Low Tire Light = Expensive Rims!

[regalfriend]

Alot of the later model GM cars have a low tire pressure sensor. i got new tires last week and was told 1 of my rims was slightly bent. I got a quote $200 for a used rim....WoW...Since this was a major tire center i figured the price was double of what i could get it for, if i looked around. I told him ,no , ill use the bent rim for now....I know the rim was bent since i bought the car used...never noticed any vibration or uneven tire wear due to this...Later i went on Ebay and seen 4 rim and tires set for $200 total. question is....by switching to aftermarket rims, i will most likely lose this feature, will the low tire light stay on all the time, and how to disable it?

[stlwagon]

No... The low pressure warning is actually generated when a wheel's RPMs fluctuate from the others. It's not actually a pressure sensor. You should be just fine if you switch wheels/tires.

[richtazz]

I agree with STLwagon, the vehicle uses the wheel speed sensor fluctuation to sense low tire pressure. It has nothing to do with actual air pressure, as there is no sensor in the rim.

[regalfriend]

It sounds logical....what happens if you hit the gas on ice and only 1 wheel spins....i know the trac will kick on.......my low tire light kicks on after i lose about 10 PSI....My only guess is the car needs to sense a wheel spinning slower for a certain distance. It would not be an immidiate response. Also if a donut or spare tire was put on that was slightly smaller, would it cause the low tire light to com on?

[rbsteve]

i bought a new set of winter tires with rims last year for my 98 grand prix. 16' wheels, cost me 60$ CAD per rim, new. So that price of 200$ for a used is way out of whack.