I am getting ready to order a set of Blizzaks from Tire Rack and the TPM sensors are $200. I live in an area where there is VERY little snow and they probably wont be on the car more than a month, 2 months tops.

Will it harm the car in any way to go without them for that month or two?

Thanks!

 

Not really, you'll have a light on the dash and you'll be responsible for keeping
the tires inflated while they're on (like everybody used to do themselves anyway).
When you switch back to summer wheels/tires with the TPM's in, you'll have
to re-initialise them, that's all.

 

Thanks! I didn't want to risk doing $$$$ damage to the computer to save $

 

Are you just buying tires or wheels and tires?

 

I bought wheels and tires.

 

I bought Blizzaks on steels from Tire Rack, no TPMS (I don't even remember seeing that option...). I was sure that my idiot light would be on all winter, but it never went on after we swapped out the wheels. Like Cristo said though, if it goes on after swapping out the wheels, you just ignore it and be sure to check the tire pressure regularly.

 

I see from your sig that you have a gen 1 MINI which uses the ABS wheel speed sensor to run the flat tire light
as opposed to the TPMS in the wheels that the later MINIs use. If your winter tires are worn fairly evenly and
similar to the wear on the summer tires, the light won't go on with the swap.

 

As do I snow wise (Seattle area) - But I run the Blizzaks for 5 months from Nov 1 thru Mar 31 same as studs are allowed in our state, or even a little earlier and later. The softer compound and incredible amount of molded-in sipes gives you much better grip in the cold and wet, not just the snow.....

FYI - Studs are dangerous in the dry and wet - I would never run studs - hense the studless design of the Blizzaks.....

http://www.ehow.com/list_7468834_pro...ded-tires.html

 

ahhhh more Seattle area people, I was thinking of doing just the opposite i really wanted to get new wheels for my R56 but the ones i really like aren't tpms compatible so I would have to go around with the stupid warning on

 

you'll get used to the TPMS light on. i would suggest getting a good slime kit or something of that sort. without a spare a tire failure could be a really bad day.
my nightmare would be snowy day. on the side of the road where cars don't have traction in the first place with my mini half way off because of the snow that's been plowed to the side. not to scare you but i'm a "worst case senario person" (and i write insurance so i'm hardwired that way)

 

Already bought a bottle of slime and a little portable compressor -- I figure that the winter tires will keep it from snowing again and having the repair stuff will keep me from ever having a flat

 

this is truth

 

Not to hi-jack the thread, but if you were to purchase the tire pressure sensors with new wheels, would you be able to reset the system yourself or would you have to go to a dealer/shop?

TIA