Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems

If you haven’t yet had tire issues with your vehicle, it is likely something you will experience in your lifetime. It is easy for something to go wrong with a tire, whether it is low air or a flat tire, but there are tools in your vehicle to help you figure out some of those potential issues. You don’t have to know everything about your tires or your vehicle, but it can be beneficial to know a few things.

Check out the information below to learn more about tire pressure monitoring systems, what they are, how they work, and more. Also, if you have any questions about your vehicle, you can reach out to us at Seacoast Mazda. We are happy to help you with any tire issues you may have or any other vehicle issues; we have a full service team ready to help you out. Schedule a Service Today!

What is a Tire Pressure Monitoring System?

A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) helps to warn you if your tires have less air in them than they should. If your tire is too underinflated, it can cause serious issues. Low air in tires can negatively affect your efficiency and vehicle performance, and it can shorten the life of your tires and cause them to wear more or more unevenly. However, one of the bigger potential issues is that low tire pressure can cause a blowout of your tire, which can be very dangerous and cause a vehicle crash.

The indication of the low tire pressure will show up as a light in your dashboard courtesy of your tire pressure monitoring system. This light looks like a tire with an exclamation mark inside of it. Tire pressure monitoring systems were not always around. In fact, these systems were created so people didn’t have to manually use a tire gauge to check their tires. You can still check your tires manually if your vehicle’s tires look low, but the light should go on in your vehicle if your tire pressure gets to a dangerously low level.

What To Do If Your Tire Warning Light Comes On

If your tire pressure light does come on, you should go to a place with an air pump for your tires. You should use a tire gauge to check the pressure of your tires and add air if they are below the recommended level of air listed in your vehicle owner’s manual.

There are a couple of reasons that you can lose air in your tires. One reason that you lose some air in your tires is a change in temperature. For example, if the temperature outside drops drastically, like the changing of the season when fall/winter hits, you could lose tire pressure (that is why it is a good reason to check your tire pressure when it gets colder). The other main reason your tire light may go on is a small puncture or leak in your tire. It is generally pretty obvious if you have a big puncture in your tire as your tire can go completely flat, but if there is just a small leak, you will lose air pressure over time. If you consistently have issues with the same tire, you may have a slow leak and need a repair.

However, if your tire pressure light is flashing or it continues to be on after you have filled your tires, it could indicate that there is an issue with the tire sensors or the battery in the sensors. If you have repeated issues with your light and no tire leak, you should take your vehicle into a service department and see if they can find the problem or reset the light for you. You do not want to leave the light on because you want it to be able to go on when you need it. Schedule a Service Today!

How Does a Tire Pressure Monitoring System Work?

There are a couple of different types of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). These TPMS basically use sensors that sense the levels of the tires, and if the tires fall out of the specified range, the system will alert you.

The two main types of TPMS are direct and indirect. An indirect system uses software to monitor the air pressure through the antilock braking system. This works to measure the difference in the diameter of each tire to make sure they are within the same range. The direct system uses sensors located in each tire. These sensors are battery driven pressure sensors that send the tire pressure to a central system that then reports if the tires are high or low.

It is important to pay attention to your TPMS. There are many benefits to having this system in place. The major obvious benefit is improved safety because under-inflated or even over-inflated tires can cause issues and lead to car accidents. However, there are other benefits of this system, as well. One other benefit is improved fuel economy. If your tires are inflated at the right level, it can help you get better gas mileage and make your vehicle more efficient. Another major benefit of a tire pressure monitoring system is that it can help you extend the life of your tire. Under-inflated tires can cause tire failure, and over-inflated tires are also susceptible to damage. Keeping your tires at the right inflation can extend their life and keep you safer. Schedule a Service Today!

There is a major advantage to having a tire pressure monitoring system in your vehicle. However, you shouldn’t be entirely dependent on it. You should also check your tire pressure manually on occasion and check the tread of your tires regularly so that you know when they need to be replaced. Tires are your connection with the road, so you want to keep them in great shape!

Service at Seacoast Mazda

Need tire repair, tire replacement, or some other vehicle service? You can schedule a service appointment online with us at Seacoast Mazda. Our staff keeps up to date with new vehicle technologies and the latest information to make sure we can keep your vehicle in top shape. We focus on fixing your vehicle right and efficiently so that you can get back on the road. Schedule a Service Today!

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