Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) may warn you if your tires are under- or over-inflated, helping increase your fuel economy and even potentially preventing a tire blowout.
What It Does: Lets you know if tire pressure has changed; common in change of seasons – especially from warmer to colder – or change of elevation
What It Does Not Do: May not specify which of the tires needs attention.
One or more of your tires are seriously under-inflated if this symbol appears. For some cars, it may also appear for over-inflation.
If you're driving, pull over when safe to check each tire's pressure for under- or over-inflation.
Follow your tires' pressure guidelines to inflate or deflate the tires to a normal pressure range.
This feature monitors your tires’ pressures and warns you if you have one or more under-inflated tires. Poorly inflated tires are prone to blow outs and may make it more difficult to brake or steer. Some versions of this feature can also detect over-inflation. Both under- and over-inflation will affect the life of your tires and your car’s gas mileage.
There are two main types of TPMS sensors. Direct sensors are small, wireless devices inside each tire, which report the tire’s pressure reading to your dashboard. Indirect sensors work by measuring wheel spin and can only tell if a tire’s pressure is low.
If your TPMS symbol is on, check the pressure for each tire to determine if one or more tires have abnormal pressure readings. Add or subtract air at a gas station to their recommended pressure ranges. In many cars, the TPMS symbol should then no longer activate. If it does, there may be a problem with the sensor itself as many use a watch battery that lasts about 5 to 10 years.
Yes; the federal government required all new cars to include this system starting in late 2007.
Most do. However, some features only detect for under-inflation. Check your owner’s manual for information specific to your vehicle.
Tire pressure monitoring systems have the potential to save you money directly and indirectly. According to information from AAA and Safercar.gov from May 2014:
Alerts you when the outside temperature is detected to be at or below freezing, which can impact the conditions of roadways.
Allows you to adjust your car’s performance based on the road surface. Some may even switch settings automatically.
