Info - Wheel Pressure Sensors Unable to be Reprogrammed after Tire Replacement

Some dealers may find it difficult to reprogram the wheel mounted air pressure sensors on vehicles which have replacement tires installed. If this is the case, verify the brand and model of the tires. One tire that is known to cause this condition is the Goodyear® Eagle™ F-1. The Goodyear® Eagle™ F-1 uses a unique "all-steel" case construction. The sidewall reinforcement, as well as the tread belts, are made from a woven steel strand material. The presence of this material may cause degradation of the signals generated by the wheel mounted sensors. Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) replacement tires must have Goodyear® Eagle™ F-1 GS EMT molded into the sidewall of the tire. If the tire does not have the GS designation, it is an all steel construction Goodyear® Eagle™ F-1 tire.

This type of interference may not be limited to the Goodyear® Eagle™ F-1 tire. As other manufacturers produce replacements for the Corvette, the individual peculiarities of those tires cannot be predicted. Using OEM replacement tires as identified above is the customer's best assurance of trouble free performance.

What to Advise the Customer

If an inspection of the wheel mounted sensor reveals no visible damage caused by improper installation of the tires, you should recommend that the customer install OEM tires to correct this condition. Further point out to the customer that the current aftermarket tires do not afford the run-flat feature of the original equipment tires. As the Corvette is not fitted with a spare tire, this could be a serious inconvenience to the customer.