New Wheels And Tpms Question, And What Service Tech Told Me!

Island Silverado · February 26, 2009

I am starting to mod my 2008 Silverado and the 1st thing I did was replace those horrible looking 17" chrome rims w/ some new 20" OEM wheels/tires I bought on Ebay that came with the TPMS. I had Tire kingdom put them on for me and they only charged me $22.00 and said they would reset the TPMS.

Well, the TPMS alarm went off the next day and has been since. I have a feeling they don't know what they are doing so I dropped by the local Chevy service dept. today and asked one of the techs

if they could reset them.

He told me "You just can't slap new wheels on these trucks, it cost us $75.00 just to get the codes from GM?? They will mess up your electronics, speedo, anti-lock brakes...."

I left there thinking I just ruined my new (used) truck! Then I thought this guy seemed so busy, he did not wan't the work. WTH? Is it really that complicated? I don't care about the TPMS if it is, I check my tire pressure regulary anyway.

What say you?

tobias · February 26, 2009

Short story: He was full of shit.

Longer version: Take it back to the tire joint and have them reset them again. You'll be fine. You can run your vehicle without them and still be fine as well.

I bought a set for my aftermarket wheels from VMax2007 and simply installed them, paired them to the truck and went on my merry way.

EDIT: I assume you meant that the "alarm" was the message telling you to service the system and not just a low pressure warning.

VMax2007 · February 26, 2009

He's full of shit. (assuming you got the same type of sensors).

superjim · February 26, 2009

First...what message are you getting on the DIC dsiplay?

In my opinion...the tech (and I use the term loosely) is full of it.

He either didn't know how to reset them or didn't want to.

There should be NO PROBLEM setting them to your truck.

The only issue you may encounter is air pressure differences between the old tires and the new tires.

The DIC is programmed for the pressure in the old tires.

If the pressure varies more than a few pounds from what it is programmed for...it will set off the error warning. For instance..your old tires were 32 PSI and the new ones are 40 PSI.

Your truck can be programmed for the new pressure in the new tires...assuming the pressure is different from the old tires.

BuckFeverZ · February 26, 2009

Not having the TPS won't do anything except you will have a light on the dash always. I deal with this when I run my summer wheels. Doesn't bother me, and I've had my truck at the dealer when the light is on and they don't care either.

GARB55 · February 26, 2009

I am starting to mod my 2008 Silverado and the 1st thing I did was replace those horrible looking 17" chrome rims w/ some new 20" OEM wheels/tires I bought on Ebay that came with the TPMS. I had Tire kingdom put them on for me and they only charged me $22.00 and said they would reset the TPMS.
Well, the TPMS alarm went off the next day and has been since. I have a feeling they don't know what they are doing so I dropped by the local Chevy service dept. today and asked one of the techs

if they could reset them.

He told me "You just can't slap new wheels on these trucks, it cost us $75.00 just to get the codes from GM?? They will mess up your electronics, speedo, anti-lock brakes...."

I left there thinking I just ruined my new (used) truck! Then I thought this guy seemed so busy, he did not wan't the work. WTH? Is it really that complicated? I don't care about the TPMS if it is, I check my tire pressure regulary anyway.

What say you?

Buy No Means am I a expert, but if you have a Discount tire near by or a good tire shop stop by and see if they have any suggestions. Discount tire has helped out with the TPMS issue, JUST MY Recommendation.

CapitalTruck · February 26, 2009

Hey, when you rotate tires with TPMS do you have to do some sort of reprogramming re: the position of the tires?

Island Silverado · February 26, 2009

EDIT: I assume you meant that the "alarm" was the message telling you to service the system and not just a low pressure warning.

Well, I am getting both the message and the illuminated dummy light (tire icon).

I could not find any info online as to the correct tire pressure so I am running 36 lbs on them now.

superjim · February 26, 2009

Hey, when you rotate tires with TPMS do you have to do some sort of reprogramming re: the position of the tires?

Yes.

BuckFeverZ · February 26, 2009

Hey, when you rotate tires with TPMS do you have to do some sort of reprogramming re: the position of the tires?

Yes, the procedure is explained in the owners manual.

tobias · February 26, 2009

I am starting to mod my 2008 Silverado and the 1st thing I did was replace those horrible looking 17" chrome rims w/ some new 20" OEM wheels/tires I bought on Ebay that came with the TPMS. I had Tire kingdom put them on for me and they only charged me $22.00 and said they would reset the TPMS.
Well, the TPMS alarm went off the next day and has been since. I have a feeling they don't know what they are doing so I dropped by the local Chevy service dept. today and asked one of the techs

if they could reset them.

He told me "You just can't slap new wheels on these trucks, it cost us $75.00 just to get the codes from GM?? They will mess up your electronics, speedo, anti-lock brakes...."

I left there thinking I just ruined my new (used) truck! Then I thought this guy seemed so busy, he did not wan't the work. WTH? Is it really that complicated? I don't care about the TPMS if it is, I check my tire pressure regulary anyway.

What say you?

Buy No Means am I a expert, but if you have a Discount tire near by or a good tire shop stop by and see if they have any suggestions. Discount tire has helped out with the TPMS issue, JUST MY Recommendation.

+1

Discount Tire has been professional and helpful every time I have dealt with them.

VMax2007 · February 26, 2009

Hey, when you rotate tires with TPMS do you have to do some sort of reprogramming re: the position of the tires?

Yes, the procedure is explained in the owners manual.

+1

But if you only swap front to back, without crossing, it's really not necessary cuz if you get a tire that goes low, it's pretty easy to figure out which one it is...well, for most of us anyway.

tobias · February 26, 2009

EDIT: I assume you meant that the "alarm" was the message telling you to service the system and not just a low pressure warning.

Well, I am getting both the message and the illuminated dummy light (tire icon).

I could not find any info online as to the correct tire pressure so I am running 36 lbs on them now.

36 lbs should be fine. When you say the alert went off the next day was it a scenario where you drove a short distance home and parked it and then the alert happened the next time you drove it, or was it fine for an extended period of driving including the next day and then it just randomly went off?

Island Silverado · February 26, 2009

36 lbs should be fine. When you say the alert went off the next day was it a scenario where you drove a short distance home and parked it and then the alert happened the next time you drove it, or was it fine for an extended period of driving including the next day and then it just randomly went off?

It was an extended period of driving, maybe 2 days later.