It is not about whether you want or need it. It's about the law, which few drivers are aware of.
Since some time in 2014 all new UK registered vehicles must have a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and it being in working order is a MOT requirement. Any fitter changing tyres or wheels is legally obliged to check it is in working order.
'Indirect' TPMS systems run off the ABS system (measuring rotation speed and thus volume and pressure) and do not use individual transmitter valves in each wheel. 'Direct' systems require a transmitter valve in each wheel. If the T6 has a direct system (and it sounds like it does not), a set of winter wheels means a second set of sensors inside, which adds 150-200 quid to the price. There is nothing to explicitly state that the owner cannot leave out the TPMS sensors from their wheels, but this is not as simple as it sounds - read on.
For all vehicles fitted with direct TPMS it is illegal for the tyre fitters to mount tyres/rims without sensors in the wheels. It is illegal to turn off the TPMS warning system. You could buy wheels and tyres complete (without TPMS valves) off the internet, but then you would have the darned warning light going off all the time because it cannot detect a reading from the wheels. Annoying to say the least.
I have read that in some vehicles, if a direct TPMS system cannot detect a reading and therefore it 'alerts', this also affects the traction control system making driving on snow and ice very difficult (which after all, is the opposite of the reason why you bought that second set of rims and winter tyres)!
So... this is a big topic for people with direct TPMS in their vehicles. If you switch winter tyres onto your summer rims (with TPMS valves inside), there is a high incidence of TPMS valve breakage and it gets expensive changing tyres twice a year on top of replacement TPMS sensors. Additionally, the vehicle will not always recognise the second set and each time the wheels are changed, you may have to re-synch the car and wheels. This means that even if you switch at home, you may need an additional device to synch the vehicle system and TPMS valves inside the wheels. the vehicle not recognising one or more previously used TPMS valves appears to be routine.
I dearly hope the T6 uses the indirect ABS based system, because this saves money and a whole bunch of hassle.
Chances are that if the vehicle tells you which tyre has which pressure, it is a direct system. If it just gives a warning symbol and you need to figure out the problem, it is probably the less accurate but much less complex indirect system that uses the ABS sensors and does not need these TPMS sensor valves in each wheel.
Just google TPMS winter wheels and see all the frustrated owners annoyed to hell about the cost of additional TPMS valves, replacing broken valves, having synch issues and warning symbols blinking. Sounds like a royal PITA to me...
So there ya go! Now you understand why I wanted to know what kind of TPMS system is in the T6 due to my interest in a second set of winter wheels. Indirect = nothing to be done. Direct = another 200 quid and lots of hassle.
