Most recent cars come with a sensor-based tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that monitors the pressure in tires in real-time. It alerts drivers when the tire pressure gets too low. The symbol shown on the dashboard is either a cross-section of a tire with an exclamation mark inside or an overhead view of a vehicle with all the tires exposed. CarSwitch, an online marketplace for used cars for sale in Dubai, did some research to share the details with you.
Types Of TPMS
There are two kinds of TPMS – direct and indirect. The indirect one relies on the antilock braking system’s wheel-speed sensor to detect pressure and thus the margin of error is high. The direct one, on the other hand, measures the actual pressure and thus it is more accurate.
Unless a tire is 25 percent below the pressure recommended by the manufacturers, the TPMS warning light is not illuminated. This is actually lower than the pressure recommended for safe driving and thus you should not wait for the TPMS warning light to come on before getting your tire pressure checked. Instead, you must get it checked regularly and ensure it’s on the recommended level.
So, the TPMS works best if a driver can identify the light and at the same time keeps an eye on the tire pressures. A lot of drivers are unable to identify the warning light and most of them also don’t bother checking the tire pressure regularly. Even those who can recognize the light rarely use a tire pressure gauge to actually find out how their tires are doing. They are under the illusion that a visual inspection is enough. According to a study, 10 percent of drivers ignore the warning light altogether.
People who solely rely on TPMS to know about their tire pressure are taking a risk. Even a tire that is underinflated by only 5 psi can fail. That’s because an underinflated tire curves more than a sufficiently inflated one and this creates heat. Excessive heat can lead to a host of issues and thus it’s even more important to keep an eye on tire pressure during the hotter months.
Apart from posing a safety risk, low pressure is also bad news for fuel economy and can make tires wear out faster. Thus, you must check tire pressure at least once a month, whether or not the TPMS warns you.
Steps To Take When TPMS Is Illuminated
When you see the waning light, check pressures on all tires. It’s quite possible that only one needs air. If the light keeps flashing, it could be indicative of a problem with the TPMS itself. If you are using a spare tire, the light might come on because it is unable to find the sensor of the original tire.
When the weather is cold, the tire pressure might drop, triggering the TPMS light. After the vehicle starts, the pressure might rise again because of the heat, causing the TPMS symbol to shut down. Looking for used cars for sale in Dubai? Log onto CarSwitch.com as we make the car buying process easier and you can do it right from the comfort of your home.
