Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems and Aftermarket Wheels
 

A direct tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) will be standard equipment on every vehicle sold in the U.S. after September, 2007. The criteria for TPMS standardization is that the vehicle must have only four wheels (no dual-wheeled trucks or motorcycles), and weigh less than 10,000 lbs.

Mazda has incorporated a direct TPMS (see TPMS Facts below) on several of their vehicles since the 2004 models and currently uses Siemens valve sensors or Lear strap sensors. The size of the valve sensor, though, shouldn’t be a problem for many wheels, but if the valve hole is in the middle of the wheel’s barrel, the sensor will not fit properly. Wheel manufacturers are aware of the issue and are rushing to get most of their wheels TPMS-compatible.

The Tire Rack's fitment specialists have carefully determined which wheels that are currently available will be compatible with the system installed on your vehicle.


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If you have any questions about the wheel you're considering, call or post your question for confirmation that it will be compatible with your TPMS.

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TPMS Facts

Direct TPMS use a sensor in the wheel/tire to wirelessly relay pressure back to the driver via a display inside the vehicle. Some vehicles have a digital screen that continuously shows all four tire pressures (five if spare has sensor). Others simply flash a "low tire pressure" light on the dash. Additionally, there are two different styles of sensors for a direct system: a valve sensor and a strap/band sensor. Mazda has been using both valve sensors and strap sensors. A strap or band sensor is held onto the wheel by a metal strap that wraps around the inside barrel. The strap must be an exact fit for the wheel it is used on (i.e. 18” band is used on an 18” wheel).

Indirect systems work in conjunction with the ABS wheel speed sensors that “count” the number of revolutions of each tire. If the right front tire is low (25psi) it will spin faster than the left front tire (35psi). The ABS system will recognize this change and alert the driver with a flashing light and possibly a loud chime. Although no current model Mazda has an indirect TPMS, it is helpful to understand this important difference -- indirect systems do not affect the fitment of aftermarket wheels.

So all RX-8's have this even the base models???

Yes.

Nycgps is correct that all US cars have TPMS. Canadian, Australian and Euro cars don't. Not sure about the Rest of the World...

You can tell at a glance: the TPMS valve stems are metal.

Thats why I was wondering my car is from Japan and all the info i'm getting is for US cars :S
Even all the bulletin I was looking for my VIN and its nothing like yours.

The Discount Tire store told me today they recommend overhauling these sensors for $24 when they put on new tires. Anyone ever heard of that? I called my Mazda dealer service department and the guy started laughing. He said they do not OH the sensors as part of tire replacement. So looks like Discount Tire is pulling a fast one on me with a fee that is not necessary.

There is no way to over haul a TPMS sensor. They are a sealed electronic unit that has to be completely replaced if they go bad. The best definition i could offer for "over haul" would probably mean replacing the O-ring that seals the sensor to the back of the valve stem. Even then 24.00 still seams a little excessive even for O-rings on all four tires though.

Have them define overhaul and get back to us.

The guy from Discount is a saleman. He mentioned something about they could break and the OH would correct that. It looks like its a tricky gimmic to get additional funds out of expensive tires to start with. The dealer said they could re-program them but its doubtful they are doing that.

Do the Enkei RPF1s take our stock TPMS or do we need to buy the ones Tire Rack sells for $264 a set? Thanks.

The Enkei RPF1 will accept the OE TPMS sensors. Also, just to clarify, the sensors that we sell are the same sensors that come as OE on the RX8 (or any car for that fact). We buy the sensors from local dealers and sell them as OE replacements. If you would like to place an order from the Tire Rack please let me know.

I bought some Enkei RP-F1s (from another vendor) and the TPMS did NOT fit. Does tire rack have an option? How about the iforged TPMS adaptor?

As stated in the previous post above, the sensor will fit in the correct Enkei wheel. It sounds more like they gave you a non TPMS wheel. Maybe you should call whoever you ordered the wheel from and ask them why the sensors are not fitting.

Thanks. I was not completely clear. I bought my Enkeis from Goodwin racing. They are 18x9.5 +45 and are (I am told) a custom made size for Goodwin from Enkei. I assume that within the custom order, no allowance was made for TPMS and there is no flat spot on the rims for the sensors to fit. Perhaps there are other issues as well, but they did not fit the wheel. For some time, I didnt care to have the sensors in the wheel (why add unsprung weight to the outer edge of the wheel. I even sold them), but have since reconsidered and am looking for a solution other than black tape to cover the TPMS light.

Recently, a friend sent me a link (discussed here), which got me searching. There was a mention of some adaptors sold by Tire Rack in the above thread (the sensors for $264.) Are these a solution? Is there a solution?

The Tire Rack does not have any kind of sensor adapter that would let you attach a sensor to the inside of a rim. I'm not say that there might be some company out there that may make something that could do this for you, but i am not aware of any.

i just recently bought a pair of ff7 motegi's 18's but the tires are really lowpro's 205's

and the light is blinking...is the sensor on the orignal wheels or what not exactly sure how it works.?

but what is the solution?

black tape over the sensor?? or what?

another thing..what can i actually do to affect the handeling and performance of my car? will it harm anything?

thanks alot for any kind of feed back i may get!

are they mounted on your new rims?

Ok, I have a pretty newbie question for this thread. Will Kazera rims work with TPMS? When I bought my 04 (used), it had no sensors and has been blinking since I bought it. And if Kazera (5 spoke, btw) can support it, how difficult is it to replace the sensors? The dealership wants $640 to buy and install all 4. I want to do this myself if I can.

Thanks for your input.

This is probably a silly question but I had new tires and rims installed on my 8 and I noticed they gave me back the original tires still mounted on the rims (though they charged me tire disposal fee but that's another story). I suspect they did not transfer the TPMS sensor. I'm assuming I'd have to release the air from the tire and remove it from the rim to see if the sensor is there. Is that correct?

The tires have to removed to get to TPMS

Damn, that means they said they would make the swap and they didn't. I wonder how long before the tire pressure light on my dashboard goes off.....

You can tell if the TPMS is installed. Look at the "valve stems" and you will see they look different.

Thanks for all the info. Will take a look in the daytime tomorrow.

Would TPMS fit in the 5Zigen FN01R-C? Thanks.

I'm looking for a summer wheel and tire combo so I can just swap with the stock wheels that have snow tires. I keep getting mixed advice regarding TPMS and tires. The salesman at Town Fair Tire didn't recommend having TPMS installed in the new wheels. He said they are more trouble than they are worth. He also said that Hankook make good tires where another salesman from Sullivan Tire said that Hankooks are terrible. So...To TPMS or not to TPMS and what type of tire is recommended? I want a decent tire that is not too expensive and is going to last longer than 13,000 miles (the Bridgestone Potenza's I assume were the originals were already pretty much done when I bought the car).