Replace a TPMS sensor on a 2024 Model S Plaid. The sensor is integrated into the valve stem assembly inside the wheel and requires tire dismount/remount, rebalancing, and a TPMS relearn via the touchscreen.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• TPMS sensor assembly (Tesla 433 MHz, Bluetooth-capable for 2024 Model S) × 1 — Manufacturer-specified TPMS sensor for 2024 Model S — confirm by VIN
• TPMS valve stem service kit (grommet, nut, valve core, cap) × 1 — OEM service kit for replacement sensor
• Wheel weights (as required for rebalance) × 1 — Stick-on weights — clip-on may damage forged wheels

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with key fob away from the vehicle. Wait at least 2 minutes for HV systems to fully de-energize, even on this non-HV job.
3. Disconnect the low-voltage battery: on 2024 Model S Plaid this is the 16V lithium unit — access per architecture notes (frunk under nose cowl on most builds; some Plaids use a 16V Li unit — verify location for your VIN before disconnecting).
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal.
5. If at any point you encounter an orange cable, an HV component, or are unsure if a system is de-energized: STOP and consult a Tesla-certified technician.
6. Identify the affected wheel from the touchscreen TPMS display (Controls > Service > Tire Pressure) — note which corner shows the fault or missing sensor.
7. Confirm tire size for the affected corner (19", 21", or 22" depending on wheel package) and have correct sensor variant on hand.
8. Place the vehicle in Jack Mode via the touchscreen (Controls > Service > Jack Mode) before lifting — this disables air suspension self-leveling on the Plaid's adaptive air system.
9. Loosen lug nuts slightly while the wheel is still on the ground.

Procedure

1. 1

   Lift vehicle and remove wheel
   Place a Tesla jack puck at the manufacturer-specified jack point for the affected corner. Raise the vehicle and support it on a jack stand at the OEM lift point. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheel straight off, taking care not to scrape the caliper or wheel arch.
   ⚠️Lifting anywhere other than the four factory jack pads will dent or puncture the floor-mounted HV battery pack.
2. 2

   Deflate tire and break beads
   Remove the valve cap and depress the valve core to fully deflate the tire. Remove the valve core. Place the wheel on a tire machine with a forged-wheel-safe bead breaker; break both beads carefully, working away from the TPMS sensor location to avoid damaging it during removal.
   ⚠The TPMS sensor sits directly under the valve stem hole — if you don't know its position, break the bead 180° opposite the valve stem first.
3. 3

   Dismount tire from wheel
   Lubricate the bead with tire mounting paste. Using a no-touch / leverless tire machine, dismount the upper bead, then the lower bead. Lay the wheel face-down on a protected surface.
4. 4

   Remove old TPMS sensor
   From inside the wheel, hold the sensor body and unscrew the external valve stem nut using an 11mm soft-jaw socket. Push the valve stem and grommet through the wheel hole and lift the sensor out. Inspect the wheel valve hole and seating surface — clean off any corrosion or debris.
   ⚠Do not pry the sensor with metal tools against the wheel — forged wheels mark easily.
5. 5

   Install new TPMS sensor
   Install the new grommet onto the new sensor's valve stem. Feed the valve stem through the wheel hole from the inside, ensuring the sensor body sits flat against the wheel's contoured seat. Install the new valve stem nut by hand, then torque to the manufacturer-specified value (typically 4 Nm / 35 in-lb for Tesla aluminum-stem TPMS — refer to Tesla Service Manual / sensor manufacturer spec). Do not overtighten — the stem will shear.
   ⚠Overtightening the valve stem nut is the #1 cause of TPMS failure. Use an inch-pound torque wrench — never an impact.
6. 6

   Pre-program/clone sensor (if applicable)
   If using a programmable aftermarket sensor (Autel MX, etc.), program it to the Tesla Model S 2024 protocol BEFORE remounting the tire, in case it must be replaced. OEM Tesla sensors are pre-coded and self-register via Bluetooth/RF.
7. 7

   Remount tire
   Lubricate both beads with mounting paste. Mount the tire on the machine with the valve stem at the 6 o'clock position relative to the mount head to keep the sensor clear of the bead. Mount the lower bead first, then the upper bead, watching that no tool contacts the sensor.
8. 8

   Install valve core, inflate, and seat beads
   Install the new valve core (from the service kit) and torque per manufacturer spec (typically 0.4 Nm). Inflate the tire to seat both beads with an audible pop. Set final pressure to the door-jamb placard value — typically 42 psi cold for 21" Arachnid on Plaid (verify on the actual driver's door jamb sticker for your VIN/wheel package).
9. 9

   Balance the wheel
   Mount the wheel on a balancer with a forged-wheel-safe cone. Balance using stick-on weights placed inside the barrel — do not use clip-on weights on Tesla forged wheels. Confirm balance within manufacturer tolerance.
10. 10

    Reinstall wheel on vehicle
    Clean the hub face of any debris or rust. Place the wheel onto the hub and start all five lug nuts by hand. Snug in a star pattern, lower the vehicle until the tire just touches the ground, then final-torque in a star pattern.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Lower the vehicle fully and remove jack stands.
2. Reconnect the low-voltage battery and reinstall any covers removed for access.
3. Exit Jack Mode via the touchscreen if it did not disengage automatically; allow the air suspension to self-level before driving.
4. Verify all lug nuts are at 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) in star pattern.
5. Recheck final tire pressure cold against the door-jamb placard.

Verification

• Power up the vehicle and open Controls > Service > Tire Pressure. The replaced corner should show a live pressure reading within a few minutes of driving.
• Drive the vehicle above ~15 mph for several minutes — the new sensor should auto-register on the 2024 Model S (no manual relearn procedure is published by Tesla; the system learns sensor IDs automatically).
• Confirm the TPMS warning lamp on the instrument cluster extinguishes after the new sensor is recognized. If it remains after a 20-minute drive cycle, recheck sensor protocol/programming.
• Re-torque lug nuts after 50 miles — Tesla recommends a re-torque check after any wheel removal.
• Note: Tesla recommends tire rotation every 6,250 miles on Model S Plaid due to instant torque and vehicle weight — log this service date for the next rotation interval.

More procedures for this vehicle