Rochester's new G
Temps are around 60°F today, which is downright balmy around here in mid-November. So today I took the opportunity to put my snows on the car. Staggered duckfeet, X-Ice on the rears, Blizzaks on the front, and 15mm spacers all around.
Oh man, I'm getting too old for this. Simple wheel swap (with spacers, LOL) just wipes me out these days. I mean, I've got the right tools... torque wrench, low profile floor jack, time on my hands
. But the wheels are stored in the basement, and the whole thing is just a big chore.
Now that the front pass tire is off the car, I can diagnose the slow leak there, and I've got all winter to deal with it. Snow tires notwithstanding, it will be good to not have to deal with that anymore.
On the negative side of all this, (other than straining my back & shoulders), I've got 4-5 months of seeing the TPMS light, but this time because the sensors aren't paired up, not because the pressure is off spec. Not that there's any way for me to know the diff in any moment except to actually check pressure. I really wish I had a car that reported actual tire pressure numbers unique for each corner. That would be lovely.
Oh man, I'm getting too old for this. Simple wheel swap (with spacers, LOL) just wipes me out these days. I mean, I've got the right tools... torque wrench, low profile floor jack, time on my hands
. But the wheels are stored in the basement, and the whole thing is just a big chore.Now that the front pass tire is off the car, I can diagnose the slow leak there, and I've got all winter to deal with it. Snow tires notwithstanding, it will be good to not have to deal with that anymore.
On the negative side of all this, (other than straining my back & shoulders), I've got 4-5 months of seeing the TPMS light, but this time because the sensors aren't paired up, not because the pressure is off spec. Not that there's any way for me to know the diff in any moment except to actually check pressure. I really wish I had a car that reported actual tire pressure numbers unique for each corner. That would be lovely.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Rochester, NY
They aren't necessary, that's true. But lowered with neg camber, the duckfeet look really silly tucked. With 15mm spacers they actually look great. It's really strange how 15mm so successfully address the problem. But you're correct, it's only a problem in my head.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Rochester, NY
Could give something like this a try (or one of the comparable below; this one is a bit chunky...). You are correct though, definitely helps to have that info available in the dash options.
https://www.amazon.com/Blueskysea-Wi...10007351&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/Blueskysea-Wi...10007351&psc=1
Researching this some more, there are similar concept sensors that screw into the valve stems and use a Bluetooth signal to an app on your phone.
Also, what do you know about various "relearn tool" options? I think this is something that became relatively affordable in recent years, or at least the last 10 years. If I can drop $30 to relearn my sensors each Fall and Spring, that works for me. It still won't let me know which tire is bad, but it's something. I've got TPM sensors in all 8 wheels. (Although the duckfeet sensors are almost 11 years old.
)
Last edited by Rochester; Nov 18, 2021 at 08:41 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,829
Likes: 5,137
From: Rochester, NY
This unit looks like it will work well for the duckfeet and winter months:
Seems the biggest complaint about these things is that when the pressure is actually low on a tire, you have to get out this little wrench in order to remove the sensor caps. Hmm.
Seems the biggest complaint about these things is that when the pressure is actually low on a tire, you have to get out this little wrench in order to remove the sensor caps. Hmm.
That's fascinating, never knew this was a thing. It wouldn't work on my Vossens because of the deep inner lip and the placement of the valve stem, but it should work just fine on the duckfeet for Winter... just look kind of silly.
Researching this some more, there are similar concept sensors that screw into the valve stems and use a Bluetooth signal to an app on your phone.
https://www.amazon.com/ZHIHAOO-Monit...9CT8RS7M&psc=1
Also, what do you know about various "relearn tool" options? I think this is something that became relatively affordable in recent years, or at least the last 10 years. If I can drop $30 to relearn my sensors each Fall and Spring, that works for me. It still won't let me know which tire is bad, but it's something. I've got TPM sensors in all 8 wheels. (Although the duckfeet sensors are almost 11 years old.)
Researching this some more, there are similar concept sensors that screw into the valve stems and use a Bluetooth signal to an app on your phone.
https://www.amazon.com/ZHIHAOO-Monit...9CT8RS7M&psc=1
Also, what do you know about various "relearn tool" options? I think this is something that became relatively affordable in recent years, or at least the last 10 years. If I can drop $30 to relearn my sensors each Fall and Spring, that works for me. It still won't let me know which tire is bad, but it's something. I've got TPM sensors in all 8 wheels. (Although the duckfeet sensors are almost 11 years old.
)https://www.myg37.com/forums/d-i-y-i...-for-free.html
video:
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,829
Likes: 5,137
From: Rochester, NY
You can give this a try:
https://www.myg37.com/forums/d-i-y-i...-for-free.html
video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AswPnrIrxrw
https://www.myg37.com/forums/d-i-y-i...-for-free.html
video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AswPnrIrxrw
You're chock full of all kinds of good ideas this morning, RMB5190.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Rochester, NY
Since I'll be buying two new 3-season rear tires in March (sticking with Conti Extreme Sport... good price, good performance, and held up really well), I should probably and proactively get two new TPMS sensors for the rears as well, to be installed when swapping the tires. Just made note of that. The sensors in those Vossens are 8 years old now. The sensors in the front Vossens are also 8 years old, but the tires are absolutely fine, so I'll just make note in my records and deal with it in the next couple years.
