How do I get TPMS warning if the vehicle does not have TPMS?

[ssv22]

I put on new wheels couple of months ago and during installation, the tire guy told me that my OEM Y-spokes do not have any TPMS on them, so basically there was no TPMS available to be transferred to the new wheels. Two weeks ago, TPMS warning flashed in the MMI for under-inflated tires and I checked air pressure in all 4 tires and it seemed ok. 2 days ago, the TPMS warning flashed again for the front left, so I decided to check again and the tire was truly under-inflated at less than 20 psi! Obviously, I will get my tire checked but my question is: how am i getting the warning if the car doesnt have any TPMS? and if the car genuinely doesn't have TPMS, how did it know that the front left is under-inflated? Am i missing something here? would like to know if anyone has come across this.

Thanks!

[Stubek]

It measures rotational speed and vibration of the tires, so it can tell if the pressure in one tire is lower than the rest because the tire rotates differently

[TLM_S5]

I put on new wheels couple of months ago and during installation, the tire guy told me that my OEM Y-spokes do not have any TPMS on them, so basically there was no TPMS available to be transferred to the new wheels. Two weeks ago, TPMS warning flashed in the MMI for under-inflated tires and I checked air pressure in all 4 tires and it seemed ok. 2 days ago, the TPMS warning flashed again for the front left, so I decided to check again and the tire was truly under-inflated at less than 20 psi! Obviously, I will get my tire checked but my question is: how am i getting the warning if the car doesnt have any TPMS? and if the car genuinely doesn't have TPMS, how did it know that the front left is under-inflated? Am i missing something here? would like to know if anyone has come across this.

Thanks!

You didn't listen to your tire guy literally enough. The OEM wheels did not have TPMS sensors on them. That is because in 2010 (or slightly earlier) Audi moved from an on-wheel system to using TPMS as part of the ABS system. It works as Stubek indicated. The bottom line is you can change wheels without worrying about TPMS sensors.

Edit: Be sure to reset the TPMS settings after putting on new wheels and after inflating the tires to the proper air pressure. This establishes the baseline from which deviation is calculated.

[ssv22]

Thanks kevin and TLM_S5! thats what the guy at america's tire co. told me too! i heaved a sigh of relief

[TLM_S5]

Thanks kevin and TLM_S5! thats what the guy at america's tire co. told me too! i heaved a sigh of relief

No problem!

[UncleTed]

is this true for the 2013 S5 I ordered last week? Do I not need to worry about TPMS sensors on my aftermarket wheels??

[ssv22]

is this true for the 2013 S5 I ordered last week? Do I not need to worry about TPMS sensors on my aftermarket wheels??

Yes uncleTed...that is true

[DinB]

Not bad, I was planning on getting the TPMS option but I guess the car does have a type of a system in place. :)

[a5sport]

Not bad, I was planning on getting the TPMS option but I guess the car does have a type of a system in place. :)

Don't know about Gov. Regs on your side of the border...but TPMS is required on all new cars sold in the US as of 01 September 2007.

[NYCBOY]

Can one put any OEM or aftermarket programmable 315mhz tpms in wheels??

[aLTTP]

so starting with the '10 models, there's no physical tpms on the wheels? i can mount aftermarket tires without have tpms in them?

[DinB]

Don't know about Gov. Regs on your side of the border...but TPMS is required on all new cars sold in the US as of 01 September 2007.

Hold on a sec, I know that in Canada we don't require TPMS by law, but I thought that the point of this thread was that even without the TPMS option you would still get the warning since audi uses a calculation based on wheel rotation etc? Was this not correct?

[Stubek]

There is no physical TPMS on the 2010+ cars. You can put any wheel and tire on you want that fits. After you put them on, you just got into the MMI and recalibrate the TPMS.

[sirmium]

Can one put any OEM or aftermarket programmable 315mhz tpms in wheels??

Nope, software is not made to receive the data from the sensors. Hardware is still there since receiver used is the same one that your key fob uses for unlocking the car, but software is different.

[DinB]

So do we have a consensus if the Canadian cars have this even without the TPMS option.

[sirmium]

I'm pretty sure they do. Low volumes in Canada would make it really expensive to make a separate software/hardware variant without TPM, and I cant see $50k car without TPM.


An example is that we get electronic steering column lock on our cars in NA, even though it's not mandated, it's mandated in Europe by some insurance law(low volumes in US compared to EU makes it expensive to remove).
US manufacturers sell cars without electronic steering column lock in US but make special variant for EU(High volumes in US compared to EU).

[a5sport]

so starting with the '10 models, there's no physical tpms on the wheels? i can mount aftermarket tires without have tpms in them?

Correct. The TPMS is in the hubs, as a part of the Anti-lock braking system. I run 17" snows in the Winter, and simply go into the MMI to set the car for the different wheels & tires.

My wife's 2013 A4 came with 18s as OEM, but put on 19s, and have absolutely no issues.

As you go up or down on wheel diameter, you also have to make sure that the tires have the corresponding aspect ratio that keeps the overall diameter in line with the OEM setup. The Tire Rack is the best place to check out the right combo for your car.

You do have to make sure, however, that the overall diameter of the wheels & tires is not more than about 3% different from stock. If it is, your speedo & odometer will be off by more than you probably want them to be.

Best way to find out is to check the speed when the OEM wheels & tires are on the car with a good GPS unit, then mount whatever setup you want, and check again.

For example, my A5's speedo with the 19" summer setup is dead on when checked with three different GPS units I have. With the 17" winter setup on, it reads about 2-3 MPH faster than I am actually going according to the GPS units.

[aLTTP]

For example, my A5's speedo with the 19" summer setup is dead on when checked with three different GPS units I have. With the 17" winter setup on, it reads about 2-3 MPH faster than I am actually going according to the GPS units.

so if i ran 20s, would the speedometer say i'm going slower? but in reality i'm going faster?

[a5sport]

so if i ran 20s, would the speedometer say i'm going slower? but in reality i'm going faster?

If the overall diameter of the larger wheels & tires is greater than the OEM configuration...yes.

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4926157...meter-car.html

[Version4]

So do we have a consensus if the Canadian cars have this even without the TPMS option.

For Canada, you have to pay, I believe an extra $550 to get TPMS enabled vehicle. I purchased a 2013 B8 and it has everything except for TPMS enabled. I am currently searching on ways to enable it since I believe some hardware and software was changed since the 2012 MY and the HOW-TO's available don't work with my car...

If anyone have info in this please let me know...

[bknewtype]

holy bump. but food i guess since it answered my question about tpms XD

[gab]

did anybody happen to find out if there is a way to enable TPMS for Canadian cars? I have a 2010 a4 avant and just took out a tire that leaked out (245/30/20). didn't notice it was down. looking for options now.