Low cost high end TPMS installed

Just went through this with a 2008 Lexus RX350 but all the methods are identical for Gen3 Prius (and many other cars)

Avoid cheap no name brands from ebay/amazon. I figure these were all from the supply chain of cheap Chinese domestic cars. Use cheap and lower quality batteries and internal chips (low power design matters for longevity) Thus I guess life span likely isn't great.

High end TPMS from Japanese, US and German brands provide high quality aftermarkets. However, a single confusing factor creates massive confusion amongst consumers and tire shops benefit handsomely. The single factor is high end TPMS ID programming (inserting an ID into the TPMS sensor) require thousand dollar tools that mainly work with one brand. Tire shops don't carry every expensive ID programming tool so they just resort to sell you a TPMS they carry and can program at a handsome markup.

Here is how to get around all of this confusion at low cost

Buy high end TPMS from online seller preconfigured for your car

tpms.com and a2ztiresupplies.com (used them recently) are such providers. When you order TPMS, provide your car's model and they will preconfigure the TPMS to be compatible with your car. All that is left to do after installing into a car is to read the IDs and program them into the car's ECU. Fortunately this last step can be done by a programmer every tire shop has (Autel MaxiTPMS) Its so cheap even a consumer can own one for < $100 (more on this later) I even asked a2ztiresupplies.com to write the ID on the box so I can program into the car with Techstream (but their handwriting wasn't so good haha)

High end TPMS maker like BH Sens Huf, Autel etc. make dual band sensors (315Mhz, 433Mhz) and blank IDs. So a seller just need their tool to config the correct band for your car and enter an ID. Again, the challenge is this config tool usually only work with a single high end brand. So buy from online sellers that preconfig these for your car are the way to go.

Installation when you change tires or just swapping dead TPMS

Can usually get these installed for free while swapping out for new tires. Shop might even activate them for you for free (Costco did for me when I provided them preconfig sensors) If swapping out a dead sensor without new tires, Discount Tires just did 3 (preconfiged for car + ID) for me @ $8 each without programming it into my car. Used my own Autel MaxiTPMS to program the car with these new IDs. Could have done it with techstream if the ID written on the box was more clear haha.

How much do high end TPMS cost?

• tpms.com has BH Sens Huf, Schrader, Adachi, TSSsensor brands all between $20-$25 each.
• a2ztiresupplies.com has BH Sens for $17 each
• Discount Tires / America's Tires will PM online TPMS providers (and tires too) Discount sells BH Sens to their customers.

So there isn't a need to buy Pacific Industries even from the lowest cost Amazon source for $40+/ea

MaxiTPMS (TS508WF)

Autel's MaxiTPMS can read basically every TPMS that exist that have an ID already programmed (not blank) and program them into the car. They just can't set IDs other than Autel's own brand MX TPMS (~$25) This is why every tire shop has this tool.

Can buy one for < $100 from ebay etc. However need to confirm with seller its a US market product rather than grey market from overseas. Grey market product aren't fakes. But I've read Autel blocks them from updating and registration for use in US. When I got mine (new $70 from mercari.com + free ship) first step was register, update, and email Autel with serial number to confirm US market product.

Since buying this

• Read my 11 Prius TPMSs and set them into the car. Used techstream to blank out TPMS ID in the car ECU in advance to confirm MaxiTPMS did the programming into the Prius.
• Put 3x BH Sens TPMS into a 2008 Lexus RX350 with 3x old TPMS (1 dead) for $24+tax install at Discount Tires. Read all 5 TPMS (2 installed last year by tire shop) and programmed into the car.
• Read the TPMS on my 2013 Tesla's TPMS (Continental TPMS receiver. I think TPMS is Continental also)
• Read the TPMS on a 2017 Subaru Outback with Schrader TPMS (1 dead haha) that came with OEM tires.

Quite the useful tool for < $100