Tire Wear and TPMS Retrofit
 

I've just about burned through my second set of tires in <45k miles. The first set I put on it were Yokohama YK520s, and when they went I sprung for the OEM Michelin MXV4 Pluses.... I can't seem to figure out what is causing my tires to wear so quick. I can only assume a pressure problem. They're all nitrogen-fills, and I rotate and balance fairly regularly. Does anyone have experience retrofitting TPMS?

Are they wearing evenly? A pressure problem might cause accelerated wear, but you said you rotate and check pressures regularly, at least I hope you do.

How recent is your last alignment? Issues can pop up with tire wear if your alignment is out.

20k miles out of tires on an all wheel drive vehicle is low but I'm not sure of the treadwear rating you use.



Lastly, who in their right minds would actually want to retrofit TPMS on their car if it isn't their wife's primary vehicle? First off its a pain in the ass with tires to pay another 200 bucks for new sensors, and I check my pressures every couple weeks anyway so its never been an issue for me. Do you really need to retrofit the I'm sure costly system so that twice in the winter (although in SC you don't get much of a winter) the light can pop on the dash and let you know the cold air has made one tire lose 3 psi?


Don't be offended I'm just making a statement here, and hopefully saving you some money.

Thanks, term.

I've never been in the habit of checking pressures, though I've tried to get better at it, I just can't ever remember to actually do it. Plus, it'll put me one step closer to my ultimate goal of having the full set of buttons on my center console above the ashtray. Will only be missing PDC. Strange aspiration? Yes. :D

Edit: Last alignment was in January, same as rotation. Before that it was August I believe. Fronts are definitely wearing quicker.

Could it have anything to do with how hard you push down on the right hand pedal?

I've got an '06 4.4 Sport with 45K on the odo and still have 7/32 on the Michelins . . .

Zen:wow:

That never checking psi is part/most of your prob, imo...

And, have never 'rotated' tires in 11 yrs of our X.

TPMS: great on our Vette, as we have non-RFTs and no spare, but a gizmo on the CEO's '10 Tuck or on most cars, as in if it alerts, it means I was sleeping on the regular psi check and/or the temp dropped 30 degs F in a day or so.
GL, mD

Haaa.. yeah, remember I have the 3.0, I rarely exceed 80 and never attempt "spirited" take offs. Now if I had the N62 V8 like you, I doubt I'd be able to resist, and there would lie my problem.

I checked pressures this afternoon -- all normal. So maybe I don't need the TPMS, but with pressure being ruled out, I'm scratching my head wondering why it's eating so much rubber.

Are they wearing quicker overall, or in different portions of the front tires? What psi do you run front and rear?

I agreed with this until I had it in my 350Z. It saved me more than once by alerting me the tire was losing air before it was visibly low.

I would love to get it into my X.

I did a retro on the X5 when we bought it using a kit that had sensors that replaced the tire valves and had a display inside the vehicle. PIECE OF JUNK!!! Sensors kept falling off requiring the tires to be removed each time. Finally gave up and sent the kit back for a refund.
Have OEM TPMS on our 4Runner. Same idea as mentioned above but the sensors cost $200 each from Toyota. When the batteries fail you have to replace all the sensors. Then you have to program the new sensors to the TPMS computer to turn off the fault light. Dealer would charge about $1400 for all this but I found a programmer and did it myself.
I would prefer not to have the system and do it all myself as the systems are always a bigger headache than they are worth. Typical nanny state solution with the usual outcome.

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You might also want to check your suspension components. Rear sub frame bushings and worn control arms will cause the rears to wear much faster. Do you have a severe angle of camber on both rear tires?

Boy...I'm soooo glad that BMW changed from the "direct" type (RDC) tire pressure monitoring system...to using an "indirect" (RPA) system starting around the March/April 2004 build date (on the e53).

The indirect system which uses the ABS sensors to determine a change in revolution...is way less worrisome...yet does give you a warning for low pressure before the tire goes flat...yet doesn't have the cost and intricate components to pay for and worry about when mounting/dismounting tires.


Below is more information about the INDIRECT FTM/RPA (flat tire monitoring) system used from March/April 2004-up build date on the e53:

"Boy...I'm soooo glad that BMW changed from the "direct" type (RDC) tire pressure monitoring system...to using an "indirect" (RPA) system starting around the March/April 2004 build date (on the e53)."

