Just wondering what are peoples experiences with how accurate the TPMS is on the RDX? I have a 2011 RDX AWD Tech-Package. I used a Accutire Digital Set Point tire guage and had to lower the tire pressure down to the factory 32 PSI. It came from the dealer at about 38 PSI. But since mine is a CAD model it measures is kPa which now (208 kPa or 30 PSI) seems to be lower then the recommended factory setting of 220 kPa or 32 PSI.

Does the TPMS take some time to adjust? This was also checked when the tires were cold and in the garage. Let me know what you RDX drivers think or have experienced.

Thanks,

 

You should have left them at 38 PSI. The dealer does this on purpose because most people don't adjust/account for a drop in PSI during the winter.

The tires register higher than normal in a garage (even an unheated garage will be much warmer than the outside temp) and when exposed to freezing temps and below freezing temps the PSI will fall quickly.

Have your tires set to display 32-33 PSI on the TPMS during the coldest period of the day. Having a little more PSI than not enough is always preferred and best for the life and performance of your tires.

Obviously, as the winter subsides you then need to let air out to keep pressures in check and not too high. I find the TPMS relatively accurate. I also measure my tire pressures with a quality gauge.

 

The Acura TPMS is pretty accurate, IMO (Keep in mind I don't drive an RDX, but I still have an Acura with TPMS). I also use a digital Accutire tire pressure gauge, and when I check my tire pressure in the morning the MID shows no more than 1 psi difference from my tire pressure gauge.

It does take about 20-30 (somewhere around there) seconds to register the new tire pressure if you've added air.

 

Yeah but it was even higher ~36-38 PSI (248-262 kPa) when the car was outside at -20 degrees Celsius so it was over inflated for sure. Still trying out what the best PSI would be to drive around it versus the factory 32 PSI recommendation. I believe the Accutire digital gauge should be decent quality as well. I'll have to check it again tonight to see if the TPMS changes the read out.

 

The TPMS is quite accurate actually! Note that you should drive the car above 5mph for a little so that the sensors (rotating in/with the tire) passes the reciever (fixed in wheel well) for most accurate reading!

 

I use my TMPS as a guideline and flat tire warning system only. So far, it saved my tires twice from two slow leaks from nails. I've noticed when I travel the higher the altitude the lower my TMPS reads.

Phoenix, 1,100 feet = 35-37 psi (lower alt and +110 degree high heat)
Albuquerque, 5,000 feet = 32 psi
Colorado Springs, 6,300 feet = 30-31 psi

I think the TMPS and tire gauges are calibrated at sea level and the readings get lower as you go up in altitude because there is less pressure pushing down.

I’ve also notice as the temp drops, so does the TMPS psi. It got to 9 degrees overnight in Albuquerque over the weekend and the TMPS went down to 28 psi in the shade in morning and back up to 31 in the sun by the afternoon.

I think investing in a high quality tire gauge is the way to go and set the psi to factory specs as a minimum and 2-4 psi over depending on driving conditions, weather, and tires.

 

The proper inflation rate for your vehicle is posted on either the B pillar, the edge of the driver's door, or on the inside of the glovebox door. There is nothing wrong with 30 psi, if you keep it at 30 psi and you're happy with the handling of the car. The negative aspect of keeping a lower tire pressure is uneven tire wear on the outside edge of the tire. If you are not going to check the pressure often, or you are running a a HP tire you might want to go higher like 35psi. I run my RDX at 30 (Yoko's) and the TL (Mich) at 35psi.

 

True. I believe the TPMS needs some driving to properly reflect tire pressures after sitting overnight, etc. With that said, I am a fanatic of keeping my tire pressures between 32-34 PSI at any given time, especially winter. My TPMS ironically registers 32 PSI just when it's about 32 degrees out. If we're expecting below freezing temps then I'll add a little air. Once the spring rolls around I'll be letting air out to adjust accordingly.

