Under 49
U.S.C. 30122(b), “A manufacturer, distributor, dealer or motor vehicle
repair business may not knowingly make inoperable any part of a device
or element of design installed on or in a motor vehicle or motor
vehicle equipment in compliance with the applicable motor vehicle
safety standard prescribed under this chapter, unless the manufacturer,
distributor, dealer or repair business reasonably believes the vehicle
or equipment will not be used (except for testing or a similar purpose
during maintenance or repair) when the device or element is
inoperative.”
But...BUT,
when aftermarket tire and wheel assemblies are installed, and the
malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is lit up as a result of the
difference in replacement size or construction, “such equipment
arguably has not damaged the TPMS itself, but, instead, has hindered
its low-pressure detection capability…Once the TPMS MIL illuminates,
the consumer would be warned that the equipment (tire/wheel) has caused
a TPMS malfunction, and the consumer could substitute other equipment
that would permit the TPMS to resume normal functioning.”
So,
it would appear that aftermarket wheels are exempt from TPMS; I would
recommend however, that you discuss with your customers that their TPMS
systems may be inoperable and that neither you nor the customer can
disable the MIL on the dashboard.
Some
aftermarket wheel manufacturers have made provisions for the TPMS to be
swapped over to the new aftermarket set of wheels...this is of course,
is the best scenario. Still, we have the difficulty of working with
these sensors and let's face it...TPMS can save tire wear and improve
gas mileage and improve safety. But these sensors can be very expensive
so we don't want to break or damage any of them so here is the $500
investment tip...T.I.P.S. (Tire Inflation Positioning Switch) Pro Service Tool.
This tool can check the existing TPMS on your customers' vehicle, both
before and after you have performed your work...avoiding situations in
which a customer blames you for breaking it or causing it to
malfunction...saving you tons of money. This one tool covers both types
of TPMS.
To learn more about the final ruling and about the different types of TPMS click here.