Our 2017 Bolt has had a low tire pressure warning for the left rear tire for a while even though the pressure was measured repeatedly at 40 pounds. I finally took the Bolt into my tire store to have the TPMS reset. To my surprise they found a nail in the left FRONT tire. Apparently they had rotated our tires and did not realize the need to teach the Bolt about the new arrangement of tires. So BEWARE and inform your mechanic that newer cars need to be "reprogrammed" after a tire rotation. Also keep in mind that the visual representation of the warning from a TPMS sensor may be inaccurate and that you may need to check the pressure in all four tires if the low pressure warning light is illuminated. One more gotcha to learn about. Isn't technology great?
Tire Rotation Warning
-
Hey Guest, welcome to ChevyBolt.org. We encourage you to register to engage in conversations about your Bolt.
1 - 20 of 42 Posts
Joined
·
4,581 Posts
As a tire service manager in a former life, I'm of the opinion the TPMS is of tremendous benefit; don't leave home without them.
As far as I know all systems which show individual pressures require reprogramming when tires are rotated or new tires mounted. Been that way since day one.
Also, as a tire service manager of minimum wage tire busters, you're lucky it was just a TPMS not reprogrammed. Trying as hard as possible to oversee and doublecheck their work, during the rush following the first snowfall, I've still had wheels fall off at the first corner.
jack vines
As far as I know all systems which show individual pressures require reprogramming when tires are rotated or new tires mounted. Been that way since day one.
Also, as a tire service manager of minimum wage tire busters, you're lucky it was just a TPMS not reprogrammed. Trying as hard as possible to oversee and doublecheck their work, during the rush following the first snowfall, I've still had wheels fall off at the first corner.
jack vines
Joined
·
263 Posts
Yep. I always loosen and retorque all lug nuts when I get home from the tire center.
Joined
·
314 Posts
My 2006 Acura TL shows individual tire pressures and does not require reprogramming. I have double checked this and can confirm it with real world experience. One of my tires had an insidiously slow leak (lost about 10 lbs. over a month) and when I would rotate the tires, the TPMS would accurately report the location of the leaking tire.
I finally had to replace the original sensors last month. The tire shop wanted to charge me to reprogram them and "pair them with the system." I said no thanks and drove away. The new sensors synced up within minutes.
Last week, the TPMS on my Prius saved me from pulling away from my driveway with a flat rear passenger tire. The dash warning caused me to walk around the car and I had a full flat. I also picked up a piece of metal on an expressway a few years ago and the car started handling a little odd. The warning went on and I immediately pulled over. Were it not for the warning, I likely would have driven on the rim pulling over. If the tire pressure is at the correct pressure during the relearn process after every rotation, I have never had any issues.
Yep, I leave my screen on TPMS so I can easily monitor tire pressure. Very useful!
Hyundai / Kia cars' TPMS also reprograms itself automatically when the tire position is changed. As most of the cars on the road in Korea are from that company, some people are puzzled (and annoyed) that GM vehicles need manual reprogramming.
To make my life easier, I own a GM TPMS reprogramming device and do the reprogramming process myself at home after taking my Bolt EV to a service center for tire rotation / replacement.
Joined
·
349 Posts
Have one of these in the glove box. Been using it for years. Works on Bolt/Volt/GM trucks...Just do it yourself. Instructions are in the owners manual.
Joined
·
4,581 Posts
Learn something every day here. I've been out of the tire business forever and haven't owned an Acura/Kia/Hyundai, so wasn't aware of the new tech. Thanks for the info
jack vines
Have a little problem w/tire rotation thing in general ..feeling is it's not really anything beyond getting you in the shops crosshairs to sell overpriced , unneeded services ... don't rotate , drive ( front if fwd ) wear out first and you replace two tires at a time , so perhaps frt and rear don't match ... S F W ? Spent a lot of time in the tire biz and never once have I rotated tires this is what I've found to be true ... certain I'm not the smartest guy here ... other thoughts anyone ?
Joined
·
314 Posts
I measure the tread depth on my tires with every oil change (gonna have to come up with another metric for the Bolt). If the fronts have at least a couple thou less than the rears the tires get rotated. Otherwise they stay where they are. I just changed the oil on the minivan a couple of weeks ago. The fronts were doing great so I didn't have to rotate the tires. Win for me.
Consumer reports says: "Periodically rotating tires extends tread life by allowing even wear, but the rubber savings gained from regular rotation likely won’t offset the cost of rotating them. If your tire seller or repair shop will rotate tires for free (as do Costco and some other sellers), then, sure, go ahead and do it; but if you have to pay a fee, skip it."
On the other hand I've found that uneven wear can cause additional tire noise and sometimes vibration in extreme cases.
Tire rotation is something that people have wildly different opinions on. The idea is to have the tires have even wear throughout their lifetime. This could be achieved by rotating, or just replacing the ones that wore out faster. And for rotation, it could be a simple front-back switch, or diagonal. There is no single correct answer.
In the case with my Bolt, I take periodic measurements of the tread depth. I noticed that the wear was happening relatively evenly left-right wise, but the front was wearing out at roughly twice the speed of the back. So I did one front-back rotation mid-life, then replaced the entire set recently.
In the case with my Bolt, I take periodic measurements of the tread depth. I noticed that the wear was happening relatively evenly left-right wise, but the front was wearing out at roughly twice the speed of the back. So I did one front-back rotation mid-life, then replaced the entire set recently.
Joined
·
4,581 Posts
If it works for you, keep on keeping on. My experiences up in the northern tier have formed opinions diametrically opposite.
My time in the tire business conclusively proved most vehicles benefit from tire rotation. If one manages a fleet of vehicles for which records must be kept, it's easy to quantify. The miles between rotations depends on many factors. A long straight flat commute with a slow driver, not so often. One who drives hard on curvy abrasive roads absolutely must rotate tires regularly.
Another factor - northern tier drivers should have two sets of tires. Then, they get rotated twice a year without any extra effort. But then when there's a blizzard, the ditches are full of upside-down vehicles with nearly worn out front all-season tires; too cheap to buy winter tires and too lazy to rotate them.
jack vines
Always did this with my other vehicles. Just bought two tires at a time. But holy cow, my Bolt's front tires are wearing super fast. Sorry, I'm not going to change how I drive it. Love the acceleration. But paying for it in tire wear. Also noticed that the inside of the tread is wearing faster than the rest of the tire. Don't know what causes that.
That's my "home" screen as well. Watching them climb from 38 to 41 psi on a hot day of driving is very interesting. My father about freaked when he saw the 41psi. He's old-school trained (93 y.o.) that 32psi is the norm.
1 - 20 of 42 Posts
