Have you ever noticed on a colder-than-average morning here in Monterey County, your vehicle notifies you that your tires are under-inflated?
If you have experienced that, it is a function of your car’s TPMS, which is the Tire Pressure Monitoring System. Cool, huh?
Modern vehicles are pretty darned smart. There are numerous computer modules and sensors throughout your car, and the TPMS is one of them. But what exactly does your TPMS do, and what is it trying to tell you?
To break it down to its essence, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System senses if your tires are under-inflated, over-inflated, or just right. Before the TPMS became a standard dashboard light feature in modern vehicles, drivers were taught to inspect their tires each time before they got in the car. That is why you hear colloquialisms like “tire kicking” and “kicking tires”. A visual inspection before each trip would give the driver an idea if the tires had a flat or if they were safe to drive.
But too many drivers neglected to inspect their tires and it became a hazard. Since poor tire inflation can create extra wear and tear, create a higher risk of a blowout, cause hydroplaning, and other issues. So, car manufacturers standardized the TPMS in vehicles so the driver could be immediately alerted if the tires needed attention.
Now that you know more about what the Tire Pressure Monitoring System does, we encourage you to not ignore it when it lights up on your control panel. If you want to learn more about the TPMS, check out this interesting video.
If you stay on top of the maintenance of your car this year, your TPMS and other systems in your vehicle will be less likely to fail. Additionally, if your vehicle has auto body repair needs, we invite you to come into CARSTAR Robert’s Collision & Repair! You are welcome to make an online appointment at https://www.roberts-autorepair.com//appointments/.