Community Forums

georgelesley · 11-02-2016, 03:59 PM

In the never ending stuff to worry about this just got added. Per info read somewhere, I realized that we added tire monitors to the toad so we can see the pressure of the toad tires while driving the motorhome. Since the toad, a 2014 Ford Focus tires has rubber valve stems, I became concerned the added weight of the sensor on the stem is not good for the rubber stems and called a local tire shop to get brass stems installed.

The shop told me since the vehicle already has factory tpms in the stems we would have to stay with the rubber ones since he did not know of any brass ones that would work.

To us, it is more important to monitor the toad tires while towing it than it is while driving it normally. However, I will likely for now anyway, just take the added tpms sensors off when not towing since than is when it will see higher speeds and depend on the factory installed sensors. Towing, we go 55-60 mph. Normal driving, who knows.

Anyone else have thoughts on this, much ado about nothing?

TonyMac · 11-02-2016, 04:04 PM

Much ado, I believe. Others have said not to put tpms sensors on rubber valve stems, but I did not see this info until I had put 20,000 miles on my toad with tpms sensors on the rubber valve stems. I'm thinking the test points I have indicate it don't matter and, as you so wisely noted, it's much ado about nothing. Maybe the TireGuy can weigh in here....

**JohnRR** · 11-02-2016, 04:20 PM

30k+ with long rubber valve stems and other than looking dorky with the sensors on no problems. I finally had short stems put on when it was tire replacement time.

Gdawgs · 11-02-2016, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgelesley

In the never ending stuff to worry about this just got added. Per info read somewhere, I realized that we added tire monitors to the toad so we can see the pressure of the toad tires while driving the motorhome. Since the toad, a 2014 Ford Focus tires has rubber valve stems, I became concerned the added weight of the sensor on the stem is not good for the rubber stems and called a local tire shop to get brass stems installed.

The shop told me since the vehicle already has factory tpms in the stems we would have to stay with the rubber ones since he did not know of any brass ones that would work.

To us, it is more important to monitor the toad tires while towing it than it is while driving it normally. However, I will likely for now anyway, just take the added tpms sensors off when not towing since than is when it will see higher speeds and depend on the factory installed sensors. Towing, we go 55-60 mph. Normal driving, who knows.

Anyone else have thoughts on this, much ado about nothing?

I learned the hard way. Pressure is less important than the ability to monitor temperature changes in the toad. With the automatic braking systems for toads failures can be devastating.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f85/warni...ue-312871.html

lakefront5 · 11-02-2016, 05:55 PM

TST told me there was no problem putting the TST 507 sensors on the rubber valve stems on my Chevy HHR toad. Now 3,000 miles later and no problems.

Pigman1 · 11-04-2016, 07:23 PM

Check your local NAPA store. I had a sensor go bad on my 2011 Chevy Silverado last week. It was a rubber stem model and we've been running an additional TPMS on it that I can see in the Bus. Chevy wanted $94 for a replacement, rubber stem only. A call to NAPA got me an aluminum stem replacement (great with the aluminum wheels) for $36. I installed it, set it up and programmed it Tuesday. Works great at about a third the price and I got a metal stem..