ago, I didn't replace the one in the spare tire. being a 2013, good chance that's my problem today. Now buy a $40 TPMS for a steel wheel, as that's what the spare is, pay appx. $20 for having it installed, then go to a tire store & pay $$$??? to get it programmed, & still not sure that is the problem. Since I've had them, the only advantage I've seen is on the wife's 2010 Rav4. It's spare needs a top off about every 3 yrs., & the TPMS tells me when. So for me sure not worth the cost & headache of keeping them operating. HAAAATE the dang things.

 

My tpms light just came on , all tires have same psi , can't reset , whatever I try will be heading to the shop to get a quote, honestly dont want it anymore

 

I 100% agree. Although a little patch of black electrical tape takes care of the light... Like what we used to fix the blinking clock light on a VCR.

 

In a perfect world this would be true. Unfortunately there are too many false positives to prove the reliability.

 

When I was in HS (Early 70's) and taking Driver's Ed/Driver's Training ... They pounded into you that you always take a quick 'walk-around' yer rig before you took off somewhere. If nothing more than to at least look at the tires and see if anything was leaking.
I guess that's gone the way of the dodo bird. (BTW... Back then, if you couldn't 'parallel park' ... No way in hell you'd pass yer driving test .. LOL!)

 

I seem to remember it had something to do with Firestone tires on some Ford's back then .. Am I remembering correctly?
I think it was a batch of defective tires (?) that Ford was installing on new rigs at the time.
Looking at my new Taco .... I see it has Firestone tires on it ...

 

This morning I checked the air pressure in the tires and spare in wifes Rav4. We had a 5 1/2 drive ahead. Get about 30 miles from home and TPMS light started to flash and then went solid. I found a safe spot to pull over and checked the pressures. I keep a gauge in all the vehicles. Pressures were good. Started driving and the TPMS light was out. About 30 miles later light comes on again. Later we stopped for gas and the light went out and never came back on.
The Rave4 is a 2011 so it's time for new ones. I'll spend the money cause it's the wife's vehicle.

 

On a 2011, I'd guess the battery in the sensor(s) is about kaput?
I will give credit for TPMS for one thing though ... My mother-in-laws 2018 Subaru X-Trek ... The light came on about 6 months ago .. I filled the tire up, not that low, but enough ... And then came on again about a month ago ... filled up the same tire and then that told me 'OK, you've got a nail or screw or something in the tire ... Time to take it to a tire shop and have them fix it..'
And it turned out to be a nail in the tire and a slooooow leak.
So ... For someone like me that does not wanna have to work on my mother-in-laws rig .. (Ever) ... It turned into a 'good thing' actually.. LOL!

 

I haven't heard of a lot of false positives. But definitely dead batteries or just plain not talking to the system like my old truck had.

 

I agree with these statements. The sensors are nanny aids. The tech itself is for good intentions, but like most tech these days, too many people rely on it, and it becomes the norm not to check on things yourself. You'd be surprised how many people these days can't even check simple maintenance items.

 

Same here .... A 45-something year 'Habit' ...

 

If you're just being cheap and impatient, then you should rethink your strategy. If, for some reason, you fundamentally don't like TPMS then skip it. While not necessary, TPMS does provide an additional safety warning.