Topic: TPMS -- I didn't know that!

[Angry Chicken]

Found out that the Audi Q5 (probably others) doesn't use wireless TPMS transmitters mounted to the wheels, but rather uses the same type of system we had in a Ford Freestar 5 years ago.  Basically it uses the ABS brake sensors to measure the overall rolling diameter of the wheel/tire combination and warn of any consistent deviations outside a certain margin which would indicate that the tire is losing pressure.  As with the Freestar, there might be a need to recalibrate the system when I mount my winter wheels and tires if there's a significant enough difference in overall diameter.  There shouldn't be, since the 235/65-17s that I chose are almost exactly the equivalent fitment to the OE 235/60-18s.

The upshot is that I don't need to buy extra TPMS sending units for my winter wheel & tire package which 1010tires is shipping this week.

Yipee!

[ktm525]

Nice. Although my favourite TPMS system so far was on the Pontiac G8 GT. It gave constant psi readings on all four tires so a driver could see if more hard cornering was needed to even out the temps.

The Land rover system is junk. It just lights up a warning on the dash. No mention of which tire is going low...

[5 Wheel Drive]

My friend's Impala does the same thing as well.  It uses the abs sensors.  If a tire goes low it doesn't tell him which one, just a warning that 1 of them is low.