Tires are the most important part of our cars. They need to be at the right pressure and have the right amount of tread depth for you to travel safely on the road. Most cars on the road nowadays have sensors that serve to measure your tires’ vitals. The one we will be discussing today is the TPMS, or tire pressure monitoring system. When the TPMS recognizes a loss in tire pressure, it will illuminate a warning light on your dashboard.
When you catch this light, you should quickly measure your pressure and refill your tires with the right amount of air. Hopefully, you don’t wait too long as it can have adverse effects on your tires, causing you to have to replace them a lot sooner.
Your manufacturer specifically specifies the pressure at which your tires should be to ensure optimal vehicle efficiency and performance. At that given psi range, the tires on your vehicle will safely handle the full weight of the vehicle. On the other hand, ignoring the warning and continuing to drive with deflated tires will increase the wear and tear on your tires and increase the chances of a tire blowout. Furthermore, underinflated tires get much less traction, which puts your safety at risk when driving in the rain or snow.
What To Do When The Dashboard Warning Light Illuminates
When you see the low-pressure warning light, the first thing you should do is drive a bit longer to see if it goes away. During the colder months, the light may appear due to the natural drop in pressure. As it warms up, the light may go away.
If the light continues to stay on, you should visit an accessible gas station with an air pump. There, you can fill your tires up to their recommended PSI. You can find this on a sticker located on the driver’s door jamb or in the owner’s handbook.
If you need TPMS repairs, please do not hesiate to stop by 26th Street Auto Center today