TPMS sensors and winter wheels: do you need a second set of sensors?

A second set of winter wheels without sensors means a warning light from December to March: here is when sensors are required and what they cost.

Direct or indirect, batteries and programming

A direct TPMS system puts a battery powered sensor in each wheel and reads actual pressure; an indirect system compares wheel rotation speeds through the ABS and needs no sensor in the wheels. The owner's manual or a quick question to the installer tells you which one your vehicle has.

With a direct system, a set of winter wheels must receive four compatible sensors, programmed or cloned to the original IDs, otherwise the light stays on and a mechanical inspection may fail. A sensor's sealed battery lasts 7 to 10 years, which often coincides with the second or third tire replacement.

Expect $40 to $80 per programmed sensor plus a few minutes of labour during the tire installation. The economical alternative is to mount the winter tires on the original wheels that already carry sensors and keep the alloys for summer.