Tire Pressure Sensors With Aftermarket Wheels

VMax2007 · February 9, 2008

OK, as many of you know, I am having new wheels and tires put on my truck today. My truck is currently still up on the lift with no wheels. I dropped off my truck about 1:00pm today and they let me take their company truck home since it was going to take MUCH longer than the 2 hours they told me. About 5:00 I went up there to pick up my truck and they had just finished the Level-Lift and alignment. Evidently the new trucks with coils is a much more time-consuming task than the Torsion bar suspensions on the GMT800's. They were nice enough to allow me into their shop area since it was so late and there were no other vehicles or customers there. We proceeded to see what it would take to get the original tire sensors out of my stock rims to use in the new ones. Turns out the valve stem is evidently NOT re-usable. We took off a sensor, which is screwed to the bottom of the valve stem and sure enough, it says right on the sensor that a new valve is required. So, we call the GMC dealer who happens to be about 1000 ft up the road and they say they only sell the valve and sensor together. So, I had to buy all new sensors, which the tire shop gave me at cost...$52 each!!!

They close at 6:00pm, and at 6:30, I could tell the 2 guys working on my truck did not want to be there. So, I told my salesman that if I could take their truck home for the night they could finish tomorrow. I did not want them rushing to get this done. I want them to take their time and do it right. They understood and gladly accepted my offer to let them finish tomorrow.

So, to any of you that have purchased aftermarket wheels, please tell me your experience regarding these sensors? I want to know if I really had to buy new sensors or if I could have just found the replacement valve stems?

Also, I am keeping the old sensors (without Valve Stems) in hopes of maybe selling them on eBay or something? Will they have any value without the stems?

Any info, experience, opinions, etc would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!!

keoni1978 · February 9, 2008

when I got my wheels and tires installed at discount tires, they had just the valve stem for like $8.

alaska511 · February 9, 2008

I was told the same thing, I bought new sensors with new valve stems...$88 for all 4, I forwarded a pic to Centerline, they said they will work fine on my new wheels being built. I found out the stems are replaceable, I have seen the stems for $12-$15, my local tire guy sells them for $20.

So now I too have 2 sets of TPMS sensors, and will run the stock wheels next winter

y2kz71 · February 9, 2008

So, we call the GMC dealer who happens to be about 1000 ft up the road and they say they only sell the valve and sensor together. So, I had to buy all new sensors, which the tire shop gave me at cost...$52 each!!!

Thanks!!!

$52ea?....did they buy you a drink first before they..............?

VMax2007 · February 9, 2008

So, we call the GMC dealer who happens to be about 1000 ft up the road and they say they only sell the valve and sensor together. So, I had to buy all new sensors, which the tire shop gave me at cost...$52 each!!!

Thanks!!!

$52ea?....did they buy you a drink first before they..............?

Well, I have heard these run well over $200 for the set for OEM sensors (I looked into it when I was considering getting a set for running stock wheels in the winter). And he first told me they were $65 each, then a while later he told me he could give me them for his cost from the dealer for $52 each since he did not know these would be required when we made the deal.

Is there such a thing as non-OEM replacement sensors that some of these places are using? Such as Discount Tire as mentioned in the post above?

Here is a link to an ebay listing showing the sensors I have: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...A:IT&ih=010

And here it is on GMPartsDirect:

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm

I guess I did get screwed, but what choice did I have, I need these now, I do not have time to go find them to save $80, then I would have to have them remounted and balanced. I need my truck back!!!

Zembonez · February 9, 2008

Swapped mine into my new wheels and all worked well right away. Truck only had about 200 miles on it. That was 5000 miles ago. Never heard of having to replace everything. Did I Miss something?

VMax2007 · February 9, 2008

Swapped mine into my new wheels and all worked well right away. Truck only had about 200 miles on it. That was 5000 miles ago. Never heard of having to replace everything. Did I Miss something?

They could not get the old stem out without destrying it. After unscrewing the sensor, I am the one who noticed the note on the sensor which stated: "New Valve required for every tire change" imprinted right on the sensor.

I have a hard time believing the stems are not available from the dealer, I think the dealer just wanted to sell the entire set. They knew the tire dealer needed them right away to finish a job and the cost would get passed along to the customer (me).

Did you swap yours, or did the dealer? If they did, they may have just swapped the new stems and not even charged you since they usually include new stems anyway.

alaska511 · February 9, 2008

well I am sure you are just glad to have it done, I can't wait to see them Jeff! Congrats!

pottercon · February 11, 2008

Yes you can just buy the stem, I have done it twice. Cost I belive is about 6 bucks.

98 Z71 SLT · February 11, 2008

VMax

What are you doing with your stock 20's ??

Bostonsfavson · February 11, 2008

That's certainly interesting. I've never heard of that before; I have other vehicles with TPMS and I've just swapped them out. In any case, 52 dollars each is a joke.

tobias · February 11, 2008

So, I had to buy all new sensors, which the tire shop gave me at cost...$52 each!!!

Darkanion · February 12, 2008

When I had my wheels installed at Discount Tire, they said they could move the sensors over from the stock wheels to the new wheels. However, at the time, I was thinking I wanted to hang onto the stock wheels and use them for whatever-purpose, on down the road. So, I told them I wanted new sensors.

At first, they told me I "had" to go to GM and get the sensors. They claimed well over $50 a piece. (For some reason, I'm thinking they said $65 a piece.) I told him that was crazy. So, he checked the books and found some aftermarket sensors that worked. I think they turned out to be $40 or $50 a piece.

I remember "just" the sensors cost me somewhere around an $200, all because I wanted to have two complete "sets" of wheels w/ sensors. Now, I'm thinking I should've just moved the OEM sensors over and been done with it, because I highly doubt anyone is going to pay extra for my wheels, just because they have the '07 sensors in them. Oh well! Live & learn!