However, the sensors in the duckfeet are originals, so figure at least 11 years old. That's really pushing it for TPMS batteries. So I could try your re-learn trick, no harm no foul. I could also buy external pressure sensors, like you first suggested.
Good discussion, Rob. Thanks!
However, the sensors in the duckfeet are originals, so figure at least 11 years old. That's really pushing it for TPMS batteries. So I could try your re-learn trick, no harm no foul. I could also buy external pressure sensors, like you first suggested.
Good discussion, Rob. Thanks!
Last edited by Rochester; Nov 18, 2021 at 02:45 PM.
Wow! I wonder if my 2011 Infiniti will work the same way as that 2007 or 2008 Maxima? I wouldn't be surprised if it did. This genuinely interests me as another option. Some assumptions... access to that single-wire clip, and TMPS batteries with life still in them after 10 years.
You're chock full of all kinds of good ideas this morning, RMB5190.
You're chock full of all kinds of good ideas this morning, RMB5190.
Surprise even myself sometimes ....
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Rochester, NY
Turns out that single-wire harness and paper-clip trick only works for older Nissan/Infiniti vehicles. Not sure when things changed, but the 2011 does *NOT* have that relearn harness connector. You might be asking, "Did you get under the dash and start removing electrical tape around the OBDC harness?" Frustrated to say, yes. Yes I did. 
You know, I was genuinely excited to learn this technique and apply it twice a year, wishing I had done it years ago. Well, that was a bust.
So given that my four original TPMS in the duckfeet are at least 10 years old, odds are really high that one or more or all of them are dead anyway. Maybe for winter, if I want to keep an eye on tire pressure at a glance without having to check pressure regularly, maybe I'll buy a set of those external sensors.
As for my Vossens next Spring, I'm getting 2 new TPMS at the same time as the new rear tires, so I guess I'll have to ask the shop pair those up for me.
(sigh) All filled with purpose and a plan this morning, accomplishing nothing.
You know, I was genuinely excited to learn this technique and apply it twice a year, wishing I had done it years ago. Well, that was a bust.So given that my four original TPMS in the duckfeet are at least 10 years old, odds are really high that one or more or all of them are dead anyway. Maybe for winter, if I want to keep an eye on tire pressure at a glance without having to check pressure regularly, maybe I'll buy a set of those external sensors.
As for my Vossens next Spring, I'm getting 2 new TPMS at the same time as the new rear tires, so I guess I'll have to ask the shop pair those up for me.
(sigh) All filled with purpose and a plan this morning, accomplishing nothing.
Last edited by Rochester; Nov 21, 2021 at 12:29 PM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Rochester, NY
So... winter mats, winter shift ****, winter wheels & snow tires. And I connect the battery to a trickle charger, because sometimes it can go weeks without being driven in the winter.
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Originally Posted by Rochester
Turns out that single-wire harness and paper-clip trick only works for older Nissan/Infiniti vehicles. Not sure when things changed, but the 2011 does *NOT* have that relearn harness connector. You might be asking, "Did you get under the dash and start removing electrical tape around the OBDC harness?" Frustrated to say, yes. Yes I did. You know, I was genuinely excited to learn this technique and apply it twice a year, wishing I had done it years ago. Well, that was a bust.
So given that my four original TPMS in the duckfeet are at least 10 years old, odds are really high that one or more or all of them are dead anyway. Maybe for winter, if I want to keep an eye on tire pressure at a glance without having to check pressure regularly, maybe I'll buy a set of those external sensors.
As for my Vossens next Spring, I'm getting 2 new TPMS at the same time as the new rear tires, so I guess I'll have to ask the shop pair those up for me.
(sigh) All filled with purpose and a plan this morning, accomplishing nothing.
You know, I was genuinely excited to learn this technique and apply it twice a year, wishing I had done it years ago. Well, that was a bust.So given that my four original TPMS in the duckfeet are at least 10 years old, odds are really high that one or more or all of them are dead anyway. Maybe for winter, if I want to keep an eye on tire pressure at a glance without having to check pressure regularly, maybe I'll buy a set of those external sensors.
As for my Vossens next Spring, I'm getting 2 new TPMS at the same time as the new rear tires, so I guess I'll have to ask the shop pair those up for me.
(sigh) All filled with purpose and a plan this morning, accomplishing nothing.
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Joined: Apr 2011
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From: US
I now swap my front grilles for the winter since my mesh one isn’t as durable as the OEM one. Believe yours is professionally painted, maybe you can find a spare OEM one to take the hit during the winter? Imagine all that road grime after snowfall poses a risk to chipping those painted surfaces.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Rochester, NY