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Model 3 TPMS?

23K views 45 replies 24 participants last post by  garsh  
#1 ·
I'm still waiting on my invitation to configure (assuming it's coming in the next month or so). However, I've begun doing some "housekeeping" items to prep. Among them, winter tires.

I recently picked up a set of 18" wheels to use for winter tires and plan on picking a set of winter tires that I've had my eye on, as the local stores begin to mark down winter tires, as we're heading towards the end of winter shortly.

Which brings me to my question. Given that I'm purchasing these and having them mounted before they're on the car, I assume the 3 uses TPMS and that I'd have to have the sensor ready to go when I have the winter tires installed. Has anyone purchased a TPMS sensor/assembly yet? Did you go through Tesla to get it? If so, what do they charge and are there any miscellaneous additional items I would also need (caps, nuts, etc)? Alternately, has anyone sourced these outside of Tesla directly?

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
Which brings me to my question. Given that I'm purchasing these and having them mounted before they're on the car, I assume the 3 uses TPMS and that I'd have to have the sensor ready to go when I have the winter tires installed. Has anyone purchased a TPMS sensor/assembly yet? Did you go through Tesla to get it? If so, what do they charge and are there any miscellaneous additional items I would also need (caps, nuts, etc)? Alternately, has anyone sourced these outside of Tesla directly?
You'll need a VIN to order parts through a Tesla service center, so if you want to go that route, you'll have to wait until you have a VIN assigned (which, as we've seen, may be only a week or two before you take delivery, so take that timing into account). Pricing seems to vary -- I've seen recent posts on TMC stating that the service center charged them anywhere from $50 - $100 each.

Alternatively, you can buy Model-3-specific TPMS now from TireRack for $65/each. (I can't tell whether they the same as the OEM TPMS, in case that matters.) The part number is the same as the post-2014 Model S/X, so theoretically any set of post-2014 Model S/X TPMS that you can find should also work for the 3.

BTW, out of curiosity, which 18" wheels did you end up going with?
 
#4 · (Edited)
Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely look at Tire Rack - I had seen that the S sensors seemed to almost double in price last fall, so if they're still selling them at that price, I'm not sure I'd bother buying direct unless there was a pressing reason to. I find it strange that they'd require a VIN for that part, since I can, without a problem, order the winter tire package (includes wheel/tire/TPMS/cover) from my account.

Tesla charges about $200 a wheel if memory serves. You can get an entire set off eBay for $140 and get them installed at any tire shop. You need 433MHz
Thank you - I will definitely check that out. $140 all in is far more reasonable than $100+. I'll probably call them next week just to see what the current price is, but at that price I have no intention of buying direct.
 
#7 ·
#17 ·
You are correct they are the same continental sensors as a Model S VIN >50900 And all Model X. I carry them for the same price as Tirerack. https://www.evtuningsolutions.com/products/tpms-sensor-for-continental-tpms-system
I'm looking at your webpage now. Are the TSportline 18 inch Turbine rims for the Model 3 the same flow-forged 21lb ones that are up for pre-order on their website right now? If so do they also come with free shipping like the pre-orders? (assuming these are simply ordered through TSportline through your website)
 
#18 ·
They are the same wheels. We are out of stock as well. So yes we are waiting for them as well.
 
#21 ·
I purchased tire and wheel package for my M3 from tire rack. Here is my experience:

1. Tire rack staff are clueless. They assured me that the TPMS they installed were the Tesla factory OEM. However they didn't work at first. I will get to that in a minute. All tire rack would say is follow the instructions in the owners manual. Other than that they knew nothing.

2. After I mounted the wheels I saw nothing on the display. Drove for well over 20 miles - Tesla manual says 10 miles - and nothing. then after about 30 miles, a warning appeared on the screen stating my TPMS needed servicing and to contact Tesla Service Center. Called Tesla service but hung up after waiting 20 minutes.

3 Got back in car and drove approximately 5 miles with the warning on the display, then all of a sudden, wallah, the display indicated that it recognized new TPMS and if I would like to reset the system. It requested that I state 18", 19" or 20" wheels. I selected 19" and hit the reset button and the system came back with "reset complete" and my sensors started working. So the issue here is that the Tesla manual is baloney. It never shows anything about a screen that allows you to reset your TPMS. Tesla please fix your manual.

