Hi, 

My wife got a 2015 Impreza this summer and I'm looking to put snow tires on it (including a new set of wheels). I like to be able to swap them out myself without a visit to the shop 2x per year. It doesn't look like that's possible without the TPMS light being on - even if I get new Subaru TPMS sensors, since they will have to be reset every time I swap. 

So my question is, does the TPMS in the 2015 Impreza do anything but warn you about tire pressure? I need to make sure it doesn't affect any sort of engine diagnostics or ECM , VDC or anything else that I know little about   . 

 

There was a topic related to this a few years ago, but I want to make sure I can just stare at/ignore the light for a couple of months without doing any damage in a 2015 model.  http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/115484-do-tires-with-no-sensors-effect-vdc/ . We don't need to get it inspected with the winter set, so that's not an issue. 

 

I guess my other question is  - will it ever 'forget' the summer tires? Or will it remember them after being apart from the car for a few months? 
 

Thanks in advance. 

-Brett 

 

Used to do it in our shop all the time, it will have a tire light on, but shouldn't cause any running issues. I did hear a rumor though that they were going to pass a law that would hold any shop liable if they let a car go out with a tire light on, I don't know if this ever went through or not though, but you local shop should know wether they can do it or not.

Used to do it in our shop all the time, it will have a tire light on, but shouldn't cause any running issues. I did hear a rumor though that they were going to pass a law that would hold any shop liable if they let a car go out with a tire light on, I don't know if this ever went through or not though, but you local shop should know wether they can do it or not.

 

Yeah, not sure if it's a law yet but at my shop in CT we won't let a TPMS light be on when the car ships if we did anything to the tires or pressures at all. Of course, liability issues.

 

No the TPMS light doesn't do anything but warn you of low pressure. I haven't looked into it for consumers but you can buy the tool to teach the computer of the new sensors.

brett_x,

 

My 2012 OBW LTD is a US car that's been imported into canada. It has the TPMS system. I run winter steel wheels and tires, and yes, the warning light is always on with them. As soon as I switch over to the factory summer wheels and tires, everything is once again right in the world.

 

I've been running this way since the first winter of 2012 without any operating issues at all.

Shouldn't hurt it any. If the light bothers you you can get a TPMS service tool and re-calibrate it for the new wheels with each swap. There are some that are relatively inexpensive made by ATEQ, though you would have to check with them for compatibility for such a new vehicle. 

 

If you have to pay $200 for the tool and use it twice, that's the same as paying a dealer $100 to re-calibrate it twice. After that is all money saved. 

Shouldn't hurt it any. If the light bothers you you can get a TPMS service tool and re-calibrate it for the new wheels with each swap. There are some that are relatively inexpensive made by ATEQ, though you would have to check with them for compatibility for such a new vehicle. 

 

If you have to pay $200 for the tool and use it twice, that's the same as paying a dealer $100 to re-calibrate it twice. After that is all money saved. 

 

 

Yeah, I would love to buy one for about $200, but none say that they are compatible with a 2015 Impreza. I have an email into ATEQ just to be sure.  We tend to keep our cars for around 8 years, so it would make sense. 

 

The thing that worries me is that a friend said her husband had a problem (so it's through-the-grapevine) with a 2015 Crosstrek at a local reputable tire shop. She had to go to the dealer anyway.

 

Thanks all for your responses. I'm looking into the possibility of having the dealer do the reset each time at a reduced rate (or free??? ) if I buy the tires from them. We'll see...