The last few tire tests I conducted I didn’t run TPMS sensors. Part of that was using the Tazer JL and part of it was being a cheapskate. Now that I have swapped the Tazer for the AEV ProCal SNAP I needed to run the sensors again.
What does a TPMS sensor do?
The tire pressure monitoring system is an electronic system designed to monitor the air pressure inside the pneumatic tires on various types of vehicles. A TPMS reports real-time tire-pressure information to the driver of the vehicle, either via a gauge, a pictogram display, or a simple low-pressure warning light.
The sensor is the part that is installed inside the tire and uses RF to communicate with the vehicle to display the tire pressure information. The Jeep Wrangler operates at 433MHz and thankfully auto-learn when you install new ones.
Do I really need them?
If you are diligent about maintenance and check your tires on a regular basis you may not need them. I have run without them, it is a personal preference for some. It is illegal for dealers or mechanics in many states to modify the TPMS on a vehicle. It’s a little vague on owners making changes.
The TPMS sensors make monitoring your vehicle’s tire pressure easier and can help save fuel by letting you know when the tires are over or underinflated.
PDQ TPMS sensors from Extreme Terrain.
As I mentioned above I put TPMS sensors back in my wheels. I did this because the AEV SNAP does not allow for modifications to the system whereas the Tazer did. I hate dash lights, so sensors were a must.
One hurdle previously was sensor cost. You bought new wheels, new tires, and then paid another $200 for new sensors. (Sometimes you can swap them wheel to wheel but depending on sensor age it’s not worth risking a dead sensor battery.)
With the PDQ-TPMS sensors from Extreme Terrain that cost is reduced to $125. I have purchased two sets of these sensors. The first I installed in the TeraFlex Nomad wheels.
The second set I bundled into the purchase of a tire package. My tires came mounted, balanced, and with new sensors installed on the rim right to my front door. (More on that process in another article.)
Both sets worked perfectly. Within a few miles, they were reading to the vehicle and did not require any additional setup.
