2009 Ford Fusion

[RonD]

Daughter's car

2009 Fusion SEL 3.0l

TPMS sensors are 11 years old and getting her some new tires, so thought they should be changed out
2010 and up used the Valve stem type
2008/9 seems to use the band type

I can't see a problem cutting off the old ones and installing new valve stem type, both use 315mHz
Any down side to that?

And whats the deal with the Metal vs Rubber stems?
I would chose rubber every time

 

[Dirtman]

I switched from bands on my ranger to valve stem type. No difference...

 

[RonD]

I didn't think so, thanks

Up here(Canada) they are $40/each for the valve stem, and $115/each for the band type

 

[sgtsandman]

I’ve had all three and never saw a difference in function. The metal stems might be a bit more resilient if something hits it but on the other hand, rubber stems would fold out of the way and possibly survive where the metal one could snap off.

Kinda 6 of one, half dozen of the other. Not to mention one would have to try pretty hard to even hit the valve stem on something in the first place based on the different Ranger rims I’ve worked with in the past.

 

[RonD]

Yes, I was thinking the same

And I did have metal stems on a truck years ago and had to tighten the nuts or check them every few months because they can leak

 

[sgtsandman]

Yes, I was thinking the same

And I did have metal stems on a truck years ago and had to tighten the nuts or check them every few months because they can leak

You know, I never thought of that. A couple of my winter rims had fairly bad slow leaks before the tires were taken off for the Summer. I just attributed to the rims being rusty. As in rust to the point that I had to beat the inside of the rim to break off the swollen Ferrous Oxide that was catching on the hardware on the calipers. I figured it was just corrosion pitting on the surface where the bead sits. I'll have to keep that in mind after I get a couple replacement rims and get new tires mounted. If I get hard stems again.

 

[4.0blue98]

I'm pretty sure the metal ones can be resealed. I have a 2011 dodge with the metal ones. Put a few sets of tires on it over the years and they used a TPMS seal kit (about 10$ per tire) everytime they did the tire swap. Probably just an overpriced O-ring but they've never leaked.

 

[adsm08]

I'd go for the rubber stem mounted sensor every time.

To replace the band mounted ones I have to break the tire down the whole way. It's probably possible to only break the top bead, but I manage to drop the little clip in the tire every time.

At least on the OE sensors the metal stem can't be replaced except as an assembly with the sensor. They also have a tendency to just break off when trying to remove the core as they get older.

The rubber stem can be replaced separate from the sensor. The sensor can be replaced without doing more than breaking the outer bead and holding it down (except on stupidly low-profile tires).

The only downside I can see to switching is some poor tire tech who isn't paying attention, doesn't really know what he is doing, and can't tell the difference between a TPMS valve stem and a non-TPMS stem breaking the tire where he thinks it should be broken, and hitting the sensor.

 

[RonD]

Yes, I am going with the rubber valve stem type, and ditching the band type