WHAT IS TPMS?
The pressure in your tyres is one of the most important factors in determining how well they perform. The air pressure affects the speed capability, load carrying capacity, handing response, wear rate and overall safety to name a few!
Under-inflated tyres can also cause your car to use more fuel and emit more CO2 emissions, therefore it is critical for your safety (and comfort) that your tyres are properly inflated in line with the manufacturer’ recommendations. Tyres should always be checked before a long journey or once a month (preferably when they are cold).
All new cars are now equipped with a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) to notify you of any pressure issues.
Warning lights
If the TPMS warning light shows on your dashboard, this should not be ignored! There may be a problem with the pressure in one or more of your tyres and you will need to drive to a safe place to stop and check manually the tyre pressures against the levels set in the manufacturer’s handbook. The pressure level is also on the inside of the fuel filler flap or on a placard located on the driver’s door sill.
If you are unable to check your pressures yourself, either call for roadside assistance or locate your nearest tyre professional who will be able to assist you.
The Law
Since November 2014, all new passenger cars sold in the EU have to be equipped with a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). TPMS has been fitted to vehicles for many years but recently the mandatory fitment and maintenance of such systems has come into force.
In the UK on 1 January 2015, legislation came into force stating that for these vehicles, an inoperative or faulty TPMS sensor would result in an MOT failure.
A few facts about tyre pressure
- Did you know tyres naturally lose 0.2 atmosphere (2.9 PSI) every 3 months.
- 85% of all tyre blasts are preceded by a ‘slow’ puncture
- An underinflated tyre is not only dangerous because it can explode, it is also dangerous for the stability of the vehicle, and penalises the consumption and total life of the tyre.
