TPMS Programming Question

[BioSci]

This is the first winter for my 2014 R-Spec (bought new last April). I'm in the Boston area where we got almost 10 feet of snow last winter, so I know I need snow tires. I bought a set of 18" Blizzaks and matching steel wheels from TireRack, mounted and balanced with OEM TPMS sensors installed. I plan to swap the wheels myself at home, since I have a hydraulic jack it won't take more than an hour tops.

Here's my question: will the TPMS sensors have to be programmed to match the car's system? TireRack tech service said no, just mount them and start driving. Within a few miles they'll be matched to the car and I should be good to go. OTOH, my local Hyundai dealer said they needed to be programmed, that only Hyundai dealers can do this, and they charge $100 for the 'service'. They also strongly recommend they swap the tires themselves for an additional $125. So, for almost $250 (including tax), they'll change my tires and program them. Question: do I need this, or is TireRack telling me the truth?

FYI, the wheels are Monte Titano MT6 Vita in bright silver. See below TireRack image of these on an R-Spec.

 

[iSOBigD]

If you use existing TPMS sensors, you don't need to do anything. I changed my tires and kept the same wheels and sensors. It cost me like $40 Canadian and I had no issues with any TPMS light coming on.

If you buy them pre-programmed it can cost like $12-250 so it depends where you get it

From what I've seen on Youtube, if you do need to program them, it's using a specific tool that costs around $100-150 like this one so if you just need to do it once, $100 may be fair enough.

Good luck!

 

[OneFunGenesis]

When I got mine from tire rack. They did not need to be programmed. Worked right out of the box

 

[BioSci]

Update:

Today I changed all my tires. I was concerned that the TPMS sensors that were pre-installed by TireRack would require programming at a Hyundai dealer in order to be recognized by my '14 R-Spec.

I shouldn't have worried. The TMPS warning light never came on. The R-Spec immediately recognized the new sensors and I was able to drive around this afternoon running errands without problem. TireRack FTW!

 

[OneFunGenesis]

woot! awesome news

 

[LandoAWD]

Most work out of the box, FYI. The one that doesn't has done some testing on my car and hopes to self-calibrate in the future.