A tire pressure monitoring system (12) for a vehicle (10) has a plurality of tires (14a-d) in respective rolling locations having a respective plurality of tire transmitters (16a-d) that generate a respective plurality of transmitter identification signals. A respective plurality of initiators (20a-d) are fixedly attached to the vehicle at a respective plurality of locations. A controller (22) activates the plurality of initiators and receives a plurality of respective sensor signals having respective tire identifications. When the plurality of respective sensor signals is indicative of an initial status and the respective plurality of tire identification signals is not existing in a memory, the plurality of sensor signals are configured and stored in the memory. When the plurality of respective sensor signals is indicative of an initial status and the plurality of respective tire identification signals is existing in the memory, the controller confirms the first sensor signal. When the plurality of sensor statuses is unconfirmed, the controller 22 performs the steps of activating, receiving and confirming until a proper signal is received or the number of times tried exceeds a predetermined count.