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Ride-On Compatibility with Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Sensors

General Compatibility

Ride-On is safe to use with most TPMS sensors, provided they are hermetically sealed. As Ride-On is a liquid, it can negatively affect the efficacy of non-sealed sensors. Always check with your dealer to ensure your sensor is hermetically sealed.

TPMS Sensor Function

TPMS sensors monitor tire pressure and alert you when there is a deviation from the recommended pressure, enhancing road safety.

Ride-On and TPMS Sensors

Ride-On is designed to stay on the inner surface of tires, keeping the product from regularly contacting TPMS sensors. TPMS sensors are typically sealed using a process called potting the electronics. This process fills the electronic assembly with a compound that resists shock, vibration, moisture, and corrosive agents. This coating protects the sensor electronics and batteries even if they come into contact with Ride-On or other substances commonly found in tires.


Hermetically Sealed Sensors

If the electronics in your TPMS sensors are not sealed, we do not recommend using Ride-On. While using Ride-On with non-sealed sensors does not always cause issues, the manufacturer does not recommend it for applications with TPMS systems that lack potted electronics. Even moisture in compressed air in the tire can enter the electronics and create issues over time. Check with your dealer or manufacturer to determine if your TPMS sensor has potted electronics and batteries.


Possible Problems with Honda Motorcycles

It has come to our attention that TPMS sensors on late model Honda Gold wings (2009, 2010, 2012) are not sealed with an epoxy coating. These sensors can be easily snapped open, leaving the battery and electronics vulnerable to moisture or liquids. Therefore, we recommend that dealers and customers avoid installing Ride-On in late model Honda Gold wings until further testing proves compatibility. Additionally, certain KTM 1190 and 1290 Adventures may have non-potted electronics and should avoid using Ride-On. Except for these specific models, most vehicles with TPMS should not experience issues with Ride-On.

Warranty Considerations

TPMS manufacturers often void the warranty if foreign substances are injected into tires containing their sensors. They are not concerned with testing individual products and create broad policies to minimize warranty replacement costs. If a TPMS sensor fails, let the warranty administrator determine the cause without volunteering information about substances in the tires.

Common Causes of TPMS Failures

  • Overheating due to riding on a low pressure or flat tire
  • Installing incorrect valve cores (TPMS sensors require special nickel-plated valve cores)
  • Sensor battery issues, such as a discharged battery or acid leaks causing shorts
  • Road hazards like collisions, potholes, or strong impacts, curbs etc. Can cause sensor damage
  • Improper mounting or dismounting of a tire can damage the TPMS sensors
  • Over-tightening a new sensor valve
  • Corrosion from road salts, moisture, missing valve caps, or galvanic corrosion from dissimilar metals
  • Aging batteries (typically lasting 4-6 years in motorcycles). As batteries age, they can leak acids and damage the sensor

Why Do Batteries Leak Acid?

All batteries gradually self-discharge, whether installed in a device or not, and dead batteries will eventually leak. High temperatures, such as those found in a car during summer, can also cause batteries to rupture and leak. Here’s why batteries leak acid:

  • Self-Discharge and Hydrogen Gas Generation: As batteries discharge through usage or gradual self-discharge, the chemistry of the cells changes and generates hydrogen gas. This out-gassing increases pressure inside the battery.
  • Pressure Build-Up and Seal Rupture: The increased pressure can eventually rupture the insulating seals at the ends of the battery, the outer metal canister, or both.
  • Corrosion and Rust: Over time, the steel outer canister of a battery may gradually corrode or rust, contributing to containment failure.
  • Formation of Potassium Carbonate: When a leak forms due to corrosion of the outer steel shell, potassium hydroxide inside the battery absorbs carbon dioxide from the air, forming a feathery crystalline structure of potassium carbonate. This structure spreads out from the battery, following metal electrodes to circuit boards, where it oxidizes copper tracks and other components, causing permanent circuitry damage.
  • External Corrosion: The crystalline growths can emerge from seams around battery covers, forming a furry coating outside the device that corrodes any objects in contact with the leaking battery.
  • Impact on Potted TPMS Sensors: In potted TPMS sensors, when batteries leak acid, the pressure generated can cause the potting material to bulge or even rupture.

Understanding these mechanisms can help in preventing and managing battery leaks, especially in sensitive electronic devices like TPMS sensors.

Conclusion

Tens of thousands of tires have successfully used Ride-On with TPMS sensors without issues. If any further compatibility issues arise, they will be added to our website. For more details, visit Ride-On TPMS Support. As always, ride safe and Ride-On.