TPMS, with two sets of rims

[john112deere]

What I've got:

-2009 Ford Ranger
-dedicated winter tires mounted on the factory rims, with functional TPMS
-original equipment tires sitting in my basement

What I want:
-two 100% complete, operational sets of wheels and tires (including functional-enough TPMS to keep the light off), such that I can swap between summer and winter tires in my driveway


Obviously, I'll need to buy a second set of rims for this to work, and a second set of TPMS sensors and bands, too. But once I get all that set up, my understanding is that I'll still need some sort of electronic tool to "retrain" the computer about to the new sensors each time I swap tires.

Is this correct?

Anybody know what said tool costs, if I want to buy it?

Or, since I'd prefer to keep the truck "intact", and the light out, but don't feel any need for the system to actually function correctly...anybody ever figured out how to just put four of the dumb sensors in the spare tire and have the thing stay happy? Or how to build a little transmitter box that sends out four "happy tire" signals and shuts off the stupid light?

And, while I frankly don't care much, anybody know how illegal it is to bypass your TPMS? It's there by federal law...but does that law require me to keep it installed and functional? Or is it a state-by-state thing? Or...?

 

[chubster2003]

prolly not very helpful, but my buddy took his instrument cluster out, and just ripped the little led for the light out so he didnt have to deal with it. since he got different rims for his f-150.

as far as legality on disabling the system or something, unsure. maybe head to your ford dealer and ask, and maybe drop by the service dept and ask them to just turn off that part of they system (if its possible)..... at leas it couldnt hurt to try

on a side note, i would think it would be safe to assume that it could work to put all 4 sensors in the spare tire, actually a genius idea, considering you then would always have a right psi spare tire hehe

 

[john112deere]

prolly not very helpful, but my buddy took his instrument cluster out, and just ripped the little led for the light out so he didnt have to deal with it. since he got different rims for his f-150.

as far as legality on disabling the system or something, unsure. maybe head to your ford dealer and ask, and maybe drop by the service dept and ask them to just turn off that part of they system (if its possible)..... at leas it couldnt hurt to try

I thought about pulling the bulb...and about letting it stay on half the year, too. And I may end up doing one or the other...

But for now I'm trying to figure out what it'd cost to do it "right" (i.e. have the system 100% operational), and also work out how I could bypass it without actually modifying my truck in any way.

 

[john112deere]

Looks like there's a reset tool available for $20...

Here's one on eBay and I read on a couple other places that it's about the same price from the dealership, too.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

As far as legality issues, it is a federal law that any vehicle built 2008 and later (under a certain GVW) must retain a functioning TPMS system.

I know at least at the dealership I work at we don't charge to run out to the parking lot to reset a TPMS light for customers. It only takes like 30 seconds to do.

You will be looking around $400 to get the straps and sensors needed for your new rims as well.

 

[john112deere]

As far as legality issues, it is a federal law that any vehicle built 2008 and later (under a certain GVW) must retain a functioning TPMS system.

'Bout what I figured.

I know at least at the dealership I work at we don't charge to run out to the parking lot to reset a TPMS light for customers. It only takes like 30 seconds to do.

I don't have a second set of rims for my '97 Ranger's snow tires, and I've found it can be enormously inconvenient to have depend on somebody else's schedule to get tires swapped. Good to know that places will do that, though.

You will be looking around $400 to get the straps and sensors needed for your new rims as well.

Yeah, that part I knew about to begin with. Kinda cancels out the lifetime savings of having a second set of rims, but over a decade it more or less comes out in the wash.

 

[Polk]

To keep this train of thought going, I also have a 2009 that I would like to have a set of summer and a set of winter wheels/tires.

Can I get another set of Ranger or other Ford wheels with the band sensors and just use a reset tool to make the new wheels work?

Will valve stem sensors work with my Ranger?

And when do I need to use the reset tool? Just when I use new wheels? When I rotate the tires? Or...?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

The ranger needs the band and strap sensors, the valve stem sensors will not work.

The reset tool needs to be used any time the wheels are rotated, removed/ reinstalled or your decide to change the pressure.

You will need the reset tool along with the instructions on how to get the truck into tire training mode (should be in your owners manual)

 

[gcfishguy]

Just picked up a 2008 Ranger sport.
Came on factory aluminum wheels and studded snow tires. Works out prefect, since I have a like-new set of agressive 235 all seasons sitting in my shed, along with 4 steelies off my old TJ. All-seasons on the aluminum wheels, and studded snows on the steelies. awesome.

Then I thought of the TPMS...balls. Just read through this, and it's saying that any change will turn on the light and the system will have to be reset?
Rotate tires = light on until it's reset? Doesn't re-learn after 5 miles of driving or something? bah.

"Yes, the system functions perfectly...not my fault the range isn't far enough to pick up the sensors that are on my summer wheels in my shed...."

I'll keep reading....someone must have come up with a quick and dirty mod to put the light out when running different wheels....please..?

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Then I thought of the TPMS...balls. Just read through this, and it's saying that any change will turn on the light and the system will have to be reset?
Rotate tires = light on until it's reset? Doesn't re-learn after 5 miles of driving or something?

I'll keep reading....someone must have come up with a quick and dirty mod to put the light out when running different wheels....please..?

The light will go on if its above or below like 3 -5psi from recommended. I don't think it will go on if you rotate the tires though, it won't tell you which tire is low correctly but you will know a tire is low (thus you should check em all anyways). if it goes low fillit and drive it around for a few miles and it should relearn it if not... take it in and have them relearn it...

 

[fordbrian333]

it wont go off if your rotate, but you cant have 2 sets of functional tpms working with one cluster, the truck is only designed to read 4 monitors, their for the tire relearn tool will only learn four tires and then stop searcing for signals

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

We have them go off all the time at the dealership when rotating tires. It is just second nature now to get the reset tool out and retrain them.

And yes you can have 2 sets of wheels with TPMS in them. You will just need to have the dealership retrain them when you swap them over. We do this all the time with summer and winter tire/wheel sets.

 

[grey]

I just ignored my TPMS in the winter(the stock tires sat inside the house.)
Although I was skeptical it even worked since sometimes I would drive about 60km before the light on the dash came on.

 

[john112deere]

I ended up with a set of take-off rims from an '07 for $100, complete with sensors.

They're just the painted seven-spokers, but they fit and they balanced out good, so they're good enough for me. (Heck...I didn't even bother to swap the tires around- I've still got my winters on the chrome-clad XLT steelies.)

I thought about ignoring the light, but every time I see that light I get mad (genuinely furious, if I'm on a long drive with nothing better to think about) about the whole notion of TPMS, so...

*Oddly, when I had the tires mounted, the shop "calibrated" the truck to the new sensors. Several days later, the light came on, and I had to reset them myself with the Ford tool. No problems since, so I'm pretty sure they screwed up...but I drove about 50 miles over three days before the problem showed up. If I'd had a low tire, that's a heck of a lot further than I'd want to drive on it.

 

[bsquared]

Hey everyone, I have a 2009 Sport and am in the same boat. I have my winter tires on the factory rims right now and was thinking of getting a new set of summer rims for my summer tires. If I don’t bother to get the additional sensors is it just the light that comes on in the dash or is there an audible chime of some sort as well. I can learn to live with the light on in the dash.
Thanks