Just about any "competent" tire shop can transfer the sensors for you so it doesn't HAVE to be Honda performing the sensor swap. Though it is more convenient to be at Honda IF a sensor were to break since they have the correct scanners to reprogram the system.

The thing with 3rd party shops that do sensor transferals is that they almost ALWAYS want to "rebuild" the TPMS sensor. In the case of Honda's sensors, 9 times out of 10 its unneeded due to the rubber grommet material being so dense (IE thick) that you can simply remove the sensor (and its hardware), transfer it to the new wheel, and install it unless of course the sensor's grommet is dry rotted, cracking, or cut.

If you are concerned about the sensor's mounting the rubber grommet on the sensor basically substitutes itself as a normal/non-TPMS valve stem as well as help reduce vibration and shock to the sensor during bumps. The only KEY difference is that the metal valve stem that runs from the plastic module runs through the grommet, "sensor cap/nut", and allows the stem to be accessible for tire pressure check/inflation/deflation.

 

ahh, good to know!

So they can get to the stuff with the socket even on a mounted tire?


Would it be a better fit to have 16x7 with 42 offset or 16x6.5 with 45 offset for 205s?

 

If you were to loosen the cap with a tire mounted onto the wheel, the sensor will just drop into the tire so you'll have to "fish" it out after breaking the tire's beads or almost completely dismount the tire.

Here's a (huge) shot of my folk's Ridgeline RTL wheels with TPMS sensors mounted... I'm too lazy to resize it from the tread....

DSC_2593.jpg?t=1327704838

The quickest way to service or gain access to these things is to break the curbside bead (the side of tire you clearly see when looking at the car), push down the side wall with the tire machine's sidewall press just enough to comfortably access the sensor, loosen the sensor's "cap/nut" with a 11 mm and catch it as it drops.

EDIT: As far as sizing and offset; I can't tell you since I don't know too much about the GE's offset capability other than it is lower than the GD's without any fender modifications. I BELIEVE (don't hold me to it) its recommend to run +45mm and up with 205s on GEs... You MIGHT get away with the wider and lower offset 16x7 ET +42s if you don't lower the car or have passengers in the rear seats.