 

Potentially true, but it's just as likely a dealer screw up. The cars come to the dealership with the pressures set high to prevent flat spotting during transit. Sometimes they don't get adjusted down before delivery.

To the OP, your TPMS is extremely accurate. If your car has been left parked with 2 tires in direct sunlight and 2 tires in the shade the tires in the shade are going to be at a lower pressure than those in direct sunlight. You could drive yourself batty trying to adjust them to "perfect" levels. I would recommend checking them outside at night, this was you don't have any solar heating/air expanding issues and you are getting them at a natural temperature for your climate.

 

^Excellent points. An entire set of issues have now surfaced with these threads. Pun intended.

 

I'm glad someone has luck with their TPMS. So far I've been through 5 sensors and the initializer unit and I still get system errors.

 

Wow! I actually cringed reading this and thinking about what a pain in the ass it must be dealing with something that annoying. That is not a good sign. Maybe there is another issue, like a short, that is causing your fault.

 

Yeah, one time they will tell me the pressure is too high, then the next time they say it's cause I rotated the tires (strangely the code given is always the driver's side front wheel). It's really any excuse they can find. Fortunately I bought an extended warranty so it can go back as many times as it needs till the car hit 100K.

By a stroke of luck I bought a set of 19" OEM wheels and in the box are the TPMS reprogramming directions the dealer uses to change from the 44psi max OEM tire to a 51 psi max 19" tire. I will ask them to do this next time since I have the Bridgestone Dueler Alenza H/L and it's a 51 psi max tire.

 

The 4 TPMS sensors on the RDX are independent. Assuming that you are getting 4 matching pressure readings on the DIC -- it's 4 against 1 -- the accuracy problem is likely with your tire gauge.

 

I have noticed the TPMS displays about 1 PSI lower than what my hand held gauge reads. I'm super accurate when setting pressures and when possible set them when the tires are cold (RDX overnight in my garage). For example: I set all four tires to 36 PSI since my garage is warmer than the outside temps. The TPMS displays 3 tires at 35 PSI and the front right at 36 PSI (One PSI higher) yet per my gauge they are all perfectly equal. It's not a big deal and after driving in the cold it may show something like 34 PSI fronts, 33 PSI rears, which makes sense as the fronts are doing most of the work until SH-AWD is required.

 

I wouldn't sweat one psi unless you were going to auto cross or getting near the max psi of the tire.

 

Ugh, and my problems continue. The TPMS system just shut off again today while driving. This time, the AcuraLink displayed the entire warning on the nav screen and after having it read out loud it said my driver's side front TPMS wasn't working. Mind you this is the 6th or 7th sensor they have replaced and the initializer system was also replaced.

At this point I'm about done with the RDX. Acura's CPO program has no credibility as far as I'm concerned. I'm going to look into a lemon law or trading it in for something that works.

 

I am experiencing this as well. My Accutire is telling me all 4 wheels are at 35 psi. When I go into the MID, I get 4 different readings:

- D P
F 33 37

R 32 36


It is raining outside and is overcast, so sunlight/temperature should not be a factor as sunlight will hit the driver side first and those readings are lower. I am thinking that I have faulty sensors.

 

They told me at the dealership that the sensors do have some variability, but yours does sound off. I would have them check the sensors and since it's only the one side of the vehicle, try rotating them and see what you get. If the pressure readout stays the same it might be the initializer or the wiring harness to the initializer.

 

It's a shame to see all these problems. I put air in all 4 tires Sun. Gauge shows 34.5, display, in car shows 34 on all 4.

 

I'm having a similar problem to others here. My 2010 RDX display shows 27 (FL), 30 (FR), 35 (RL) and 34 (RR). All tires are at 36psi when I check the pressures manually with a tire gauge. Is this likely due to weak TPMS batteries? I have no idea if they've ever been changed in the last 15 years since I only got the car 2 years ago.