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[fshlee]

Hi!

I'm going to need new tires soon and have been doing some research on TPMS. It looks like most tire websites including Tirerack recommends to have each of the 4 valves rebuilt every time a wheel is remounted and balanced, due to potential leakage and that it can sometimes break. The cost of such rebuild is usually only a few dollars each. I have also read many other end user posts, mostly from bimmerpost that it really doesn't need to be done, and that they have had their wheels/tires remounted many times without needing to do any TPMS rebuild. Can I get some opinions on this? Do most people do the rebuild with each re-mount and balance? Thanks!

[tracer bullet]

I haven't rebuilt one, so the following are just ideas / guesses / something to consider:

* If it's just a few bucks each it's cheap insurance and a drop in the bucket of the overall price
* I can't see anything actually breaking, that doesn't sound like a valid reason
* It would seem that sealing is the primary concern, and if you can check that the seals are good - smooth, soft, no debris or corrosion - there isn't anything to gain by changing them

Just thinking out loud.

[Dackelone]

I have had my original RFTs, plus four new (regular PS3's) tires plus I also replaced the rear set once. I never rebuilt them. I think maybe at very high miles I would do so. Main thing is to make sure those 11mm nuts are snug. They require very little torque - something like 3.5Nm. Those nuts always back off and allow some small leaking of air pressure.

IF your shop is gonna rebuild them make sure they have a low torque tq wrench for 3.5Nm. The tq specs is printed on the TPMS sensor. Also there are two different types of sensors. Pre 2011 and post 2011.

[fshlee]

Mine is definitely the pre-2011, 433 MHz version.

Without those rebuild kit, you had to put in $50 each per tire for the TPMS right? Did you get the OEM one or just whatever is compatible? Can you share where you got yours from and how much?

The last TPMS I bought were from Tirerack a few years back when I got the winter tires and rims with them.

I read that the TPMS should last 5 to 10 years as battery is non-replaceable. But the valve stems etc should be replaced/rebuild every time a wheel/tire is remounted.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by fshlee

I read that the TPMS should last 5 to 10 years as battery is non-replaceable. But the valve stems etc should be replaced/rebuild every time a wheel/tire is remounted.

Your tire shop or dealer should have a scan tool that can read battery level. Yea... the battery will not last forever. five to ten years sounds about right. IF your (tire)shop doesn't have the scan tool - I would go to another shop.

[awns729]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Your tire shop or dealer should have a scan tool that can read battery level. Yea... the battery will not last forever. five to ten years sounds about right. IF your (tire)shop doesn't have the scan tool - I would go to another shop.

You always post fantastic info. Thanks. Didn't know that a scan tool could read tpms battery level.

And the nut you're taking about tightening is E in the picture correct? You can get to it without taking anything apart it seems.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by awns729

And the nut you're taking about tightening is E in the picture correct? You can get to it without taking anything apart it seems.

Yes, "E" in that pic is the nut. Just do not tighten too much(!), bc you can break/snap the valve stem off, and then the tire will have to come off for you to replace that valve stem.