For those of you who got the reset display immediately good for you, but others are not having such quick result. Not sure why this is happening, but my guess is that there are many different TPMS out there all claiming to be Tesla model 3 compliant yet they are different and it takes time for the Vehicle TPMS system to detect which ones you have before displaying the reset screen.
 
#22 ·
It has something to do with firmware level of the car, how long the TPMS sat on the shelf and how fast the sensors begin reporting back. At the service center I used a scan tool to "wake up" the sensor before learning it to the car. With buying a complete package this doesn't happen and the car should recognize it on its own but I have seen as much as putting 100 miles on the car before it initialized.
 
#26 ·
I'm a bit confused... The ones you linked to are 315Mhz. Don't they need to be 433MHz?

And what does the programming do? / How does one know which sensors need to be programmed before installation and which don't? (I'm reading lots of instances of people installing TPSM sensors without mentioning anything about programming, and the car eventually picks them up on its own.)

I was looking at these on Amazon for $140 and they claim to be "pre-programmed". I'd happily pay a bit more to ensure that they'll work without headaches, but I also don't want to waste money or have to jump through any extra hoops if these will work as is.
 
#25 · (Edited)
I bought TPMS listed as being for the Model 3 from the Tire Rack for $57 each (the part number on the invoice is S168 S180052068.) The description of the sensor is Continental 433MHz sensor 8 N*m (71 in*lb) replaceable valve.
I also bought black valve stem sleeves for $2.99 each (part number BLACKSLEEVE1 733-K.) I think there were already black sleeves included with the TPMS but am not certain. (I have an extra set of black and a set of silver sleeves now.)

The below is the photo of the box and sensor. I don't know if the box indicates they're genuine OEM Tesla sensors or just designated as for Tesla vehicles. When my new wheels arrive I'll try them out.

Image
 
#33 ·
On Saturday, I had installed my Tirerack ordered 19 in. snows/wheels on my M3P. After driving about 30 miles 3 of the TPMS’ showed psi, with one not registering. I never received a message to select a wheel size. After another 10 miles my TPMS needs service warning appeared. I called Tirerack and they said that I should deflate the affected tire by 10lbs psi and reinflate to “wake” the rogue sensor. I did that drove another 80 miles or so and the problem wasn’t fixed. I deflated and reinflated again today, with no success. Not sure what to do now. I will call Tirerack and the installer tomorrow. I suppose I could have a bad sensor, but am not sure. I welcome any ideas or suggestions. Thanks.
 
#34 · (Edited)
Hate to revive an old thread, but I just got a new set of wheels/tires and am having the same issue (also ordered from TireRack). Drove around for 10mi, but got nothing. Wondering if I should drive a bit more or reach out to TireRack about this.
 
owns 2023 Tesla Model Y Performance
#39 ·
Put new Tsportline TST on today, drove 60 miles, got faulty sensor message and none of the wheels got picked up.
Give it one more try. The last time I swapped wheels (and therefore TPMS), I had to let the car go to sleep before it would read the new sensors.

And this might be obvious, but you didn't include this information, so... make sure you actually have TPMS sensors in your new wheels. And make sure the sensors that are installed work with Teslas.

Also, only option for 18inch are now the aero wheels...?
Correct. Tesla only shows OEM wheel options. I'd love to be able to upload a picture of my actual wheels, but that's in the "minor, nice to have" category. :)
 
#43 ·
After a night of thinking about it, my M3P this morning decided to recognize the TMPS sensors. I then changed the wheels to 18" Aero (Car picture on my phone changed too, bummer) but everything works great now! Very happy with the wheels. Only thing I wished Tsportline would offer the Michelin PS4S with the TO marking, the tires they developed with Tesla that has the acoustic foam and a slightly different rubber compound. The M3 is a very heavy car and Tesla would not develop these TO tires for no reason.
 
#44 ·
After a night of thinking about it, my M3P this morning decided to recognize the TMPS sensors.
Yep, sounds like you had the same issue that I did:
Give it one more try. The last time I swapped wheels (and therefore TPMS), I had to let the car go to sleep before it would read the new sensors.