So I've been reading in several forums about TPMS and what happens when you put in winter tires that don't have a sensor in them, but now I'm confused.

I just had new winter tires put on my 2008 Accord EX Sedan. The new tire size is a 205/65/16 as recommended by tirerack.com as a possible alternative size. I fully expected the TPMS signal light to turn on after the tire change. However, no warning light. And on top of that I expected my VSA to be stuck ON because TPMS is not registering. However, I have no problems turning off my VSA still. The tires were mounted on generic steel wheel and the garage even warned me that installing wheels without the sensor will cause the warning light to stay on. My oem tires still have the sensors on them.

What's going on? Is there something wrong with the TPMS and it wasn't working to begin with? If that's the case, shouldn't the VSA be stuck on?

Can anyone help? I think I'm going to have to go into the dealer for this one.

Thanks

I have winter tires (215/65/16 on steel wheels) on my 2008 Accord EX-L sedan, but the Honda dealership also put new sensors and everything is working well ok. Not heard about a situation as yours.

I installed four winter tires and new wheels without sensors on my coupe and it took two weeks before the TPMS light come on. It was the first time since installation that I had driven over 60 mph for more than 10 minutes. I guess it took a steady run at high speed before the system realized the sensors were absent.

If you don't have them on your steel rims it's imposible for something to work if you don't have them. Yes best you check with your Honda dealer they will have the TOOL to program the TMPS sensors (if installed) to your vehicle.
http://schrader-bridgeport.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=5182&location_id=11400

You could also check out this link and check out the two posts made by Princess. Very good info about TPMS Sensors.
http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showthread.php?t=14650&highlight=TPMS+Sensors&page=2

Thanks for your responses everyone. I haven't had time to go to the dealership yet, but it's been two days since I got the snow tires and I've even driven it on the highway and still no warning lights.

I read the articles that Princess posted and according to the article, if you put on a spare tire (without the TPMS sensor), the TPMS light should go on. So technically, I've put on four spare tires without sensors. No light. I can still turn VSA off.

Princess, any insights?

Don't know what the fault condition is, but the TPMS light finally turned on after driving on the highway for over an hour. VSA can not be deactivated.

Now I need to look for a spare set of TPMS sensors or risk getting stuck in deep snow with VSA on.

from what i got from the dealers... they told me that TPMS isn't a sensor that is directly on the rims/tires but actually it's a sensor that is embedded on the car.
so let say.. you're left front tire is low, the sensor will look at not your actual left front tire but the overall height and weight of the car and how your left front tire is low...
only reason is.. when i got my car at the dealer, they told me about this TPMS... and i asked them what happens when i get new rims... they said the sensor isn't on the wheel so it shouldn't be a problem.
correct me if i'm wrong..

Hmmmm, I don't personally know how the TPMS works on the 8th Gen Accord, but according to Tire Rack info here (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=44), there are "smart" and "dumb" systems (or they call it direct and indirect systems).

The smart system reads the pressure from sensors installed on the rim, the dumb system calculates wheel rotational speed to determine if a tire is low.

I find it hard to believe the Honda system on the 8th Gen Accord would be the dumb system? :dunno:

Hmmmm, I don't personally know how the TPMS works on the 8th Gen Accord, but according to Tire Rack info here (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=44), there are "smart" and "dumb" systems (or they call it direct and indirect systems).

The smart system reads the pressure from sensors installed on the rim, the dumb system calculates wheel rotational speed to determine if a tire is low.

I find it hard to believe the Honda system on the 8th Gen Accord would be the dumb system? :dunno:

It's the smart system with sensors in rim

https://www.hondapartsdeals.com/honda_parts_list.php?hp_queried_components=0&hp_series_id=3513&hp_series_model=ACCORD&hp_series_year=2008&hp_series_door_ext_grade=4DR+LX&hp_series_transmission=5AT&hp_series_slsareacd=KL&hp_system=F&hp_component=B++18

Note item #6 "42753-SWA-306 006 SENSOR ASSY., TPMS (WOL 20) "

Complete TPMS Sensors at Honda dealers Part # 06421-S3V-A02 (Approx $40. Cdn) A repair kit is also availible Part # 06422-S3V-A01 (Appox $12.Cdn)

All 4 for $40 (not likely) or each for $40 (likely)?

And what is the repair kit consist of?

Changing tires has nothing to do with the TPMS, because it is mounted on the wheel not the tire. Now if you change the wheel and you do not transfer the TPMS unit, you wil get a light because it is not picking up one or all of the sensors. You can easily transfer your factory TPMS sensors into aftermarket 1 piece wheels. The sensor is actually part of the valve stem. You just unscrew it and mount it on the new wheel. Now with multi-piece wheels it is a litle more challenging because the hole for the valve stem is actually in the middle of the wheel. It could be done, but you have to use a method called the"banding method". One more thing to remember keep the sensors on the same location as they were before, for example the front left on the new wheel front left. This will keep you from having to return to the dealer and have to have them relearned.

You can't keep the sensors at the same corner of the car all the time if you want to rotate the tires front-to-back or X-pattern regularly to even out the tire wear, best to learn how to reset the TPMS yourself.