I've had my Prius since last August and for the past 6 months I am getting weekly low tire alerts. How likely is it that the tires were not mounted well enough from the factory? I'm approaching 20k miles so I will be taking the car in for service soon anyway.
Do you have one specific tire that is low each time you receive the alert? If so, you may have a slow leak due to a nail, a bad stem, or a defective bead seal. The bead seal can be easy as having the dealer dismount, inspect the wheel and bead seal area of the tire for foreign matter and cleaning it. If the tire or wheel is damaged at the seal area, it could become more involved though this is highly unlikely. If you are getting tire pressure warnings while pressures on all tires are still at acceptable levels, the dealer can reset the system for you.
It's actually all of the tires, every week. That is why I figured it was a bead seal from the factory
Have you ever tried to reset the TPMS? Fill tires to pressure you normally use, then press and hold the "set" button until it beeps. It may be set very close to the pressure you normally use.
I fill my tires to what they say, at 35psi. holding the set button will reset the computer or just the tpms?
Neighbor kids messing with you? Spit test on the valve stem? Spray soapy water on the tire tread and bead, back up half a revolution, spray the other side of the tread. I've never had a tire lose that much without a puncture.
If it were just 1 tire, I'd suspect a nail, but all 4 is very strange, and only happening the last 6 months. Could be the valve stem leaking, bad bead setting, etc., but to have it happen on all 4 is very unusual. Perhaps you ran over a bunch of tacks (been chasing James Bond lately? ). The dealer will put each tire/wheel in water to find the leaks. Let us know what the issue is. You should reset the TPMS each time you check/fill your tires--instructions in owners manual.
Thanks guys. I suspect a bad bead seal from the factory. I had a nail in one tire a couple weeks ago but that is plugged. it is all 4. i will have the dealer look