TPMS
Fit and function HP/UHP TIRES OFFER DIFFERENT CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO TPMS By Madison Gehring
John Rice, director of TPMS products and support, 31 Inc. says it’s always important for technicians to remember the basics when it comes to performing TPMS service on any tire — whether it be a HP tire, an UHP tire or a more traditional all-season tire. PHOTO: 31 INC.
The biggest thing to keep in mind regarding TPMS and performance vehicles, according to Mike Rose, OEM and industrial sales manager, ATEQ TPMS, is the speed at which the car’s wheels are spinning.
E PHOTO: ATEQ
very tire dealer understands the importance of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) to their customers’ vehicles and the importance of their technicians understanding TPMS sensors and reprogramming. While most technicians are comfortable performing TPMS service on regular tires, high performance (HP) and ultra-high-performance (UHP) tires may make things trickier. Officials from 31 Inc., ATEQ TPMS Tools LC, Autel North America, Bartec
46 2304MTD_46-49_TPMS_PH.indd 46
USA LLC and Schrader TPMS Solutions weigh in on the best practices to follow when servicing TPMS on HP/ UHP tires. 31 Inc.’s TPMS/Technologies Marketing Manager John Rice says that HP and UHP tires are often low-profile tires. And more of these tires are coming from the factory as original equipment on cars. These often have a clamp-in style TPMS sensor. “This means specific service requirements,” says Rice.“Low-profile tires have shorter sidewall heights, so when scan-
ning/activating TPMS sensors as part of recalibrating, it becomes more difficult because it is important to position the TPMS tool over the sidewall of the tire adjacent to the sensor (and) not directly over the sensor.” “Clamp-in style TPMS sensors have serviceable parts — nuts, core, cap, grommet — that should be replaced any time a tire is removed from the wheel,” he notes. “When demounting low-profile tires, special care should be taken to properly position the mount head behind the valve stem to avoid damaging the TPMS sensor. “Similarly, when mounting these tires, the sensor should be positioned 180-degrees from the mount head to avoid damaging the sensor.” Rice says it is always important for technicians to remember the basics when it comes to performing TPMS service on any tire — whether it be a HP tire, an UHP tire or a more traditional all-season tire. He explains that it’s critical to “test before you touch” — meaning before Performance Handbook 2023
4/5/23 9:44 AM
2304MT