Does the EX's TPMS allow for slightly higher tire pressures?

[TimGinCentralNJ]

From my experiences with other vehicles, I'm a big fan of of adjusting my tire pressure to help improve handling and/or improve tread wear--depending on the tires themselves and how they're performing and wearing on that vehicle.

I've never owned a car with TPMS before; does the EX's TPMS system allow you to run say 3-4 psi higher tire pressures than what's listed in the door jam? Or maybe this is something I would have to get the dealer to code for me?

Thanks,
Tim

[blfstyk]

I don't think that's a problem. I try to run 3 psi higher than the doorframe recommends and several people here run higher, I've heard. Also, I believe the TPMS only alerts you when the pressure drops below a critical point; I don't think it cares about higher pressure, certainly not a few psi. But I could be wrong.

[AWGD8]

Not a problem. When the tire heats up it normally increases the pressure. I do believe the sensor only works when the pressure goes down to below 29 PSI ....That`s the way it was made for, if you are having a flat tire and not over inflated.....

[TimGinCentralNJ]

Great news, folks. Thank you both for your replies.

Cheers,
Tim

[minimo3]

Up till recently I wondered why the ride on my 4mth old EX was so harsh. It crashed over every bump and crack in the road. I didn't remember the test drive being this bad but I chalked it up to the sport suspension and 18" wheels. A few days ago it suddenly occurred to me that the dealer might have overinflated the tires. Sure enough when I checked they were between 42-44psi. No wonder they felt like rocks! TPMS didn't light up, so I assume that as long as your above the minimum pressure it doesn't trigger any sort of alert. And yes, I have since adjusted the pressure to 33psi as indicated in the door jamb.

[TimGinCentralNJ]

Up till recently I wondered why the ride on my 4mth old EX was so harsh. It crashed over every bump and crack in the road. I didn't remember the test drive being this bad but I chalked it up to the sport suspension and 18" wheels. A few days ago it suddenly occurred to me that the dealer might have overinflated the tires. Sure enough when I checked they were between 42-44psi. No wonder they felt like rocks! TPMS didn't light up, so I assume that as long as your above the minimum pressure it doesn't trigger any sort of alert. And yes, I have since adjusted the pressure to 33psi as indicated in the door jamb.

Yep, I've been there myself...almost every time I have tire-related work done on one of my cars. Even the damn tire dealers and/or installers always seem to overinflate. Hell, I've come back from buying new tires and found that my tires were all different pressures.

A good rule of thumb is to always check tire pressures after visits to the dealer and having new rubber installed. In fact they say you should check your tire pressures every month--or at the very least after transition between seasons. I know a tire inflated to 33 psi in the Fall loses approx 3-4 psi when the Winter temperatures roll around.

Tim