TPMS sensors - necessity?

I have a chance to purchase some near new aftermarket 18 " alloys / winter tires from an ex FL2 owner. Should I incorporate some TPMS sensors when I have the tires mounted? If I don't will the only unsavory side-effect be a warning light on my dash in the winter? (I'll be too fixated on the treacherous driving conditions to notice!!!)

The wheels:

http://www.revscene.net/forums/657064-fs...-et40.html

I have TPMS on my FFRR it has been annoying when it initially had a failure and needed a fix under warranty. However I got in the car the other day, the light came on, upon investigation I had a screw in a tyre. It potentially saved my life, I could have had a real issue at speed on the motorway.

Up shot, I immediately phoned my dealer and specified TPMS on the Evoque order!

There are two common ways to implement TPMS - pressure sensors in the wheels which transmit to aerials typically in the wheel arches; there's a lithium battery which has a life of 5 - 6 years after which the sensors have to be replaced. "Intelligence" in the sensor reduces how often the information is transmitted when it is not needed - when parked overnight for example or when the pressure is the same as the last time it was transmitted - all to do with extending the battery life.

The other way is to use the ABS sensors which sense wheel rotation speed and identify a permanent change in how fast one wheel is rotating. An under inflated wheel has a lower rolling radius and rotates faster. Of course, wheels rotate at different speeds during normal driving anyway and software is used to filter out the noise to pick up the underlying speeds.

The first method is much more accurate; the second is much cheaper. Cars which implement the first usually provide a display of the pressure at each corner which is very useful in providing the earliest indication of trouble and you may then be able to reinflate the tyre until it can be changed or possibly repaired. Cars which use the second method can only indicate a problem, not what the pressure is but then they are cheaper so that's the compromise.

Land Rover, in their infinite wisdom, implement the expensive method but don't display the pressures, only a warning by which time the tyre may be beyond salvage. In other words, you pay top price and get only low rent function.

There are after-market systems which have a receiver in the car, the issue being where to put it and hard wire it in.

It's very much one of those "Could have done better" features. Incidentally, TPMS has to be in all new cars from November 2012 in the UK and may already be required in Canada. How LR will handle this remains to be seen - bundle the existing option as standard (and a price increase) or else provide the more basic option as standard which is what Audi have - and it costs 20% of the RRE version.

In answer to Diana's question, if you have TPMS already in your car, it makes sense to have sensors put in the FL2 wheels and you may have a few warnings while the car learns about the new wheels.

(19-11-2011 07:37pm)mark_n Wrote:  Land Rover, in their infinite wisdom, implement the expensive method but don't display the pressures, only a warning by which time the tyre may be beyond salvage. In other words, you pay top price and get only low rent function.

Is RRE pointing to a wheel/tire with lower pressure or does it just display LOW PRESSURE warning?

(19-11-2011 09:33am)Claud Wrote:  I have TPMS on my FFRR it has been annoying when it initially had a failure and needed a fix under warranty. However I got in the car the other day, the light came on, upon investigation I had a screw in a tyre. It potentially saved my life, I could have had a real issue at speed on the motorway.

Up shot, I immediately phoned my dealer and specified TPMS on the Evoque order!

Hi, did adding TPMS further delay delivery? Thanks

(19-11-2011 09:38pm)IKM Wrote:  Hi, did adding TPMS further delay delivery? Thanks

No delay for me, I ordered the TPMS after I had the delivery delayed by a month from 16 Dec to 19 January, the delivery status did not change.

Of the components causing Land Rover supply issues, TPMS is not one of them. Xenon headlights might be an option to cause delays .........

TBH its the worst thing I ever had on both my FFRRs....always malfunctioning so purposely did not specify it on my Dynamic Lux.

Me neither, anything battery powered using radio transmissions is going to be an issue at some point in its life, add to that careless tyre fitters the fact you need to zero it from time to time, just not for me.

Thanks mark for the detailed explanation, I prefer the Idea of the Audi system even though it cant actually tell you pressure! if it can pick up a problem thats all you need.

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Oh and Evoquess, you probably will need to fit them or live with the warning light while you have those wheels on, there must be a learn button with the radio system maybe this will disable if no sensors found... but totally guessing here! you could try without and later have sensors fitted for a bit of extra labour cost.

Thanks - that was an interesting explanation on the technologies Mark; I really appreciate you taking the time

The only reason I'm in two minds about having the sensors installed is that a local tire shop said they were unable to help and referred me to Landrover today (who are always closed on weekends). I also wonder if I'll get some attitude from Landrover for buying non OEM rims ? I was so careful to make sure all the specs were ok - 5 x 108 bolt pattern blah blah with one inner voice muttering something about "non oem equipment" and "void warranty" and the other saying "those wheels are hot"!

Claud, the safety aspect is an important factor - I hear you. And Phil, you are right - I can delay adding them.

But.......hmmm, if its just a warning light on the dashboard and not a constant chime I could tolerate it. I'm very cautious and diligent with my tire pressures being a longtime Vespa rider.

But, but .... feminine indecision. Someone shake me and tell me to snap out of it.

I was prompted by this thread to go on to the configurator to look at the standard configurations and was really struck how few options there are for US and Canadian cars. Leaving aside the single engine choice, there is only a handful of options with all the rest, presumably, being standard. I am not sure but I believe TPMS has been a mandatory requirement in North America for a while, prompted by the problems at Firestone.