My experience with aftermarket TPMS sensors

Welcome to Prius Chat. I have been here since 2017 and have never seen such a useful, well written first submission. Thank you for your effort.

 

Yeah I'd echo the above.

Still, when I got snow tires (on Corolla rims) for our newly acquired 2010, I went the dead-simple route: skip the sensors.

FWIW: Mazda sells their OEM sensors for about $30 CDN apiece (MazdaShop, in Ontario I believe), and with Mazda, the car automatically recognizes swapped sensors, with just a few minutes driving. Nothing else needed.

 

Being this is a Prius Prime forum does this work on Primes?

 

Yes, you are correct that Autel MaxiTPMS TS508 can program only Autel sensors. This may be a problem if you have already purchased other brand programmable TPMS sensors. But, the tool can read any TPMS sensors including OEM TPMS sensors and most of (if not all) aftermarket TPMS sensors, and write the ID of any TPMS sensors to ECU (relearn process) via OBDII on most make and model of cars that requires OBDII relearn procedure like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan.

I purchased a TS508 tool kit that came with 8 programmable MX 1-sensor (can be programmed to be used either for 315MHz or 433MHz) from eBay for ~$250 total. I use the tool for TPMS relearn procedure via OBDII for our Nissan and Honda with two sets of OEM TPMS sensors. For Prius Prime, I purchased a set of wheels with tires installed without a TPMS sensor before I bought the TS508, so I have not had a second set of wheels with TPMS yet. Sound like the ATEQ VT37 is a TPMS sensor programming tool, but it does not support OBDII relearn procedure like the Autel TS508.

I just cloned the OEM TPMS sensor ID's off from my 2021 PP summer wheels onto 4 programmable Autel MX 1-sensors. The process is so quick and easy. No need to attach OBDII or write down the OEM TPMS sensor IDs. It will read and copy and activate the Autel MX 1-sensors without removing the tire (didn't even have to open the door).

I now have to figure out how to take the existing valve stem out and install those sensors into the winter wheels. If it is too difficult to DIY, I may just take them to a tire shop to have them install and rebalance the wheel+tires.

 

Just to add to your comment above. The reason newer (2013-present) Honda Accord does not need the OBDII to relearn TPMS is because there are no TPMS sensors inside of the wheel. Some models of Honda have moved away from the direct TPMS system to the indirect TPMS system using ABS sensors. The benefit is that the lower tire pressure is sensed by a slight difference in tire diameter as one tire loose pressure, so it does not require any extra TPMS radio sensor inside of the wheel, meaning no relearning procedure, no extra cost of TPMS sensors, and no replacement of TPMS sensors due to dead battery. But, the disadvantage is that it can not be used to accurately measure actual tire pressure in any tire. It only works when the car is in motion. And, in the very rare event in which both tires on the same axle lose the approximately same amount of pressure, the system is unable to detect the reduced tire pressure. Older than 2012 Accord and most other Honda vehicles do use a direct TPMS system with a radio sensor inside of the wheel. They do require an OBDII connection type relearn tool to change the sensor IDs on ECU. My Civic Hybrid and my son's CRZ both use this type of TPMS sensor.

Except for some model years of Pilot, most (if not all) Honda vehicles with direct TPMS sensors do not have automatic relearn without OBDII. However, there are other makes and models like Mazda, Mendel mentioned and many US domestic and some EU models of cars that can do relearn procedure without OBDII. Toyota, Nissan, and Honda all remain to be OBDII relearn in most of their models.

 

Doing a search, I found a few videos for replacing TPMS sensors (or simple valve stem) on the wheel without demounting tires from rims. This video was most pertinent, and I was thinking of trying...

But, then I realized that if I am replacing regular rubber valves that are on my winter wheels with newly programmed TPMS sensors with metal stems, then I am sure I have to rebalance the wheels again. I could guess the weight difference between the TPMS sensor and rubber stem and apply the weight sticker on the opposite side of the TPMS sensor and call it good enough. But in the end, I decided to take the "cloned" TPMS sensors and winter wheels to a local tire shop to have them installed. It ended up costing more than the regular new tire installation on a car. They charge extra for "carry-in" wheels and tires. Oh well, that is what happens when you don't purchase a new set of tires at a tire shop you are using. Anyway, I now have the Autel MX 1-sensors with cloned sensor IDs from OEM summer wheels installed on the after-market wheels with winter tires.

I just installed them onto my PP and drove ~30min. No TPMS lights lit up. OBD Tire Assistant App is reading the TPMS sensors ID and pressure, so it seems they are all working correctly.