Tire Pressure Sensors for 2010

[Al J]

My 2010 has to be an all-season car, so I'm in the process of buying rims & tires for the winter---and we're having a snowy winter this year in RI.
So I've learned that this car uses Scrader tire pressure sensors that fit on the valve stem---unlike previous Mustangs which had a more costly, bulky arrangement.
I'm told that if I install these valves (about $40 per tire) the Ford dealer can easily reprogram the computer so it will read the new rims & eliminate a warning light on the dash. Anyone have any experience w/this? My previous Mustang required the driver to be responsible for tire pressure---this is a whole new & unwelcome world to me. We're living in a dumbed-down world.

 

[Wayne Kerr]

I bought a 2010 GT convertible and it had a bad tire pressure sensor. After a little internet search, I found out that you can reset a sensor turning the key on and off in a sequence and using a magnet on the valve stem. The dealer has a special tool for this. Any new sensors must be set for that car. I traded in an '04 Mustang that was my only car, and I had very good success with a second set of rims with Blizzaks mounted on them. I would swap over to winter tires every december and then back to summer rubber in march. I plan on getting the new rims and Blizzaks soon. Hope this helps.

 

[Al J]

Wayne, I agree. I've put winter Blizzaks & rims on all my Mustangs, and found them a perfect solution to making the rear drive, high horsepower Mustang tractable in winter conditions. I'm going to an 18" set, but my 2010 has the 19s, which I will return to in April. The 19" rims & tires are ridiculously pricy.

 

[Wayne Kerr]

I'm going to go with 18" too for the same reason. Might even look at 17's if the 18's are too much. I don't know if you HAVE to use rims with sensors or not. I mean, if there is no singal at all coming from the rim, what would the cars computer say? Also, I used to run the Blizzaks at 40 psi because anything less would make the tires feel very squirrelly and wallowy. Would the cars computer see that as too high?

 

[born2rn]

If sensors arent used the low tire pressure light will be on

 

[Mustang5L5]

I have the same setup in my G35. Rather than paying the dealer each time is swap winter and summer wheels, i just leave the matched TPMS sensors in my winter wheels (when i'm less likely to want to get out and check tire pressure) and run no sensors in the summer wheels. Downside is the tire light is on in the dash, but i just check the pressure myself like the good ole days.

Unsure if the Mustang has an owner DIY method of resetting the sensors to the car, but Infiniti is dealer only unfortunately.

 

[Al J]

The tire rack guy tolld me that if the dealer programs the winter rims, the computer will remember both the winter rim sensors and when you put the regular tires back on, the computer will read those w/out new programming from the dealer.
Hope that's true---just ordered sensors from tire rack.
BTW---I'm going to get Konig Beyonds for my Blizzaks---whaddya think? 8.5 wide or 9.5 wide?????

 

[Wayne Kerr]

Wow, The Konig Beyonds look great. As far as the width goes, I was always a fan of putting on the widest tires that would fit! I did a search and saw a picture of a car with Konig Beyonds and redline tires. Looked sweet. I'm a little tired of "retro" but this sure looked good.

 

[Black'02]

If you are asking about how wide for the blizzak rims, go with the narrowest possible. Trying to drive wide tires (even blizzaks) through snow sucks. They tend to plow through snow instead of turning.

 

[Al J]

I got the narrower is better advice from several sources, so 8.5" is what I went with.

 

[Wayne Kerr]

I always thought Ford should have put wider rims and tires on the car from the start. Also, lower it down a bit. (And they wonder why so many people are buying Camaros.)

 

[Al J]

The dealer explained to me that ride height is designed so that there is ample room to afix chains to the tire. Crazy, huh?
Maybe an important feature for Sarah Palin?
It's almost as crazy as tire pressure sensors---For many years I always "eyeballed" tires to see if they were round---not good enough anymore, I guess.

 

[Wayne Kerr]

http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-for...bums/v324/MadCat360/Funnys/mustang_chains.jpg

 

[Mustang5L5]

The dealer explained to me that ride height is designed so that there is ample room to afix chains to the tire. Crazy, huh?

Dealers are not automotive engineers. Don't listen to them.

The tire rack guy tolld me that if the dealer programs the winter rims, the computer will remember both the winter rim sensors and when you put the regular tires back on, the computer will read those w/out new programming from the dealer.

That's a negative as well. You'll have to reprogram each time. The system can only associate 4 TPMS sensors at a time.

However, the Mustang fortunately has a DIY method so you can reset the sensors on your own and not have to worry about the dealer doing it.

Mustang TPMS Transmitter Tool w/ DVD Instructions at AmericanMuscle.com

EDIT: I have not actually used this tool myself

 

[GMYGT]

10 Mustang TPMS

I agree with Mike. I just got a 10 GT and had numerous discussions with Tire Tack and the Ford rep, who I believe to be quite knowledgeable. I had to buy a TPMS tools as they will need reprogrammed each time the wheels/tires are switched over. I got mine from Tire Rack.

 

[Al J]

I finally got squared away on tires.
Good advice on this thread.
I got the American Muscle transmitter tool, & it works great, just as advertised.
I bought the 8.5" Beyond rims & they look & run perfectly----alas, in just another few weeks, the winter tires come off, & the 19" PZeros go back on.

 

[Al J]

Well my non-winter rims & P-zero tires have been on for several weeks now & I am pleased to report that---contrary to advice given me on this thread---my car's computer remembered the earlier sensors & NO reprograming was necessary when I took the winter rims & sensors off & reinstalled the stock 19"ers.
Apparently both sets of sensors are installed in car computer memory.