I have wondered about the real utility of the TPMS.  I have it on one car (not an option).  So far as I can tell, being one who checks tire pressure regularly, and looks my tires over at every stop when traveling, it is of no value.  I have a manual TPMS in the glove compartment, and it works perfectly when I apply it.

Just seems like an added cost and possible failure point to me.  But, I have been diligent about resetting it every time I rotate the tires and adjust the pressure accordingly.  Tires run on different pressure front and rear in this vehicle, as they do on many.

mcneely

---- "Mike B." <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET> wrote:
> And now with modern TPMS sensors mounted to each rim, the potential for
> disaster is even greater.  I heard of someone who took his vehicle to
> BJ's Club to buy tires, and when they drove away and the light wouldn't
> go out, he had to take it to the dealer.  They had broken all 4 of his
> sensors with the tire machine!  Those puppies aren't cheap, plus you
> have to pay to 'learn' them into the system.   The bill did get covered
> by BJ's after they proved it to them.
>
> Mike B.
>
>
> On Sun, Feb 26, 2012 at 5:58 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>
> > my 30 year old motorcycle tires irons are in my road kit.
> > I break the tire down off the rim using the stock jack ....weight of
> > the
> > van does a fine job of breaking down both sides of the tire.
> > I have a special trick with a hammer to get the tire fully off the rim
> > when necessary.
> > it's fun.
> > I haven't had to do this on the side of the road in 30 yrs..
> > but I easily could.
> > Don't tell anyone ..
> > but sometimes I mount and balance my own vanagon tires entirely by
> > hand.
> > Most of the time I take about 8  tires and wheels to my tire store and
> > it's 'mount these on these rims, throw these two tires away' etc..
> > I never let any tire shop touch any of my vehicles.
> > I just let them to their sometimes hurried, sloppy work on just my
> > rims
> > and tires.
> > I also tell them I am willing to pay extra for a careful nice good
> > job,
> > not a quickie job.  That helps.
> > Now they know me personally anyway after 8 years in my area...
> > that helps get good work done for you too.
> >  There is one very popular NW tire chain ..I swear, they never act
> > like
> > they know me when I go there. I think they must have a policy against
> > it.  Four years in grim PT, Wa state ...they never once acted like
> > they
> > knew who I was in that 'only tire store' for an hour's drive to
> > somewhere else .     Sure glad I escaped that place !
> >
> > I do like to have a full size spare .  It might be hours and many
> > miles
> > before I can get to a tire store..
> > I don't want to be stuck anywhere due to lack of a spare that can go
> > safety at 60mph.
> > And generally ...flat tires are not all that common it seems anyway,
> > but
> > it sure is nice to be prepared. when it does happen.
> >
> > Scott
> >
> > On 2/26/2012 10:58 AM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
> >> ---- Loren Busch<starwagen@GMAIL.COM>  wrote:
> >>>   RE:  Spare Tires
> >>> In addition to the spare tire/wheel how many carry a tire repair in
> >>> their
> >>> Vanagon?  And is it new enough that the glue will even come out of
> >>> the
> >>> tube?  I ask that because while writing this it dawned on me that
> >>> the
> >>> repair kit in my rig is over ten years old!  Maybe time to check
> >>> it/replace
> >>> it?
> >>> Someone mentioned the 'little' spare tires provided on some new
> >>> cars, good
> >>> to get you 50 miles or so.  Well, according to a news segment on a
> >>> local TV
> >>> station last week some new cars are coming with NO spare!  They
> >>> showed one
> >>> new car that had only a small battery powered air compressor and a
> >>> tire
> >>> repair (plug) kit.
> >> Well, for in town, on pavement driving, which is what most do all of
> >> the time, the small spare is probably perfectly adequate.  Fact is,
> >> tires have gotten so good, that if maintained reasonably, failure is
> >> very rare.  The last time I had to change a tire because of a failure
> >> while driving was in 1997.  I remember, because it was a Bridgestone
> >> tire that was fairly new, and that experienced a tread separation.
> >> Had a lengthy process getting Firestone to honor their warranty.  Had
> >> to send the tire to a location in Memphis, TN to have it evaluated.
> >> Eventually did get the new tire paid for, damage to my car (the tread
> >> damaged the wheel well when it flew off) paid for, and the cost of a
> >> hotel and meals for my delay.  That was in Kingsville, Texas.  But it
> >> took several months of back and forth.  Why do corporations get bad
> >> names?
> >>
> >> the repair kit and compressor?  Well, plenty of people would be
> >> completely incapable of managing that beside the road.  A few years
> >> back one new car was coming with a "spare" that required inflation at
> >> the time of use.  I don't remember what car it was, or how inflation
> >> was provided.
> >>
> >> mcneely
> >>
> >> --
> >> David McNeely
> >>

--
David McNeely