TPMS and Winter Tires & Rims

[gbhrps]

Gentlemen,

I pick up a new to me 2012 OutBack Ltd in 2 days, and will be doing a wheel/tire swap. I'm going to install my winter tires and wheels from my 07 OBW Ltd onto the new ride. They do not and never had a TPMS.

I suspect that until I install the 2012's original tires and wheels (10 000 miles on car and tires) that the TPMS light will always be on or flashing. Am I correct?

Is there a TPMS fuse I can pull until the original wheels/tires go on in the spring?

[cardoc]

No. If you haven't thought about just installing a set in the winter wheels, you could read through here TPMS Newbie .

Me, TPMS would be good for long drives, but just everyday, I tend to eyeball the tires and check the pressures at least once a week or if there is a drastic temperature change, which is sometimes 2 times a week around here.

[John E Davies]

The quick fix is to cut a little square of black electrical tape and paste it on the plastic gauge cover directly in line between your eyes and the light.

At night there is a little light reflection around it but it isn't at all troublesome, tho your passenger may say "what is that flashing light?" It might bother you if you were on a long night time road trip..... try it and see how you do.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

[gbhrps]

Thanks for the replies guys! I just came home with the new ride tonight, and as expected, the TPMS light did its thing all the way home. I've checked the fuse panels and there is no single fuse for the TPMS.

I think I'll try to locate the TPMS receiver and disconnect it until its time to put the original tires and wheels back on in the spring.

[SE95]

Originally Posted by gbhrps

Gentlemen,

I pick up a new to me 2012 OutBack Ltd in 2 days, and will be doing a wheel/tire swap. I'm going to install my winter tires and wheels from my 07 OBW Ltd onto the new ride. They do not and never had a TPMS.

I suspect that until I install the 2012's original tires and wheels (10 000 miles on car and tires) that the TPMS light will always be on or flashing. Am I correct?

Is there a TPMS fuse I can pull until the original wheels/tires go on in the spring?

You should probably just get a second set of sensors or live with the light. Also, did you put the wheels on yourself or did you have a shop swap them out? If a shop just did it, that means they had no qualms about breaking federal law and I would probably avoid them in the future...

[cardoc]

The fed doesn't state that TPMS has to be installed in aftermarket wheels. It's mandated for OE installation and toward the manufacturers not the aftermarket. And since he swapped the OE wheels for another set, no problem.

If you have different info that would make an aftermarket supplier liable, please post it.

[plain OM]

gbhrps:

You're in Canada. TPMS is not required by federal law here. See: Ask TC Road Safety - Transport Canada

I'm also not aware of Ontario provincial legislation requiring it, and there's nothing on the Subaru Canada website that indicates Subaru Canada is "voluntarily" installing TMPS in cars marketed here (as is mentioned in the above link page).

Did you import your Outback from the U.S.? Or, if the car is used, is it an import? If so, then there's warranty service and claim implications you should know about.

[SE95]

Originally Posted by cardoc

The fed doesn't state that TPMS has to be installed in aftermarket wheels. It's mandated for OE installation and toward the manufacturers not the aftermarket. And since he swapped the OE wheels for another set, no problem.

If you have different info that would make an aftermarket supplier liable, please post it.

The liability goes on the shop. In the law that was written, a shop cannot legally disable a vehicle's TPMS if it entered the shop with it working. Now, I'm not sure about Canada, I am talking about US Federal Law. If you install them yourself, fine. But I know where I work if your vehicle is supposed to have TPMS and your aftermarket wheels do not have sensors, we have to refuse service.

[gbhrps]

Down boys!

It is an imported US car, and I instructed the dealer to put the winter tires and rims from my traded in 07 onto the 2012, and put its original tires and wheels in the back of the car.

Regardless whether Canada has laws one way or the other, the decision was mine, and I'll take any consequences, which there doesn't appear to be at present.

That said, I pulled all of them today and rebalanced them in the shop where I sometimes work when I'm bored. So I guess I'm guilty times two. No big deal. I'm still going to try and track down that TPMS receiver and disconnect it until I put the original tires back on.

By the way, the car was originally from Pennsylvania, a staff car for some professor at a university or similar. The CarProof came up clean.

Thanks for everyone's input! Much appreciated.

[John E Davies]

Originally Posted by gbhrps

I'm still going to try and track down that TPMS receiver and disconnect it until I put the original tires back on.

You can go ahead and try if you want to....

I suspect that after unplugging, you will find the light is illuminated constantly, indicating a fault in the system. It's not designed to be easy to disable; if it were, there would be an On/ Off switch within easy reach.....

John Davies
Spokane WA USA