this post was submitted on 03 Mar 2026
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A local city proudly mentioned on the news that they had a system that could track TPMS sensors. Pretty much all cars after 2008 uses TPMS sensors that each broadcast a unique identifier to the car. They aren't hard to remove, and you can buy valve stems that fit your car (0.452 hole) at any auto parts store.
By "aren't hard to remove" you actually mean requires dismounting the tire from the rim, remounting it, and then balacing it. This is far beyond the capabilities not to mention equipment of the typical layperson. Plus, your state is likely to conveniently fail your car on its next inspection for a nonfunctioning TPMS system, same as your check engine light.
If you're going to go the distance anyway, get your tire shop to mount aftermarket Autel sensors in your rims. Using the readily available diagnostic tool, you can occasionally reprogram those (wirelessly!) with a set of random IDs and then also program your car to use them. You'll be a lot tougher to track if your signature is different every week.
I'm not about to do this just yet, but I do have the tool for more mundane purposes and I only paid around $200 for it several years ago.
It seems most states with mandatory vehicle inspections don't fail for TPMS problems.
https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/what-are-state-tpms-regulations
That only lists 18 states...
My own state requires it despite that list implying they don't. Thus I really don't think that chart is completely accurate. If you have ANY warning lights on your dash at inspection you will be failed here.
Well crap, that's not a cheap solution but I'm glad you commented because I didn't know these Autel sensors existed and that you could reprogram them. I mean, this threat is semi hypothetical right now (not like it's been used in the wild by authorities or anything) but one day it might be. Continual reprogramming would be a valid solution.
Yeah, a couple problems with that:
As always, these are systems of convenience, and the alternative is to check your tire pressures every day before leaving home.
Older cars use a wheel speed sensor-based TPMS. It's not as effective or reliable but it also doesn't emit any signals that can be read by other devices.
not why they were mandated.
The US and Canada at one point could hit their Paris Accord C02 ouputs just by keeping car tires properly inflated.
I managed to drive cars for 30 years without a TPMS sensor and the only time I ever had a to check the pressure on a tire, was when I knew i had a leak and didn't have time to fix it. I can also tell by the way my car drives if a tire is soft. I also had an air pump in my car powered by a cigarette lighter adapter that I could fill my tires.
My current car, from 2019 doesn't have one. I've managed to own it 7 years (this week) without needing to check the pressure 2500 times.
The assertion you need to check your pressure everyday without a TPMS system is ridiculous.
They aren’t hard to remove, and you can buy valve stems that fit your hole at any auto parts store.
Good to know.
They are hard to remove, and require a variety of expensive specialty tools to do properly.