TPMS tyre pressure readings

[Peter Chequers]

My hybrid 4motion does not seem to have information about pressure in each individual tyre... Just a basic warning if it thinks pressure is low and to check the tyres

This seems like a strange cost saving measure on a premium vehicle.... Does anyone else have actual TPMS?

I have All Season tyres factory fitted if this is relevant

 

[sticky1]

Peter, it’s pretty clearly described in the van specification from Beach model up, however you aren’t the first person to mention not having TPMS.
If you haven’t got it fitted you may have to look at your dealer communication and invoice to confirm that you should have it and get the dealer to fit.

 

[BristolCali]

Both direct and indirect TPMS systems are described by manufacturers as TPMS. My T6 has indirect which I guess uses ABS sensors to determine rolling resistance at the point of ‘reset’ and then measures deviations from that.

 

[sidepod]

I guess uses ABS sensors to determine rolling resistance at the point of ‘reset’ and then measures deviations from that.

Wheel speed is calculated via OD/circumference which varies with pressure.

 

[Roger Boeken]

Wheel speed is calculated via OD/circumference which varies with pressure.

Wheel speed is calculated via OD/circumference which varies with pressure.

It is actually only the deformation of the car tire that determines the number of revolutions of the wheel. The length of the tire's tread (the circumference of the tire) always remains the same. How could it change ? I struggled with this phenomenon for a long time, just as the pressure in a tire does not change with the weight pressing down on it. The deformation of the tire creates a smaller wheel diameter, resulting in more revolutions for the same distance.

 

[stoobthealien]

It's a pretty common choice on all VAG group vehicles to have the indirect TPMS, been the same on a number of ones I've had in the past

 

[WelshGas]

It's a pretty common choice on all VAG group vehicles to have the indirect TPMS, been the same on a number of ones I've had in the past

An EU requirement.

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is a strict legal requirement in the EU. Under EU legislation, it has been mandatory for all newly registered passenger cars (Class M1) since November 2014. This mandate was expanded to include heavy commercial vehicles, buses, and trailers over 3.5 tonnes.

So all vehicles will either have an ABS system or a Direct TPMS.
Every vehicle will have ABS sensors.
Direct TPMS is a WiFi based system and the sensors have to be present in every tyre and replaced periodically if built in battery cannot be replaced.

 

[stoobthealien]

Direct is so much better - it's a shame VW don't offer it

 

[WelshGas]

Direct is so much better - it's a shame VW don't offer it

They do as a paid for Option on some vehicles.

 

[dspuk]

I guess it also depends on your definition of the M in TPMS. All VW’s have monitoring, just the monitoring is “passive” unless you pay for the sender units in the options, or retrofit.

On ours we have a passive - so we set the pressures and then tell the system it’s done. Then the monitoring only tells us if it's up or down from there, and does not show us individial numbers per tyre, like our Defender for instance.

TBH that has worked fine for us.

 

[Beach Nut]

Agreed it's a shame the "proper" system with individual pressure sensors in the tyre valves isn't offered on the T7 California. I've had it on past VWs, most recently a 2019 Tiguan, and it's so much more useful than the ABS sensor based system. It wasn't even that expensive an option, maybe £250-300 at the time ?

 

[Blanco]

The passive ABS pressure monitoring on our van is I found remarkably sensitive. A few months ago the dashboard light came on. Van didn't feel any diferent driving but we stopped and as I couldn't see any of the tyres looked soft and we were near home I carried on. Checked pressures next day - one was 42 psi - the system detected the difference in wheel speeds from a drop of 3psi.

 

[dspuk]

The passive ABS pressure monitoring on our van is I found remarkably sensitive. A few months ago the dashboard light came on. Van didn't feel any diferent driving but we stopped and as I couldn't see any of the tyres looked soft and we were near home I carried on. Checked pressures next day - one was 42 psi - the system detected the difference in wheel speeds from a drop of 3psi.

Same. While it may give some level of satisfaction to see actual numbers, the lived experience is almost identical.

