To Use or Not Using the TPMS for New Wheels?

**MVcycleart** · 02-07-2013 09:35 AM

I am having a set of VMR 718 19x9.5 ET45's installed next week on my S4, and i was wondering if anyone who has aftermarket wheels didn't have them re-install the TPMS?

I know it will cause the dash light to be on all the time, so is there any way around that if i choose not to pay the extra $300 or so for the TMPS. Thanks in advance.

Chris

**rvcfireman951** · 02-07-2013 09:37 AM

When I got my VMRs I did not use TPMS with them. I VAG Com'd my car to eliminate the TPMS light from showing.

**Dr GP** · 02-07-2013 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by rvcfireman951

When I got my VMRs I did not use TPMS with them. I VAG Com'd my car to eliminate the TPMS light from showing.

What are you talking about. There are no sensors used or needed. Audi uses a system based on the rpms of the wheels to detect low air pressure. NO SENSORS used. None to buy. Would not work even if you put them in. All you would have needed to do was to reset the pressure using the MMI screen.

**maquino** · 11-13-2019 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by Dr GP

What are you talking about. There are no sensors used or needed. Audi uses a system based on the rpms of the wheels to detect low air pressure. NO SENSORS used. None to buy. Would not work even if you put them in. All you would have needed to do was to reset the pressure using the MMI screen.

In 2009 MY and earlier, there is a TPMS sensor on each tire.

**XxSullyxX123** · 11-13-2019 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by maquino

In 2009 MY and earlier, there is a TPMS sensor on each tire.

You do know this thread hasnt had a post in it in almost 7 years right?

**blackfunk** · 11-13-2019 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by maquino

In 2009 MY and earlier, there is a TPMS sensor on each tire.

Not only are you 7yrs late, earlier in this thread it was already established only Canadian cars came with the sensors and only 2009 A4 cars had it installed states side. So......either your car has A4 wheels, came from Canada or those sensors ain't doing shit. I'll bet on the latter.

**evanb** · 11-13-2019 01:53 PM

Tough crowd.

**jlaudio** · 02-07-2013 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by rvcfireman951

When I got my VMRs I did not use TPMS with them. I VAG Com'd my car to eliminate the TPMS light from showing.

yes but you have a b7 a4, not a b8 s4. they are note the same mate

**Dr GP** · 02-07-2013 09:38 AM

The
S4 does not use TPMS sensors. BMW doesbut not Audi, In fact audi used to use sensors and now doesn't. BMW used the system Audi now uses and had to switch to using TPMS sensore since they are using mostly run flat tires.

**wcoyne** · 02-07-2013 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Dr GP

The
S4 does not use TPMS sensors. BMW doesbut not Audi, In fact audi used to use sensors and now doesn't. BMW used the system Audi now uses and had to switch to using TPMS sensore since they are using mostly run flat tires.

The weird because i get a TPMS warning once or twice a week as soon as i start the car with the same air pressure in all 4 tires

**MVcycleart** · 02-07-2013 09:43 AM

Good to know. thanks for the quick responses. Can't wait to get this car tomorrow.

**MVcycleart** · 02-07-2013 10:23 AM

For the guys not running TPMS, do you just have the standard rubber valve stems? There has to be something better. My bike's track wheels even have metal ones.

**JohnEnglish** · 02-07-2013 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by MVcycleart

For the guys not running TPMS, do you just have the standard rubber valve stems? There has to be something better. My bike's track wheels even have metal ones.

All B8s have rubber valve stems whether they have TPMS or not. The TMPS system on the B8 uses the ABS sensors to detect rotation speed differences indicating a pressure differential. It doesn't uses stand alone sensors like many other cars.

**richib86** · 02-07-2013 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by JohnEnglish

All B8s have rubber valve stems whether they have TPMS or not. The TMPS system on the B8 uses the ABS sensors to detect rotation speed differences indicating a pressure differential. It doesn't uses stand alone sensors like many other cars.

^^^this

**well_armed** · 02-07-2013 10:27 AM

Inside the MMI you can reset the tire pressures, it will ask if they are at the proper inflated levels, it will store those values and from that point forward...warn you if your tire pressures dip below that.

I use it when I switch from my winter 18's to summer 19's.

**PitchS4** · 02-07-2013 12:56 PM

As others have said there is nothing you need to do hardware related when getting new wheels. Just set the air pressure where you want and reset the TPMS in the MMI.