I would still prefer the simple tire pressure gauge and they keep all the fancy electronics. Over the years I have read of quite a few who have had problems with the indirect system.

I have the direct reading TPSMs on our VetteVert: with no spare and non-RFTs, the instant readout for each tire is interesting, and potentially important. Our TPMSs are now 11+ years old, and the batts in them are eroding, but they still work. When I replaced the oe RFTs with non-RFTs, the tire joint did a good job of putting them back on during the tire swap.

New ones for the Vette, due sooner than later, are pricey...

The '01 X has the luddite method of 'I check the psi myself', which works for me.

The CEO's '10 Tuck has the indirect method, which works well too.

Nothing beats an eyeball and a psi check every couple weeks, though.
GL, mD

Yeah, there's always good and bad...likes & dislikes. But a recent event (back in May/2013) has swayed me to the simple RPA style (the simpler version)...since there's no sensors inside the tires or control module connected to the BUS system...there's not much can go wrong since the only thing being monitored is the circumference of the wheel. And since the ABS sensor is already doing this calculation for the braking & traction control systems...this data is already being tracked. :)

I just purchased 4 brand new 20" Nitto Motivos back on 4/13/13. About one month later & less than 1000 miles...I'm driving home and the FTM warning light comes on.

I pull over to check things out, and visually everything looks good, so I then reach into the center console and pull out my tire pressure gauge. All check out except the left rear tire. Its down to approx 25 PSI...so my first thought was...do I have a defective tire. I'm thinking once I put more air back in...I need to keep an eye on this tire and possibly return it if can't keep air.

I get to work the next morning and there's 3 other co-workers that had the same thing happen to them. Come to find out, there's screws/nails out in the parking lot. They are working on the roof and apparently screws/nails got blown out into the parking lot or dropped as they picked up and carried stuff to the dumpsters.

So I go back out to check that tire, and I still don't see anything...then I back the X up a bit so I can see the section of tire that is facing the ground...and you can see in the pic below...sure enough, there's a big old screw that had pierced my new tire. :cussing:

If not for the FTM warning, the tire may have gone completely flat or lost a lot more air...possibly while traveling at a high rate of speed...before I would have known anything was wrong.

As much as I appreciate the simplicity of this newer FTM system...I still wouldn't go out of my way to install it (even if possible) on my 97 e38...so that definitely means that I wouldn't install the more complex RDC system. But c'est la vie. :)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/q1xusno61a...2009.35.18.jpg

Certainly not as cool and not so pretty but far easier and much less expensive, I use the screw on caps. All you have to do is inflate the tires to the pressure you want and if the pressure falls The end of the cap blinks. They are very easy to see when you get in or out of the vehicle. I have never had anyone notice they are even there. They don't help when you are on the highway but a tire going down then is usually going to be flat very soon. Some stay away from them because they hear they leak but I have had them on for years with no problems. Serves the purpose and you don't risk losing air when you check pressure with an air gauge. Sometimes I think they aren't working and all I have to do is screw them off a little bit to see if they start to flash.

Yeah, the RDC system... is a HUGE PITA. My monitor goes off about 3 times a month. When I check the pressure with the gauge I keep in the car... everything is good. Then last week... Read tire looked low... so checked it... came out to 28psi (Had a nail in the tire) but the TPMS never went off. So now I check my pressures by hand everytime I fill up. It only takes a few minutes and by the time the tank gets filled up... I'm done check the tires.

IMHO the RDC system is complete junk. The system I lied the most came from my 2008 Acura TL and CTS. The system was live and displayed pressures at all four corners instead of just saying "Tire Low" It showed which tire was low and at what pressure. I like seeing stuff like that. Because I am a dork.

Yeah, the RDC system... is a HUGE PITA. My monitor goes off about 3 times a month. When I check the pressure with the gauge I keep in the car... everything is good. Then last week... Read tire looked low... so checked it... came out to 28psi (Had a nail in the tire) but the TPMS never went off. So now I check my pressures by hand everytime I fill up. It only takes a few minutes and by the time the tank gets filled up... I'm done check the tires.

IMHO the RDC system is complete junk. The system I lied the most came from my 2008 Acura TL and CTS. The system was live and displayed pressures at all four corners instead of just saying "Tire Low" It showed which tire was low and at what pressure. I like seeing stuff like that. Because I am a dork.