TPMS
The US government has mandated that all production vehicles sold in the United States, as of the 2008 model year, are required to be equiped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). The TPMS warns a driver if there is a tire with improper air pressure, usually with a warning light such as the image to the left.
There are many various types of TPMS used on vehicles today. Direct systems measure the air pressure of each tire, with sensors at the valve stem or banded to the wheel inside of the tire. Indirect systems measure the rotation and speed of each wheel, and if one of the wheels is significantly different than the others, it is often an air pressure problem. The benefits of a system which alerts you of improper tire pressure are:
- Improved tire life & performance
- Increased fuel ecomony
- Reduces the risk of an accident
Although TPMS systems offer increased safety while driving, they are not meant to replace proper pressure maintenance of your tires. It is still recommended that your tire pressures be checked at least once a month.
