Mounting OEM TPMS on 3-piece wheels

[Flux]

I recently bought some Vossen 3-piece 20" wheels and I am trying to figure out how to best mount my OEM TPMS sensors. The wheel has 2 valve stem holes, and from what I've read, one is meant for the TPMS. However, neither hole seems to be particularly well suited for for the OEM Sensor. I took a bunch of pictures of all the possible sensor orientations that I could think of. I read about the iForged adapters that are available here: http://www.iforged.com/store/index.p...be84358331f8e0

But the OEM sensor seems to be a lot larger than the ones in the pictures. See below. What do you think my best solution is. Does anybody have pics of the OEM TPMS sensor mounted in 3-piece wheels?



I have attached several pics, the first bunch are with the TPMS valve stem in one of the two holes already in the wheel. The last bunch is what it would look like if I used the "straight" TPMS adapter on the iForged site. I have rotated the TPMS in every position which the body is relatively flat on the wheel. (The last pic obviously won't work though because the valve stem will be in the way of the tire mounting surface.) Any ideas?

On a sort of related note, any idea why the valve stem hole towards the inside edge of the wheel is smaller than the one on the outside behind the center piece?

[blazzin1]

I would suggest unscrewing and throwing away the rubber valve stem and using something like these VS-925 replacement valve stems (probably the chrome VS-925C). Or you can even use them to clamp the sensor in the "eyelet" style mounting bracket. That's what I did with my Forgelines and it worked very well. The only problem is trying to find a Dill Air Controls products distributor in your area. Good Luck....

http://www.dillvalves.com/files/Dill...925_Valves.pdf

[2SSRS@Gen5diy]

Mount your rims on the car and check for clearances, i am still trying to get my rims fixed, There was clearances problems with front rimes, the TPS was hitting the spindle.

[Flux]

Thanks for your input guys. So there is no problem with the TPMS not being flush with the wheel itself? I mostly need to worry about the valve stem hitting stuff?

[Nine Ball]

Flux,

Of those photos, this is the best representation to mount them. You'll need the adapters which have the little loop/eye in them. Disassemble the sensor and then reassemble it with the loop/eye in between the sensor body and the rubber stem.

I'm somewhat surprised those wheels didn't come with adapters already installed?

[My 5th]

Tony,
With sensors that mount completely inside the wheel, like the Forgelines, is it necessary to have the valve assembly screwed into the valve stem at all? For that matter is it necessary to have the rubber stem attached at all, as long as the screw and some other retaining device--like a threaded nut--is screwed to the sensor body, sandwiching the adapter loop/hoop in between.

Since the TPMS sensor's valave stem is no longer used to fill the tire with air, it seems to me the valve and valve stem are redundant, and not needed at all.

Just wondering.

[Flux]

Thanks for the input Nine Ball! The picture really is worth a million words! The red sensor appears to have the same case as my black one. So I guess that's what I'll have to do. I stopped by a local NTB to see if they had any ideas last night, and they acted like they hadn't seen a 3-piece wheel before! I told them about the adapters I'd heard about, but they had no idea what they were. They suggested that I Just leave the TPMS jutting out of the inside hole and hope that I don't get a flat!

I unscrewed the valve stem and put the sensor on that hole with the orientation they suggested and it barely was below the upper edge of the wheel. So I suppose if I had a flat I'd be OK, but it still looked scary that way. I just imagined the wheel spinning 1000RPM and the sensor just being pulled and warped at the base of the valve stem.

Anyway, they did not include any sort of adapter with the wheel. I guess they're trying to save a penny or two For the price you wouldn't think four $6 parts would be too much to ask! Either way, I still love the wheels!

My 5th - On my sensors, when I unscrew the valve stem, there is no place to attach the adapter. The little metal ring you see between the sensor and the stem in my pics is actually attached to the valve stem itself and all that is holding it on is a screw. So I will need to leave my valve stem attached or buy one of those Dill stems in order to use the adapter.

[55Designs]

We had several issues mounting OEM stems, on step lip rims even worse. We have developed a flawless method without drilling extra holes or the need for brackets, its a tedious task but really the only solution we found and the sensor lays flush to the rim. I have to see if I have photos in the camera from the last set we had mounted up.

[55Designs]

Here you go!

[Nine Ball]

Originally Posted by My 5th

Tony,
With sensors that mount completely inside the wheel, like the Forgelines, is it necessary to have the valve assembly screwed into the valve stem at all? For that matter is it necessary to have the rubber stem attached at all, as long as the screw and some other retaining device--like a threaded nut--is screwed to the sensor body, sandwiching the adapter loop/hoop in between.

Since the TPMS sensor's valave stem is no longer used to fill the tire with air, it seems to me the valve and valve stem are redundant, and not needed at all.

Just wondering.

You are absolutely correct, the rubber nipple isn't required when you mount a sensor inside the tire, but it does serve as the antenna to the sensor. You'll likely come across a few sensors that are hard to trigger/relearn when mounted inside, which can be frustrating. The TPMS industry just hasn't adapted to aftermarket wheels, OEM cast wheels are simple.

55Designs, what is that stud you have mounted to the sensor, something you made yourself? Appears to be plastic?

Tony

[Darth_Emma]

I had a similar problem with my after-market wheels. I ended up using the "adapters which have the little loop/eye in them" that Nine Ball described.

I found that my wheels also had the hold for the TPMS sensors in a very inconvenient place. I don't know if it's the "fault" of the wheel manufacturers or th TPMS manufacturers, but either way, they need to get their acts together to make this simpler for us, the end users. With all the engineering that goes into modern wheels, you'd think this would be a simple thing to do.

[Flux]

Well I bought some of these adapters:



Hopefully they will do the trick!

55Designs,
Are you selling the adapters in your pic? Those look like a very "natural" mounting position.

[Flux]

Ok, just wanted to give everybody a status update. I got the adapters and they look like they'll work great! Thanks for the tips Nine Ball! The adapter is BARELY above the lip of the rim and is mostly flat, so it is a good fit. Here are the pics of the new setup.