Tire Safety Taking a look at the Tpms Tire Pressure Monitoring System
The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) put into effect, as of September 1, 2007, the final rules regarding TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems). Essentially, that means that vehicle manufacturers must include TPMS on all vehicles built after September 1st.
According to recent news, several tire manufacturers, TIA and SEMA have all filed suite and lost...the rule will go into effect. The big objection is that automotive aftermarket professionals cannot get all the information and cannot get the standardized rules associated with TPMS...because no one is able to define them. At least not perfectly...for instance, the final ruling states that the TPMS must warn a driver if there is a drop in tire pressure of more than 25% below the OEM specs for that tire...BUT...only after it has been rolling for a minimum of 20 minutes between 50-100 km/hr. WHAT?
What does this mean for aftermarket wheels? Under 49 U.S.C. 30122(b), "A manufacturer, distributor, dealer or motor vehicle repair business may not knowingly make inoperable any part of a device or element of design installed on or in a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment in compliance with the applicable motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter, unless the manufacturer, distributor, dealer or repair business reasonably believes the vehicle or equipment will not be used (except for testing or a similar purpose during maintenance or repair) when the device or element is inoperative."But...BUT, when aftermarket tire and wheel assemblies are installed, and the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is lit up as a result of the difference in replacement size or construction, "such equipment arguably has not damaged the TPMS itself, but, instead, has hindered its low-pressure detection capabilityOnce the TPMS MIL illuminates, the consumer would be warned that the equipment (tire/wheel) has caused a TPMS malfunction, and the consumer could substitute other equipment that would permit the TPMS to resume normal functioning."
So, it would appear that aftermarket wheels are exempt from TPMS; I would recommend however, that you discuss with your tire professional, the fact that your TPMS systems may be inoperable and that neither you nor the tire professional can disable the MIL on the dashboard.
Some aftermarket wheel manufacturers have made provisions for the TPMS to be swapped over to the new aftermarket set of wheels...this is of course, is the best scenario. Still, we have the difficulty of working with these sensors and let's face it...TPMS can save tire wear and improve gas mileage and improve safety. But these sensors can be very expensive so we don't want to break or damage any of them so here is the $500 investment tip...T.I.P.S. (Tire Inflation Positioning Switch) sold by Fox Run Tools. This tool can check the existing TPMS on your vehicle, both before and after you have work performed on your vehicle...avoiding situations in which you believe that your tire professional has broken it or caused it to malfunction...saving you tons of money. This one tool covers both types of TPMSso ask your tire professional if he has this tool.
TPMS can be a useful addition to your vehicles equipment; however it can be a nuisance too. Temperature changes can cause the MIL to activate and in some systems, the MIL leaves you guessing which tire is low on pressure. Overall though, we don't have a choice; TPMS is being required now on all vehicles, so it is best that we simply understand it.
