I learned something about car tires today

My car has the TPMS button but I didn't realize I needed to reset it if I add air. I understand using it if you get different tires or wheels but I didn't reset it after adding air.
 
debodun said:
TPMS Calibration
Any time you inflate, change, or rotate one or more of the tires, you need to recalibrate the system. The calibration process requires approximately 30 minutes of cumulative driving at speeds between 30–65 mph.

I never knew that!
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Back in the real world Bugatti recommends swapping the tires every two to three years whether they need to or not to the tune of $38,000 -$42,000 a set. Also, the wheels and honestly a person does not want to know the price of those.
The tyres on my Merc have been fitted for twelve years, and I am not rushing to change those as they are like new. In short, the fewer gadgets on a car the better for me, gadgets cost money.

Oh as an extra, I noticed a brand new unopened strimmer like yours in the garage today.

22 years old, car not strimmer.
 

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Not sure what TPMS is, but on UK cars, generally when you inflate or change tyres, you simply tell the car that you've done it. This usually means finding the correct menu and pressing the appropriate button. Mrs. L's car prompts you at regular intervals to check the tyre pressures and confirm that you've done it. The car does the rest.
 
Been There said:
On my vehicle, each wheel has its own TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) module. I just replaced two of them at a cost of $600 for both. Are they really necessary? The simple answer is NO.
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They have been around for many years now in the UK and can be an MOT failure. At the cost a total failure as far as I am concerned, I have managed fine for 67 years without all the gadgets.
 
Been There said:
On my vehicle, each wheel has its own TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) module. I just replaced two of them at a cost of $600 for both. Are they really necessary? The simple answer is NO.
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They are necessary in that they are a legal requirement on new cars in the UK. Have been for about the past 8 years.

A reason someone might want and need TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) is if someone uses Runflat Tyres, as they are difficult to see if they have lost pressure. They maintain their structure due to the much thicker side walls and sidewall strength. When a tyre looses pressure it might overheat and start to delaminate and or split. Then you might have an even more dangerous situation.
 
Magna-Carta said:
They are necessary in that they are a legal requirement on new cars in the UK. Have been for about the past 8 years.

A reason someone might want and need TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) is if someone uses Runflat Tyres, as they are difficult to see if they have lost pressure. They maintain their structure due to the much thicker side walls and sidewall strength. When a tyre looses pressure it might overheat and start to delaminate and or split. Then you might have an even more dangerous situation.
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The Run flat tires must be what I saw the other day? They were very thin but all tires were the same and they looked firm.
I first thought the person had a flat.
 
Magna-Carta said:
They are necessary in that they are a legal requirement on new cars in the UK. Have been for about the past 8 years.

A reason someone might want and need TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) is if someone uses Runflat Tyres, as they are difficult to see if they have lost pressure. They maintain their structure due to the much thicker side walls and sidewall strength. When a tyre looses pressure it might overheat and start to delaminate and or split. Then you might have an even more dangerous situation.
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So Mike, the post above yours is breaking the law by taking them off?
 
hearlady said:
The Run flat tires must be what I saw the other day? They were very thin but all tires were the same and they looked firm.
I first thought the person had a flat.
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I think what you describe might not necessarily be Run Flats, the cross section of which are quite thick on Run Flats. I wonder if you are describing the ‘height’ of the tyre? As in how the tyre looks as the tyre sits on the road, to its position on the wheel rim. If that’s the case, then this is referred to the tyres Aspect Ratio; the height of the tyre being expressed as a percentage of how wide the tyre is.

For example, in the early 80”s I remember most tyres having an Aspect Ratio of 70. Meaning the height of the tyre is 70% of the tyres width. One car I have has tyres on the rear that have an Aspect Ratio of 35, so the tyres look really thin when viewed from the side
 
Avon said:
So Mike, the post above yours is breaking the law by taking them off?
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Potentially, but it depends. These days during an MOT, safety devises if fitted, such as TPMS must work. If a TPMS warning light is on then it could be a MOT failure. The strange thing is, During an MOT test, if the car doesn’t have a TPMS system, then the tyre can be ’almost’ flat and still pass. Aonly failing if it’s completely flat, or ‘looks’ completely flat.
 
