TPMS Information Hub

If you drive regularly, you've likely seen this icon on your dashboard.

That's an alert from your TPMS, meaning your Tire Pressure Monitoring System. When it lights up on your dashboard, one or more of your tires is either underinflated or overinflated. In most instances, it's telling you that you need to put more air into your tires.

Besides knowing the TPMS meaning, it's worth learning exactly how this system functions and how your vehicle responds to data it receives.

How Does the TPMS Work?

Your vehicle has either a direct or indirect TPMS. In both systems, activating the warning light is the last step in the whole process of detecting low tire pressure. This is usually the case when a tire becomes underinflated by 25 percent or more.

Direct TPMS

If your vehicle uses a direct TPMS, it has individual sensors that monitor pressure levels in each tire. Sometimes, sensors even read tire temperature. Your monitoring system then sends information to a central control module for analysis. The data is usually forwarded wirelessly via a radio signal. If there's an issue, the module transmits it to your vehicle's information system, and the TPMS indicator light turns on.

Indirect TPMS

An indirect TPMS uses a sensor in the anti-lock brake system to measure each wheel's spinning speed. The onboard computer system will compare the speeds and determine whether one is spinning slower or faster than the others. Based on this information, the computer interprets a faster spin as an indication of a smaller or underinflated tire. In other words, an indirect TPMS doesn't measure tire pressure. Instead, it measures each wheel's rotation rate and tells the computer to illuminate the indicator light when a rotation is out of place.

What to Do If You Have Low Tire Pressure

It's not enough to know the TPMS meaning; you'll need to respond accordingly to the warning to prevent tire-related accidents. Never drive for too long with underinflated tires because you risk having a tire blowout. You'll also reduce your vehicle's fuel economy and wear out your tires faster. If you see your TPMS light come on, look for a place where you can safely check the pressure of every tire; a service or gas station would be ideal. Mavis Tires & Brakes offers free air filling services in all of our locations. As soon as you can, inflate your tires to the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure.

Keep in mind that your TPMS might not always warn you of low tire pressure. This problem occasionally happens when the system malfunctions or needs a reset. As such, it's best to regularly inspect every tire for low pressure with a pressure gauge.

Visit your nearest Mavis Tires & Brakes location to ensure your tires haven't suffered any damage from your tire pressure being too low. Mavis Tires & Brakes offers free tire inspection and air filling services in all of our locations - stop by anytime!