Tyre pressure monitoring systems help ensure tyres are properly inflated at all times, increasing fuel efficiency, prolonging the life of your tyres and keeping your vehicle safer on the road. If the pressure of a tyre falls below the required amount, the TPMS will alert the driver by an audible alarm or an illuminated light on the monitor. Safe T Tyre is Australia’s leading supplier of high quality tyre pressure monitoring systems for vehicles of all types. Sometimes, your TPMS may be alerting you even when the pressure is correct – let’s look at a few reasons why this might occur.
Malfunctioning TPMS Sensor
Physical sensors can be prone to damage and due to the in-built battery, sensors have a lifespan of about 6-10 years. If a battery is at the end of its life, signals can become weak. If there is age-related wear and tear or damage to the gaskets, seals, valve caps, or core of the sensor, it can malfunction.
Faulty Wheel Speed Sensor in ABS (Indirect Systems)
Wheel speed sensors are a part of the ABS (Antilock Braking System), if these are faulty or damaged, signals could be sent to the driver alerting of a problem that doesn’t exist.
Recent Tyre Rotation
When tyres are moved to a new position on the car during a tyre rotation, the vehicle often requires a re-learning process. In some vehicles, this could mean driving at a constant speed for 5 to 10 minutes, however some cars may require external recalibration by a specialised tool or technician.
Low Pressure in Spare Tyre
Not all vehicles have TPMS in the spare tyre, but those that do can sometimes send a signal of low pressure when this tyre is forgotten. This is not a bad thing, as it is a good idea to keep the spare inflated properly in the event that you need to change a flat.
Environmental Temperatures Changes
Temperature changes overnight or from cold winter days can affect the pressure in your tyres causing the TPMS to send an alert. Large swings in temperature between day and night can affect the pressure in tyres by up to 10 PSI. As you begin driving the alert may turn off as the air in the tyres warms up and the inflation level stabilises.
Generally, when the TPMS sends an alarm or the light illuminates, one or more tyres do have low air pressure so it’s best pull over when safe to do so, and check the inflation of your tyres. TPMS systems are usually very reliable and have prevented many accidents by alerting the driver to a loss of pressure. It can be frustrating to encounter false warning signals, if it is happening regularly it is best to get your TPMS checked by a professional.
Safe T Tyre is here to help keep all Australians safer on the roads. Get in touch with us today to purchase a high quality, reliable TPMS for your vehicle.