Winter Tires - TPMS

[Porsche998]

We just got our Prius and are quite happy with it. However, the one item that I was disappointed in was the TPMS system and the need to reset the system with a set of winter tires on different rims. I was told today that the TPMS system in the car has a memory for two sets of tires. As long as one buys the TPMS systems for each winter tire, then when the Toyota tech is registering the winter tires, his system shows an option for a 2nd set of tires on the Diagnostic Menu Tire Pressure/ Utility Registration Tire Set.

Now my question is two fold-
Can someone tell me if this setup is correct and secondly, if correct, after registering the second set of tires, when putting back on the summer tires, do you have to do anything with the TPMS or does it at all times recognize two sets of tires?

Thanks

[walterm]

I have heard that the Prius TPMS system has memory for only 1 set of four tires, and changing to/from snow tires would always require a trip to the dealer.

I have snow tires on non-TPMS rims, and the only drawback is that after a long drive (more than 1 hour or so) with the non-TPMS tires the tire pressure warning light comes on, and then stays on for a few days before turning off again. I don't know if it cancels itself or if my car eventually reads the sensors on the TPMS tires in the shed near where the car is parked.

I'd not worry about TPMS in the snow tires, and just keep watch on inflation the old-fashioned way...

Walt Morris

[nickfromny]

If winter wheels don't get to see the TPMS sensors on summer wheels light will stay on all winter. Get small pice of black duct tape. Put it over light till spring.

[qbee42]

The car registers only one set of sensors, unless something has changed this year.

Tom

[Sarge]

As others indicated, I have always heard the car can only have one set of sensors registered to the car. Therefore, if you want it to work on your winter tires, you would need to transfer them along with the tires. Not really worth the effort & cost, IMHO.

I just have two sets of rims, and my winters do not have sensors. As I park in the garage next to the rims, most of the time the TPMS system is happy for the first hour of driving or so when it "wakes up" and realizes the sensors are not there. The light blinks for 30 seconds (?) or so, then stays on solid. I originally planned to cover it up, but after two winters, I find it is pretty easy to just ignore, so I didn't bother.

It's really unfortunate that Toyota didn't build some sort of override feature into the computer for those choosing to use a second set of rims.

[earlrosebery]

we installed winter tires yesterday, on new steel rims without sensors, So far, the warning light has obligingly remained off. If it comes on we will ignore it. The dealer wasn't clear on whether 4 new sensors plus programming was $300 or $600 so we went to an independant tire shop.

[narf]

On my 2008, the TPMS light only goes on if the car doesn't recieve data from the sensors for at least 55 minutes after the car is started. Since I keep the stock wheels in the garage near the car that means the light very rarely goes on. If I drive 45 minutes away from home, turn off the car, then drive home the light never goes on.

If I take a trip longer than 55 minutes or so, the light goes on. The next time I park the car near the stock wheel the light goes off again.

[Prius 06]

Can you take off the sensors and put them onto rims that are able to accept the sensors?
I want to use my stock wheels for the winter, and replace them with a decent summer wheel...but still the same factory size.

[rpg51]

Pretty sure you could remove the sensors (stems) and install them in a second factory or otherwise compatible wheel, but you would have to remove the tire from the wheel to get the sensor (stem) off the wheel. Not sure but I think that is the situation.