[taoshum]

I just bought an original set of 5 BFG 17" tires/wheels from a 2010 Rubicon Owner but the seller had pulled the TPMS sensors and replaced them with rubber valve stems. I still have the original 5 Bridgestone 18" tires/wheels with TPMS sensors that came with my 2008 Sahara.

Now what?

1. keep the 18's and transfer the 18's back to the jeep when I don't need the 17's for a while
2. get the sensors moved to the 17's and sell the 18's?
3. sell the 18's with the sensors and live without the sensors?
4. something else?

I appreciate every thought you might have.

[BLK2000TJ]

I would transfer the sensors. I know a lot of people hate the sensors but they serve a purpose and you already have them so why not put them to use. I would be willing to bet over half of vehicles without tpms are driving around with under inflated tires

[N2rock]

OMG what did we do for the past 50 years without TPMS

Seriously- it is just a gov't mandated nanny because people are too lazy to check tire pressure every now and then.

Lucky for me my '07 did not have TPMS. My wife's '08 did, but I put my original wheels/tires on her JK when I moved to 35's. So now hers doesn't have TPMS either.

And I periodically check our tires the old fashioned way

[BLK2000TJ]

Originally Posted by N2rock

OMG what did we do for the past 50 years without TPMS

Seriously- it is just a gov't mandated nanny because people are too lazy to check tire pressure every now and then.

Lucky for me my '07 did not have TPMS. My wife's '08 did, but I put my original wheels/tires on her JK when I moved to 35's. So now hers doesn't have TPMS either.

And I periodically check our tires the old fashioned way

Has noting to do with being lazy. On my TJ I check my tires the "old fashioned way" . My JK's do it for me.

[gradeigh1]

Were you able to disable the light for the TPMS or just live with a light on the dash?

[vonhef]

I actually like the feature... just hated that the factory doesn't allow one to adjust the setpoint. 36 psi is too much pressure! Was the one single reason I purchased a Superchips, so I could lower the tire pressure setting.

[paul84043]

OH, OH, Pick ME!! PICK ME!!!!
Google "TPMS Hackers", and then RUN outside and remove them from your wheels IMMEDIATELY.

They can hack into the wireless communications system that talks to your sensors and get access to your cars computer. Then they can do ANYTHING. Full throttle? No problem. Slam on the brakes? No problem. SLam on ONE Brake while applying full throttle? No problem.
Mostly to date it's been funny messages on the displays, but the potential exists for them to cause absolute and complete ANARCHY with post 2008 vehicles.

Think about that one....

Mine are GONE.

[BBG-C5]

I like having the sensors.

[JIMBOX]

For the price of having your tires dismounted/mounted and sensors changed--

Just get an AEV Procal Module, it'll disable the TPMS sys, no icons, no lights, no chimes and it'll reprogram yor (AUTO) trnsmission for crisp shifting if you've changed tires size and correct your speedo-

It'll fool your tranny into thinking you have a 4.88/5.13/5.36/6. ??diff. gears--

If you don't have an auto, it'll still do all the rest-give you Daylight driving lights too

If it's your wifes jeep--leave the TPMS sys, if it's your jeep-get the AEV Module !!$139 bucks-

JIMBO

[ncb]

I don't need the sensors to check the pressure for me. I like the TPMS for the safety of warning me that a tire is loosing pressure while cruising down the Rockies at 55+ mph after a day of wheeling. Driving off a cliff would suck.

[Avernar]

Originally Posted by paul84043

OH, OH, Pick ME!! PICK ME!!!!
They can hack into the wireless communications system that talks to your sensors and get access to your cars computer. Then they can do ANYTHING. Full throttle? No problem. Slam on the brakes? No problem. SLam on ONE Brake while applying full throttle? No problem.
Mostly to date it's been funny messages on the displays, but the potential exists for them to cause absolute and complete ANARCHY with post 2008 vehicles.

That's a load of bull. It's been way over exaggerated. What they managed to do was trick the car into thinking it had a flat tire. Big deal.

On the particular car they tried it on the module responsible for monitoring the tire pressure "fell off it's twig" according to the article and had to be replaced. They just probably fried the RF receiver with their directional antenna.

So no custom messages, no wide open throttle, no sudden braking. Just a TPMS warning light coming on.

[No_Return]

Personally I think that it is an annoyance... for my jeep I know I have less than 35PSI... I just aired down to 15 PSI. However for 90% of the population its a valuable safety feature. I know I'm glad my wife's car has them. If not for the TPMS, I think she would drive it on a flat tire and not notice until the sparks start spitting out.

At least with the TPMS she knows to bug me to look at it.

As far as someone hacking or tracking via TPMS.

Bravo Sierra

Everything is computerized these days.... Could someone theoretically track you by your TPMS... yes. But I think they would use your Bluetooth, iPhone, Ipod, Laptop, even your License Plate first.

As far hacking your cars computer. Someone may be able to spend thousands of dollars to turn the little amber triangle on my dash on or enable the change your oil reminder...

[Avernar]

It actually was useful a few weeks ago. Got into the Jeep in the morning, started it up and the light was on. Sure enough I found a screw in one of the tires later on.

[paul84043]

Avernar,
Don't mean to be argumentative, but there was a pretty big write up on it just today. It's not Bull and it could potentially be very serious.
The earlier attempts were just sending erroneous tire pressure signals, those were the first probes and tests, but they figured out how to cause a buffer overflow and actually get access to the computer itself, the ramifications are far reaching.
Vehicle manufacturers really screwed the pooch when they didn't implement simple encryption on the signal, or at the very least an MD5 algorythm based on the VIN or something simple like that.

These hackers are VERY intelligent, and are typically light years ahead of government analysts. I wouldn't underestimate them for a second.
A wireless network conected to the internet can be hacked, compromosed, and exploited from anywhere on the planet. Think about that one.
Just to qulaify myself, I have worked in Manufacturing IT for 23 years and have a Bachelors in IT.
Not name dropping, just saying.
Here's a link to the Jalopnik article.....

Paul.

[Avernar]

paul84043,
Nothing wrong with a debate. I have read that they were going to try a buffer overflow, but had no done so yet. The Jalopnik article I read didn't mention a buffer overflow at all. I can't see a link in your reply.

I'm in IT as well and have also been an embedded firmware developer for the past 4 years. Encryption is overkill and would just be hacked quickly anyways since the devices are lower power and less complected that regular wifi.

Wifi networks transfer IP traffic, once they're hacked you can do a lot with them because IP (TCP, UDP, etc) is designed to let you do a lot with them. The TMPS sensors send a serial number and a pressure. That's it.

You can't do much with a properly formed packet other than report a false pressure. Malformed packets should be rejected but all it takes is for one incompetent software engineer to allow for a buffer overflow attack. But it would be very make and model specific.

All that car manufacturers need to do is make sure their implementation rejects bad packets and it's game over for the hackers.

I like how the articles keep saying they can buffer overflow the ECU. On a Jeep the Wireless Control Module is what would get hacked. It then talks to the Body Control Module which then talks to the Engine Control Unit. So like I said, taking over driving functions is not going to happen.