So I put my snow tires/wheels on today. I got the set off CL. Still look new. Anyways they don't have the sensors in the wheels. I took a test drive to see how they felt and the system never went off. I only went a couple miles. Does it take more miles before it complains?

 

normally it should blink after 2-3 miles and steady light on after 5+ miles.

 

When I switched to my winters without sensors it took 6 days before my light started coming on.

 

Took mine about 30 miles IIRC the first time I drove w/out the TPMS sensors. Once they do start blinking then stay solid (the first time) they will then blink immediately and stay solid right away every time you drive it from then on.

 

They do take a lot longer than you would think to register. I think I drove back and forth to work about 3 or 4 days before it picked up that I did not have the TPMS sensors

 

I have sensors in both sets of wheels, but last winter I didn't bother getting them reset, and just dealt with it. The standard behavior (in my car), was to blink for about half a mile, then stay lit until I turned the car off. Once the paired-up sensors go back on the car, it takes that same half mile for the blinking sensor to go away.

I experienced that identical behavior a few times over the last couple years, once with a failing valve stem, and once with a hole in the tire. Correct the pressure, and the blinking light goes off after half a mile.

Which reminds me... I'm doing that dash light dance all over again starting tomorrow, when the duckfeet & snows go back on the car. Oh well, it's only for 3-4 months. But I still might get them wanded this year. That light is really annoying.

 

It's ridiculous that a car like this can't have multiple sets of TPMS saved, as well as how outdated the system is in general. We had a Chevy Uplander mini van at work ~5 years ago and that would give you individual tire pressures right on the dash.

 

You're not wrong, Epiphany. It sucks.

 

IIRC, if you don't exceed a certain speed, it may take much longer for the system to trip the tpms light. It doesn't bother me. It's a soft amber glow, not very intrusive at all, even in the dark.

Speaking of snow tires, it's the middle of december and i'm still running the summer tires. They're promising a brief cool down this week, then back to the 40's next week. I wonder if this will be a repeat of the winter of '11-'12 where we had 80's in march.

 

You're right. Same here for Western NY... above freezing projections all the way through to the end of the month. Man, that is so not typical.

I'm still swapping snows today, though. Can't deny the warm weather opportunity. And no way no how do I want to be caught on frozen roads with nothing between me and the ditch but a set of wide Super Sports.

...and done. OMG, I'm getting old.

 

Light went on today. Longish trip and I think it took about 5-10 miles... Flashed for a little bit and now solid.

It's almost 60 here but I just wanted to get them mounted... Warm weather can't last.

 

So long as it's about 40F or above, i'm ok working in the garage. I don't commute daily so it's not a big deal if the car sits for a few days or a week. Accuweather says it'll be 60F on the 23rd. Not sure I believe that, but will drag it out as long as I can. In 2012, the snow tires stayed on the car for barely 2 months.