[Nissancan]

Yes, believe it or not I found this in the Owners Manual. Those of us that have both the TPMS and the VDC must use the factory sized tires and wheels or you will get indications from either system that something isn't quite right. I'm paraphrasing but I checked with the service manager at my stealership and he said the same thing. So unless you're ready to put up with the false signals all winter, you better stick with the original sizes.

BTW, did you know that those of us with 17" wheels c/w TPMS and VDC have a full size spare because of these features?

 

[canadiantj]

I went this weekend to get some quotes for winter tires and rims and was told by three tire dealers that they will NOT sell or install winter wheels and tires for me without the TPMS sensor. They stated that they are liable if they knowingly disable a cars safety features and thus must put the sensors into each wheel. Has anyone else run into this? Any work arounds anybody can suggest? I am in BC, Canada by the way.

I was told the same thing here in Calgary. The tire shop did say that they cannot mount them to your car initally, but will sell them to you. After you install them, they will provide the courtesy winter/summer tire swap as per their policies. Spoke to Nissan parts and they said that they have no problems with Nissan folk running non tpms rims for the winter. Hurts nothing as " this is what we lived with prior to tpms anyway".

Moral of the story, just get them mounted, install yourself and ignore the light on the dash till the white stuff is gone.

 

[aurora]

Thanks Batchelor for the info, let me know how you find your new tires and how much do they cost.

HS

 

[cvtfan]

I considered putting winter tires on another set of steelies with sensors vs. a full changeover onto my OEM alloys.

I wasn't satisfied with bypassing the TPMS and letting the light go on for the next 4-5 months.

After doing some homework, I figured it would cost me $700+ for steel rims with a 2nd set of TPMS sensors ($70/tire + $115/sensor). In addition, it would cost me $20 per change (yes, free if I do it myself). Also, ~$30 for the dealership or tire shop to reset my sensors (the tire shop's price).

The changeover with OEM alloys would cost me $80 per change using the EOM alloys.

I amortized it over 10 years (before taxes):

Steelies with sensors: $1740
Changeover with OEM alloys: $1600

These estimate don't include the tires, BTW.

I decided to go with the changeover. This way, I don't have to get hubcaps over the steelies plus I get my tires balanced twice a year. If the price of the sensors drop (I'm sure they will) getting the steelies may be a better option.

 

[batchelor22]

Hello all, I agree with all of CVTFAN's info except most tire shops do not charge you anything for the changeover when you purchase the rims and tires from them. Otherwise those estimates look accurate. I purchased Dunlop Wintersport M3's on steel rims which were about $1400 installed, the sensors were approx. $475 with taxes and all. It appears only Nissan can reset the sensor at this point, tire shop tried to do it, it worked for a while and then the light came on. So you would have to pay the $30 for sensor reset with each changeover. Either method is good, I just suggest you get winter tires if you drive in snow.

 

[aurora]

TPMS Part Number

I want to buy a set of steel rims for winter tires and want to install a new set of TPMS on them. Does anyone know what is the part number for these TPMS for Altima 2.5S? And when installed do I need to go to Nissan dealer to reset the TPMS everytime I change from winter to OEM all season tires?

HS:sad:

 

[QR]

ha im glad i dont live in extreme weather conditions

 

[Nissancan]

Hello all, I agree with all of CVTFAN's info except most tire shops do not charge you anything for the changeover when you purchase the rims and tires from them. Otherwise those estimates look accurate. I purchased Dunlop Wintersport M3's on steel rims which were about $1400 installed, the sensors were approx. $475 with taxes and all. It appears only Nissan can reset the sensor at this point, tire shop tried to do it, it worked for a while and then the light came on. So you would have to pay the $30 for sensor reset with each changeover. Either method is good, I just suggest you get winter tires if you drive in snow.

Did $1400 include the sensors? Are you running 16" or 17" rims?

I checked with the dealer, and a number of tire shops and was told that there isn't a 17" steel rim made for the 07 Altima. I ended up doing a changeover to my factory alloys. I'm OK with that, because I plan on buying new rims next summer.

