TPMS question

[ShadowZ]

When I blew a tire out on my Nissan, it blinks at you. I have seen others blink too when the tire is at or below 5psi. I would guess it would do the same if the car couldn't connect to the sensors.

 

[ghicks99]

Helped me on a long trip when I picked up a nail while on the interstate highway. I was able to get off the highway to a safe place to change the tire before it went flat.

Yeah, that's pretty much the situation. A slow leak. But a sidewall blowout or something like that the warning isn't going to prevent anything. Unlike a blowout with a run flat you wouldn't have much of a clue it even happened

 

[Mark_888]

Yeah, that's pretty much the situation. A slow leak. But a sidewall blowout or something like that the warning isn't going to prevent anything. Unlike a blowout with a run flat you wouldn't have much of a clue it even happened

Actually, the reason it is required by regulations is not only for safety, but also because of energy consumption. Underinflated tires waste millions of barrels of oil yearly because it causes lower fuel mileage, which also contributes to greenhouse gases. Obviously, underinflated tires also contribute to premature tire wear and other problems.

With radial tires (which have a sidewall bulge even when properly inflated), it is often difficult to tell when they are underinflated. I believe that TPMS systems are required to display a warning when the tires are 25% below the manufacturer (car, not tire) recommended pressure.

Probably most people on this forum do a good job checking their tire pressure regularly, but many drivers never check it.