How to select a TPMS replacement service.

I've researched this... And many shops make a huge amount of money selling you the sensors at most likely double what you paid for them and they'll refuse to install customer bought parts because "they aren't reliable." And the labor prices they charge are offensive for something that takes them 8 minutes to replace.

People who bought car tires from a shop that does free rotations I will tell them to just have the shop do it next time they go in for a rotation.

As for me, I've been buying all my tires online in recent years and the routine of putting on the spare tire and bringing in the new tire and the wheel I want it on and slipping them $20 cash for mount and balance and old tire disposal worked well for a while.

But because I got a bad TPMS in one of my wheels I've decided that I'm going to buy a Harbor Freight tire changing machine for $60 and do it myself, as well as mount my own new tires so my only expense is finding a shop to rotate and balance my tires for a reasonable price.

 

You find a little hole in the wall tire place to install that has an Autel TPMS tool to write the new sensor ids into the car's TPMS ecu.

I have had this done for $15 a tire. It's easy for them as they only break the bead on the valve stem side, hold it open with their tire machine, swap out the sensor and reinflate. No need to rebalance and you can get a rotation out of it as well.

Alternatively I have heard Discount Tires will do it for about the same price.

 

$50 cash at an independent tire shop sounds about right around these parts.
I know of two places off the top of my head that will mount and balance tires for about that and they will let you use their shop for the commercial delivery address if you buy the tires on line.

I give my local tire shop the opportunity to meet or beat Sam's, Tire Rack etc....and for the last set of Michelins I bought they actually DID.


I would never do business with any tire shop that wouldn't install a TPMS for me - and I would give them the same opportunity to match or beat the price I would have to pay for what is essentially the same hardware.

 

IDK if costco will use your part. BTW, I got my prius w/ them last year for $40/wheel including the sensor.

 

I would not if I were them.
If I were COSTCO I would only install parts that I sell.

Right tool for the job....