I also purchased the Dunlop Wintersport M3's. These are very nice tires. Quieter than my original Bridgestones. Handle much better as well. I can hardly wait to see what these will do in the snow.

$840.00 installed. (Canadian pricing)

 

[cvtfan]

I ended up doing a changeover to my factory alloys. I'm OK with that, because I plan on buying new rims next summer.
I also purchased the Dunlop Wintersport M3's. These are very nice tires. Quieter than my original Bridgestones.)

If you are getting new rims, next summer, I assume the M3s are staying on the OEM alloys. Yeah, I wouldn't have bothered with the steelies, then. Original Bridgestones? You must have the 17" rims. That's an good price you got considering it is the 17"s. They are quite a bit more than the 16". Yes, I agree that the M3s are nice tires. The new 3Ds are out, but they don't come in the right size.

 

[cvtfan]

And when installed do I need to go to Nissan dealer to reset the TPMS everytime I change from winter to OEM all season tires?
HS:sad:

The short answer is maybe. batchelor22 mentioned that his tire shop was able to reset the sensors, but that it didn't stick and that he'd have to bring it back to the dealership. I don't think many tire shops have invested in the tech to reset these sensors yet (not all auto makes require a reset, but Nissan does). Try a search. Early answers to switching sensors (not a changeover) is that a reset is required.

 

[batchelor22]

It appears at present that ONLY Nissan can reset the car to read the new sensors. The problem is not the sensors but the Altima's computer which I am not sure I would want the Tire shop playing around with anyway. I have 16" steelies and tires. I am hoping that Nissan may think of us poor cold weather customers and update the computer to be able to recognize two sets of sensors. The $1400 was for the tires and rims, installation, balancing all of that stuff, the sensor price was extra. I just ordered them from Nissan and then gave them to the Tire shop to mount in the steelies when they arrived. I am very happy with the M3's so far. This is all a bit of a cash outlay but it is what you have to do when you live in the Great White North and trust me BC is not as bad as other provinces or states like North Dakota that I have spent some winter time in!

 

[cvtfan]

It appears at present that ONLY Nissan can reset the car to read the new sensors. The problem is not the sensors but the Altima's computer which I am not sure I would want the Tire shop playing around with anyway. I have 16" steelies and tires. I am hoping that Nissan may think of us poor cold weather customers and update the computer to be able to recognize two sets of sensors. The $1400 was for the tires and rims, installation, balancing all of that stuff, the sensor price was extra. I just ordered them from Nissan and then gave them to the Tire shop to mount in the steelies when they arrived. I am very happy with the M3's so far. This is all a bit of a cash outlay but it is what you have to do when you live in the Great White North and trust me BC is not as bad as other provinces or states like North Dakota that I have spent some winter time in!

Ouch! So that's a total of $1875 initial outlay?

I got the M3s mounted and balanced on my OEMs for about $800. It's those TPMS sensors and the reset that turned me off. The Mazda's M3s are mounted on steelies, so that's only $40/year for the 2 bolt-ons compared to the Altima's $160/year for the 2 changeovers. It's just a hassle for me if it snows BEFORE I get the tires changed over. That plus the 4 hr+ line-ups at tire shops when the tempurature drops to freezing.

Again, with a second set of sensors with reset on steelies, if amortized over 10 years, you may break even. Without the sensors and reset on steelies, the break even is only 2-3 years.

If you can buy the right snows from the Nissan dealership and include free sensor updates twice a year (IN WRITING!), that'll reduce your cost (but you pay more for the tires, I'm sure). Don't know how feasible it is to get the dealership to agree to that.

 

[Nissancan]

If you are getting new rims, next summer, I assume the M3s are staying on the OEM alloys. Yeah, I wouldn't have bothered with the steelies, then. Original Bridgestones? You must have the 17" rims. That's an good price you got considering it is the 17"s. They are quite a bit more than the 16". Yes, I agree that the M3s are nice tires. The new 3Ds are out, but they don't come in the right size.

