To TPMS or Not to TPMS

My 2007 F430 Spider arrived this week. And the rain has finally stopped for a while.

I have a small mystery. The car is a very early model year build (Nov 2006) so TPMS was optional? I know that at some point in the MY TPMS became standard equipment as well as the separate reset button on the bottom of the dash was eliminated. It was not listed as a an included option on the car's build sheet and I cannot get pressure readings to show up using the Mode buttons.

The local Ferrari store couldn't tell me when the cut-over occurred. But my stock wheels have the rigid metal valve stems like what you get with TPMS.

Can someone tell me whether their non-TPMS equipped car has rubber or metal valve stems.

I need to put tires on the car ASAP because it has the original from-new tires (only 6500 miles) and I need to know if I need to buy sensors.

 

https://www.tpmsdirect.com/Ferrari_430_TPMS_Sensor_p/9001-22.htm
Yours should look like this.

I suppose you could let out some air from your tires and see if that trips the TPMS thus identifying it in your car.

 

Speaking of TPMS sensors, I think I've read somewhere that the "Challenge" style wheels are not compatible with the sensors. Is that true?

 

That's actually a very good idea. I'll put the car on my lift and then let air out of one tire.

 

I would do more than 1 tire in case you have a faulty sensor.
Some tpms systems don’t send a signal unless you are in motion.

It’s never as easy as we hope

 

Can anyone tell me exactly where the TPMS ECU would be located? The diagram in the owner's manual is pretty generic and from the Ricambi parts diagrams I can't tell whether it's in the boot or in the passenger compartment under the dash.

 

Rigid metal valve stems is not an indicator of tpms....most Ferraris had that style, long before tpms

 

My F430 is a 2006 and has metal stems, but I dont have TPMS.

 

Dan,

Thanks very much for your answer. At least now I know it's possible to have metal stems an no TPMS. I have pretty much reached the conclusion that I don't have the system. Don't have to replace sensors when I get new tires.

Next question: Would anyone let Discount Tire mount new tires? I plan to take the tires off the car in my garage (I have a 2 post lift) and carry the tires/wheels to Discount in my truck. My car has carbon ceramic disks so I don't want to chance them damaging the disks.

BTW: The wife made reservations to come up to Bainbridge this summer...don't know exactly when. I will let you know and maybe we can meet at the Mulkelteo(sp) ferry.

 

Instead of Discount Tires if I were you I would ask local BMW, Porsche owners where they take their cars to mount tires.

Yes, Mukilteo Ferry is only about 15 miles from my house. I can meet you there and take you out to lunch. Arnie's in Mukilteo serves great seafood!

Keep me posted.

Dan

 

Re. Challenge Wheels and TPMS

I did notice before that on 18" challenge wheels, the hole is;
a) too small for the TPMS stalk
b) too close to the rim - just to drill a bigger hole on the same hole centre

It would require drill the bigger hole - offset to the original.

Interested to know if anyone managed it.

 

Dan,

I've eaten at Arnie's at the Edmonds ferry dock several times. Very good food.

 

Awesome!

 

I would hold down the button that resets the TPMS sensors, and see if it does anything. You can find the procedure in the manual or just google it with your phone in the car.

edit: I'm assuming that the non TPMS cars dont have the button on the lower dash? That would answer your question....you never know with Ferrari. That button could be there and just do nothing like the gear indicator window on a manual 430.

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/how-do-you-reset-the-tpms.260727/

 

No problem with discount tires
I always go to the same place and the manager always get his best technician to mount my tires.
They let me be present for the whole process so I don’t think you need to dismount tires at home


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The verdict is in. Had new MPS4S tires mounted today. The car has metal valve stems but no TPMS sensors. That results in a few hundred dollars less out of my pocket. Not a bad thing.