**NPuter** · 02-07-2013 01:00 PM

FYI, the 2009 B8 A4s still used the in-tire sensor based TMPS. They switch to the ABS based TPMS system in 2010. Since B8 S4s are only 2010+, all S4s have the ABS based system (no sensors).

**407guy** · 02-07-2013 01:02 PM

Interesting. I'm getting the 721s installed on our S4 tomorrow and the dealership said they will have to move the sensors from the OEM wheels to the new wheels.

So I'm confused. The service writer said he "hopes they fit" on the new wheels.

*shrug*

EDIT:

Found this: http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/201...ng_sensor.html

**NPuter** · 02-07-2013 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by 407guy

Interesting. I'm getting the 721s installed on our S4 tomorrow and the dealership said they will have to move the sensors from the OEM wheels to the new wheels.

So I'm confused. The service writer said "he hopes they fit" on the new wheels.

*shrug*

He doesn't know what he is talking about - you don't have sensors in your wheels...

**407guy** · 02-07-2013 01:06 PM

Check my edit. *shrug*

**NPuter** · 02-07-2013 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by 407guy

Check my edit. *shrug*

I wouldn't trust "Partsgeek.com" to tell you what you have on your car. You don't have TMPS sensors (unless audi switched back to using them with the facelifts, which I am 99% sure they didn't).

**13S4** · 02-07-2013 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by NPuter

I wouldn't trust "Partsgeek.com" to tell you what you have on your car. You don't have TMPS sensors (unless audi switched back to using them with the facelifts, which I am 99% sure they didn't).

They didn't change anything.

I ordered my vehicle without the TPMS set up, then vag-com'd it into my car. Paid for the cable in 1 shot.

**achilleas101** · 02-08-2013 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by 13S4

I ordered my vehicle without the TPMS set up, then vag-com'd it into my car. Paid for the cable in 1 shot.

wait, what? you can order the car without it? i didn't realize that was an option. how much off was it??

**theedge111** · 02-08-2013 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by achilleas101

wait, what? you can order the car without it? i didn't realize that was an option. how much off was it??

It's a $350 option in Canada, I did the same thing, passed on it and then just turned it on myself.

**13S4** · 02-08-2013 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by achilleas101

wait, what? you can order the car without it? i didn't realize that was an option. how much off was it??

It was a $350 dollar option. My car was the correct model to support it, but it was simply not enabled.

Follow this : http://www.audienthusiasts.com/VagComABS.html

You can active it with a Vag Com cable.

**MVcycleart** · 02-07-2013 01:42 PM

Just got confirmation from the shop there aren't any TPMS on my S4, so thanks for all the help, and sorry it was for something unecessary.

**407guy** · 02-07-2013 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by MVcycleart

Just got confirmation from the shop there aren't any TPMS on my S4, so thanks for all the help, and sorry it was for something unecessary.

The sensor? Or you do not have a TPMS? Sorry for the noob question; I just want to know before I show up tomorrow.

Thx.

**richib86** · 02-07-2013 02:02 PM

why is this so complicated, s4's do NOT use dedicated tpms sensor nor is it even an option, tpms is measured through ABS

**407guy** · 02-07-2013 02:04 PM

It's complicated because my dealership doesn't know my car.

But not to offend anyone... this IS a message board.

Anyway, I checked in the manual and it talks about the ABS sensor reading tread and vibration.

Thanks and sorry for any unnecessary confusion. I just don't like getting charged something not needed.

**MVcycleart** · 02-07-2013 02:28 PM

407 i am with you. I wanted to be sure as well, as the shop i talked to thought i still had my A6 and they were basing it off that. Richi gave us the correct answer, just not without a little slap on the hands for being new owners.

**phillips2024** · 02-07-2013 03:42 PM

Im angry I read this thread

**NWS4Guy** · 02-08-2013 10:14 AM

If you are getting a TPS light, it's from a few things:

- You got new wheels and rubber, and didn't reset the TPS sensor in the MMI, so it's reading the difference in tire diameter so assume there is a loss of pressure.
- You have a leak, and one of the tires needs air,
- It's gotten colder and the air in your tires has contracted enough to trip the TPS light.
- The system is faulty.

End result (as has been stated over and over) is that there are no sensors on the wheels. ANY TIME you add air or remove air from your tires, you need to reset the TPS, so it can spend the next sevaral trips recalculating what the correct current pressure is in order to properly alert you in the event of air pressure loss.