Magna-Carta said:
I think what you describe might not necessarily be Run Flats, the cross section of which are quite thick on Run Flats. I wonder if you are describing the ‘height’ of the tyre? As in how the tyre looks as the tyre sits on the road, to its position on the wheel rim. If that’s the case, then this is referred to the tyres Aspect Ratio; the height of the tyre being expressed as a percentage of how wide the tyre is.

For example, in the early 80”s I remember most tyres having an Aspect Ratio of 70. Meaning the height of the tyre is 70% of the tyres width. One car I have has tyres on the rear that have an Aspect Ratio of 35, so the tyres look really thin when viewed from the side
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That may be what they were. Their height was short.
 
Magna-Carta said:
They are necessary in that they are a legal requirement on new cars in the UK. Have been for about the past 8 years.

A reason someone might want and need TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) is if someone uses Runflat Tyres, as they are difficult to see if they have lost pressure. They maintain their structure due to the much thicker side walls and sidewall strength. When a tyre looses pressure it might overheat and start to delaminate and or split. Then you might have an even more dangerous situation.
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That wasn’t my point. They are basically a gimmick. Maybe 1 out of 10,000 benefit from them. The U.S. was the first country to make these over-priced gizmos mandatory back in 2007. People should be checking their tire pressure themselves regardless. I had my oil changed yesterday in my one vehicle and they checked the air and balanced and rotated the tires as part of the service. Cost with synthetic oil, $135.00 with tax and another $20 for tipping at the Buick-GMC dealership. I was there for less than 45 minutes. I take better care of my cars than I do of myself.
 
Been There said:
That wasn’t my point. They are basically a gimmick. Maybe 1 out of 10,000 benefit from them. The U.S. was the first country to make these over-priced gizmos mandatory back in 2007. People should be checking their tire pressure themselves regardless. I had my oil changed yesterday in my one vehicle and they checked the air and balanced and rotated the tires as part of the service. Cost with synthetic oil, $135.00 with tax and another $20 for tipping at the Buick-GMC dealership. I was there for less than 45 minutes. I take better care of my cars than I do of myself.
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In certain circumstances they aren’t a gimmick, as outlined in a previous post. I understand your point regarding people should check their tyre pressers. Although that’s something we can’t do whilst the vehicle is on the move. Which is why they have TPMS.

Why are automotive things so exspensive in the US
 
Magna-Carta said:
In certain circumstances they aren’t a gimmick, as outlined in a previous post. I understand your point regarding people should check their tyre pressers. Although that’s something we can’t do whilst the vehicle is on the move. Which is why they have TPMS.

Why are automotive things so exspensive in the US
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One reason why auto repair is so expensive is because of the labor rate. If you take your vehicle to an auto dealer for repair, you will pay anywhere from $100-$150 an hour just for labor. What makes it even worse is that if you want to work on your own vehicle sometimes you will need special tools and you can’t just walk into an auto parts store and buy the special tool until it’s been on the market for a year or two. That way, they force you to take your vehicle to a dealer. I do mist if my win work, but if I need a special tool, like for switching out a TPMS, I had no choice, but to allow the dealer to perform the work. Thankfully, the unit was still under warranty.

If you take your vehicle to a privately owned garage, they may charge you only about $60 an hour for their labor rate, plus the price of the parts. The lady up the street showed me her bill a few weeks ago and she was charged $45 labor to change her cabin air filter, which takes about 10 minutes and about $180 to change her serpentine belt, plus the price of the belt, which takes about an hour to change or her Mercedes.

Besides our cable tv bills here in the U.S., I am sure our car maintenance charges are among the highest.
 

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