Yes the M3's are staying on the alloys. I'll probably end up selling the Bridgestones for whatever I can get for them and get a brand new set of 17's on new alloys for the summer. Something that's a little more performance rated than the Bridgestones.

 

[danleb]

Well here's an interesting bit. I've been reading this thread carefully because I was going to put my winter tires/wheels on. I had them installed 4 days ago. The "exclamation" light came on as soon as I turned on the car. Then it never came back on. Funny thing is, I'm still looking for the "warning light" for the TPMS. Nothing as of yet.

Could it be that in the 2008's (not sure if this feature is only on the 2008's) Nissan set a function that if there are no TPMS in any of the 4 tires that it will ignore the warning.

 

[danleb]

Well here's an interesting bit. I've been reading this thread carefully because I was going to put my winter tires/wheels on. I had them installed 4 days ago. The "exclamation" light came on as soon as I turned on the car. Then it never came back on. Funny thing is, I'm still looking for the "warning light" for the TPMS. Nothing as of yet.

Could it be that in the 2008's (not sure if this feature is only on the 2008's) Nissan set a function that if there are no TPMS in any of the 4 tires that it will ignore the warning.

Just my luck. The light came on this evening while driving back from the Cinema...

 

[cvtfan]

^

I was waiting for the update that the light just went on.

Someone else on another thread in the same situation noticed the same thing... and then that afternoon the light went on.

Well, if someone in your car notices the warning light, just tell them it's to tell you that you have winter tires mounted and that it'll go off once spring hits (It's true!). I'm thinking Nissan didn't bother to make this TPMS system smarter. It's current system forces those with more than 1 set of tires and rims to get additional sensors ($115 each) and require the sensor reset at the dealership (at least $30). I'd prefer the Mini's calibration button.

 

[canadiantj]

I've noticed people bringing up the question about insurance and tpms. Does insurance really care if the light is on or not? Wouldn't that mean they would want all pre 07 vehicles to have them retrofitted? My insurance provider did not even ask if I had a tpms system in my altima. Anybody have an answer?

 

[batchelor22]

TPMS and Insurance

The way this was put to me by ICBC (BC's Provincial Insurance company) is that if you knowingly disable a car's safety system and they can show that this contirbuted to an accident, you would not be covered. So if low tire pressure was a contributing factor in an accident they would not provide coverage. I suspect this is very unlikely if you actually do the routine maintenance on your vehicle but in winter many people are less likely to make these checks due to cold, snowy weather. It all boils down to a personal choice and for me if the tire delaers here were not so adamant that they would not install without the TPMS I may have gone that route. I know I could have just purchased the tires and rims and had them installed later but that seemed like a pain. I can also say now that for me personally having that TPMS light on all winter would have bothered me. In any case if you live in winter conditions get snow tires, no matter how you choose to mount and monitor them!

 

[Ormand]

I've noticed people bringing up the question about insurance and tpms. Does insurance really care if the light is on or not? Wouldn't that mean they would want all pre 07 vehicles to have them retrofitted? My insurance provider did not even ask if I had a tpms system in my altima. Anybody have an answer?

This system is going to be a PITA, because it is federally mandated. There was never any mandate to retrofit safety features, like air bags or third brake lights, but once they are required on a car, then you have to keep them, and make sure they appear to be functional. If you try to get a car through a state inspection with the TPMS not working, it probably will fail inspection. On more expensive cars, the TPMS has more features, like identifying WHICH tire is low on air. But that may just be more things to go wrong.
Thank you, Ford and Firestone, for bringing us this much needed nuisance!!!

 

[Nissancan]

I'm not entirely sure why people would want to disable a safety feature that is built into a new car? I can bet that there are a small percentage of vehicle owners that actually know how to check tire pressures, oil levels etc. and for this reason the governments have continually mandated safety measures to make our highways and streets safer. Why do new vehicles come with air bags? Can you disable air bags? Sure you could, but is it wise to do so? NO!!! Why? Because you knowingly have done so and you know that you would no longer have insurance to cover you in an accident.

I don't see the TPMS feature as being any different than air bags. It is a safety feature that has been mandated by the powers that be to help protect you, your family and friends.