Bunka - Your tires are not the issue here unless they have aged out, worn or not. When you replace the tires, that's the time to address the TPM valves, so tape over the little warning light and carefully monitor your tire pressures with an accurate hand or in-line gauge.
I have seen some on-line references that suggest that since the TPM system is a Federally mandated safety requirement, like seat belts and airbags, the manufacturer bears the responsibility of making sure it works properly over the long term. Does that mean the manufacturer should bear the cost of either new TPM sensors or their batteries should they fail (never knew they had integral batteries until I ran into this issue, and I'll wager your owners' manual never mentions that fact) or it falls on the owner's shoulders? That might all be wishful thinking, and in the end it's on us. That being said, the price you mentioned (by a dealer?) seems excessive, even with installation - which should be easily done at new-tire and valve stem replacement time. Changing out valve stems is a normal part of a new tire sale, and is usually included in the tire price. Shop around, including independent tire shops. However, I am also told that some aftermarket sensors do not "talk" to the car's monitoring system, and that would leave you in the lurch. They need to be guaranteed to function correctly. For now, I will ignore the system. Perhaps next fall I will address it if we face the threat of a harsh winter up here. Good luck!
