[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 12-20-2023).]

quote Originally posted by 1985 Fiero GT: First off, I work at a garage, and 60psi is not high pressure. Many pickup trucks have 60-80, maybe higher. Tire cages are never used on consumer one piece rims, at least where I live. Tire cages are usually used on commercial wheels, multi piece rim or not, as those are aired up to over 100psi, yes any rim/tire can fail, but tire cages don't even exist in my garage for anything that is less then 2 feet wide, we were inflating a tiny little forklift tire the other day, and we put one of the legs of the lift over it and lowered it into the wheel. Like people have said, shops may not want to do a spare for insurance purposes, as it is emergency equipment, and as it is already a compromise to drive on it, a spare tire blowout would have much worse consequences then a normal tire blowout, as the car is already slightly off balance and tire is much thinner. Also if "many tire stores" refuse to work on cars with TPMS, there would be no tire stores, because every vehicle since 2008 came with TPMS, that's a lot of people who can't get their tires changed in the winter. Tire shops don't ask over the phone "do you have TPMS" when you schedule an appointment, they remove the wheels, and when the pop the first bead they say to their co-workers whether there is TPMS. If there is, they are extra careful, if there isn't, they go on with it. The only way a shop will find out if there is TPMS, is by opening the tire, they could scan it, or look carefully at the valves stems, but to do that would use up more time then it's worth, especially since they aren't going to refuse the customer if it does have TPMS. If you have ever been to a shop that refused to service your vehicle because it has TPMS, they are not qualified to do anything or give you any information, including about tire cages

You have no clue how US businesses work under State rules/laws, OHSA or Insurance rules.

Oh Many US Shops skip cages & other tire safety items like fools running your shop until someone is hurt or killed by only "low pressure tire" w/ 30psi then state &/or OHSA investigates & get fined big $ plus get sued by the worker or survivors of same.

Old Atlas machines & related had/has cone holding the center down was good @ keep a burst tire contained so rim can't move but most "no touch" machines don't even have that.

TPMS Does Not Require Wheel Sensors. A hell of a lot of vehicles uses ABS Tone Rings to monitor wheel speed as I said above to switch On 1 Warning Light for "flat tire" on the dash w/ this Symbol...

Both FMVSS & CMVSS allows that & more as long as will warn drivers for a low/flat tire anywhere on the vehicle.
Main problem w/ ABS as TPMS setup when all tires are low pressure for cold weather. But many Sensor systems may not "trip" until have very low pressure too more so when all are ~ same pressure. IOW If CI spec is 30-33 many sensor setups won't trip until low as 25 psi or even lower.

quote The only way a shop will find out if there is TPMS, is by opening the tire, they could scan it, or look carefully at the valves stems, but to do that would use up more time then it's worth, especially since they aren't going to refuse the customer if it does have TPMS.

Wrong. "Real" shops have Computers w/ every model of vehicles & most good databases show whether or not has Wheel Sensors just to write a work ticket. Plus many sensor cars show what tire is low w/ separate display somewhere on/in the dash.

Many US Chains don't work on many Sensor cars not just local shops. SOME Shops add extra fee because eats more time to deal w/ sensor tires.

Many US shops including Car Dealers also refuse to fix any tire that has "Fix-a-flat" goo as temp repair or preventive measure including "Royal Seal" tires was OE for some old GM cars decades ago. Many claim ruins the tire but simple do not want to eat time to clean the crap out to fix them. Worse now w/ sensor tires that the goo dries or reacts w/ sensor & dies days to weeks later then blame the shop. The only "fix" is replace the tire after having owner to sign off the sensor has no warranty because of "Fix-a-flat." Or the replacing tire will need new sensor too to get warranty. (The "brand" is generic use of same or similar thing made by others.)

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 12-20-2023).]

[This message has been edited by Mickey_Moose (edited 12-21-2023).]