Rotating the spare/TPMS sensor
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Rotating the spare/TPMS sensor
The dealership is telling me that even if I install a TPMS sensor in the spare, it will not register if the spare is used in rotation. As I understand it, I will get a fault because 1 of the 4 original TPMS sensors will be stationary when it is moved into the spare location. Can anyone confirm this? Is there a workaround?
Thanks
Thanks
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The dealership is telling me that even if I install a TPMS sensor in the spare, it will not register if the spare is used in rotation. As I understand it, I will get a fault because 1 of the 4 original TPMS sensors will be stationary when it is moved into the spare location. Can anyone confirm this? Is there a workaround?
Thanks
Thanks
Last edited by W205C43PFL; Sep 12, 2025 at 10:47 PM.
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I might be wrong but I don't think this is the case. TPMS (tire pressure monitor system) the system I mean is a whole network of sensors and a control unit. There are receivers in each wheel well and depending on the distance, the closest detected wheel (sensor) to the receiver is registered. Moving wakes the sensor in the tire after driving a few KMs.
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Most TPMS's accommodate multiple sets of sensors to make seasonal tire set changeovers seamless. You might have to drive several miles before the new set gets registered and begins working. Check with a tire shop that deals with this every day. I rotate my tires every 5K miles and there's never a problem with the system recognizing the sensor rearrangement.
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I might be wrong but I don't think this is the case. TPMS (tire pressure monitor system) the system I mean is a whole network of sensors and a control unit. There are receivers in each wheel well and depending on the distance, the closest detected wheel (sensor) to the receiver is registered. Moving wakes the sensor in the tire after driving a few KMs.
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You should be fine with a sensor in the spare, however you have to register it and typically that requires you to drive it for a little while with that wheel in use. It would be best to do this when you are rotating the spare in and have the 4 existing wheels already registered.
To even consider this, you would need a full size spare and a square wheel/tire setup. Otherwise, it would not make much sense. Some cars (I think Toyota) come from the factory with TPMS in the full size spare.
To even consider this, you would need a full size spare and a square wheel/tire setup. Otherwise, it would not make much sense. Some cars (I think Toyota) come from the factory with TPMS in the full size spare.
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Thanks for the responses. This was my understanding as well which is why I was surprised the dealership said it would not work. Enough corroboration for me to purchase the extra TPMS sensor and give it a try.
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You should be fine with a sensor in the spare, however you have to register it and typically that requires you to drive it for a little while with that wheel in use. It would be best to do this when you are rotating the spare in and have the 4 existing wheels already registered.
To even consider this, you would need a full size spare and a square wheel/tire setup. Otherwise, it would not make much sense. Some cars (I think Toyota) come from the factory with TPMS in the full size spare.
To even consider this, you would need a full size spare and a square wheel/tire setup. Otherwise, it would not make much sense. Some cars (I think Toyota) come from the factory with TPMS in the full size spare.
Most TPMS's accommodate multiple sets of sensors to make seasonal tire set changeovers seamless. You might have to drive several miles before the new set gets registered and begins working. Check with a tire shop that deals with this every day. I rotate my tires every 5K miles and there's never a problem with the system recognizing the sensor rearrangement.
Appreciate you all for confirming for OP.
Last edited by W205C43PFL; Sep 13, 2025 at 11:41 AM.
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I can confirm that Toyota has factory TPMS in all four tires and the full-sized spare. This is the case on my 2019 Land Cruiser. With that said, I was a bit surprised the spare wheel on the G does not have a TPMS. I changed out my tires for all-terrain and lett the spare as is since my new tire would not fit without changing the tire carrier (which I am not doing yet). I do need to figure that out at some point when I start taking this off-road more.
You should be fine with a sensor in the spare, however you have to register it and typically that requires you to drive it for a little while with that wheel in use. It would be best to do this when you are rotating the spare in and have the 4 existing wheels already registered.
To even consider this, you would need a full size spare and a square wheel/tire setup. Otherwise, it would not make much sense. Some cars (I think Toyota) come from the factory with TPMS in the full size spare.
To even consider this, you would need a full size spare and a square wheel/tire setup. Otherwise, it would not make much sense. Some cars (I think Toyota) come from the factory with TPMS in the full size spare.
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I'm surprised Toyota had no sensor in its spare. I had a Lexus GX and I kept getting low pressure warnings on the instrument panel (it did not have individual tire readings). I kept checking the tire pressures, never to find anything low. Then I RTFM'd and learned the spare tire also had a sensor, and it was the low pressure culprit.