 

[cangyroo]

I prefer to manually check my tyres... using an accurate pressure gauge... it gives me an opportunity to inspect the tyres & wheels

 

[andyinluton]

I prefer to manually check my tyres... using an accurate pressure gauge... it gives me an opportunity to inspect the tyres & wheels

So do I, but have difficulty connecting the gauge whilst doing 70mph on the motorway.

Being able to see individual pressures in the event of a puncture is invaluable, gives a good indicator as to how quickly you are loosing air and how much pressure you’ve got left.
If you’ve just lost a few psi on the motorway you carry on to a service station carefully, if it’s gone to zero psi you know you e got to stop. Just having a warning light illuminate doesn’t help with that decision.

 

[stoobthealien]

So do I, but have difficulty connecting the gauge whilst doing 70mph on the motorway.

Being able to see individual pressures in the event of a puncture is invaluable, gives a good indicator as to how quickly you are loosing air and how much pressure you’ve got left.
If you’ve just lost a few psi on the motorway you carry on to a service station carefully, if it’s gone to zero psi you know you e got to stop. Just having a warning light illuminate doesn’t help with that decision.

This! I had a nail in the tyre on my epace when towing in France. I know not recommended but real tpms allowed me to monitor the slow puncture and manage it to the next campsite before getting it repaired (my GCSE french came to the rescue!)

 

[BristolCali]

It is actually only the deformation of the car tire that determines the number of revolutions of the wheel. The length of the tire's tread (the circumference of the tire) always remains the same. How could it change ? I struggled with this phenomenon for a long time, just as the pressure in a tire does not change with the weight pressing down on it. The deformation of the tire creates a smaller wheel diameter, resulting in more revolutions for the same distance.

I once had a Volvo V60 which consistently gave false positives on TPMS using ABS sensors. Eventually I tracked it down to a tyre that had a larger circumference and when I switched it around the false positive moved then when I replaced it the false positive never returned.

 

[Roger Boeken]

Direct is so much better - it's a shame VW don't offer it

Agr.eed it's a shame the "proper" system with individual pressure sensors in the tyre valves isn't offered on the T7 California. I've had it on past VWs, most recently a 2019 Tiguan, and it's so much more useful than the ABS sensor based system. It wasn't even that expensive an option, maybe £250-300 at the time ?

I once had a Volvo V60 which consistently gave false positives on TPMS using ABS sensors. Eventually I tracked it down to a tyre that had a larger circumference and when I switched it around the false positive moved then when I replaced it the false positive never returned.

Ok, you had a tire with different circumference from the start, but circumference does not change with pressure.

 

[Roger Boeken]

So do I, but have difficulty connecting the gauge whilst doing 70mph on the motorway.

Being able to see individual pressures in the event of a puncture is invaluable, gives a good indicator as to how quickly you are loosing air and how much pressure you’ve got left.
If you’ve just lost a few psi on the motorway you carry on to a service station carefully, if it’s gone to zero psi you know you e got to stop. Just having a warning light illuminate doesn’t help with that decision.

I check the numbers regulary during long trips or when weather changes. So much easier than using a gauge while parked.

 

[vbk1975]

The passive ABS pressure monitoring on our van is I found remarkably sensitive. A few months ago the dashboard light came on. Van didn't feel any diferent driving but we stopped and as I couldn't see any of the tyres looked soft and we were near home I carried on. Checked pressures next day - one was 42 psi - the system detected the difference in wheel speeds from a drop of 3psi.

With the in-direct system it uses the calibration value to work from, so always worth resetting the tyre pressure on the cluster menu when you check and set the tyre pressures, esp. when moving between Summer and winter. The trigger points normally allow for +/- 10% swing in calculated tyre pressures from the Calibration reset point.

 

[decibel]

Does anyone know if it's possible to mount/install it later?

 

[WelshGas]

Does anyone know if it's possible to mount/install it later?

If it is a Paid for Option on that vehicle then the Vehicle Computer, BCM, and Dashboard may be able to display the readings. In that case you would need sensors for each tyre, the WiFi receiver unit, wiring loom to the BCM and VCDS to code the system for it to work. Probably close to £1000 if you can find a company to do it.

HazzyDayz who specialises in retrofits on VAG vehicles only offer the retrofit for Audi at £890 +vat.