Driving on the road with under-inflated or over-inflated tires has its consequences and having a tire pressure monitoring system or in short TPMS installed could keep you safe. Many people go on the road with incorrectly inflated tires daily and don’t realize how dangerous it is. Your tires could be over or under inflated for a number of reasons and both situations create dangerous driving conditions.
So many car accidents occur daily and many times it could have been prevented by having correctly inflated tires. The TPMS tool is a great tool to maintain an optimum pressure within your tires for maximum performance and economy and also keeping you safe.
In many countries now it is mandatory to have a TPMS tool installed in your vehicle, and these systems are getting more and more sophisticated.
There are mainly 2 different types of TPMS available, a direct and indirect TPMS tool.
Direct TPMS vs Indirect TPMS
TPMS sensor work using Wi-Fi signals from the sensor to your car. This is very similar to your home internet that uses a router to send signals to your smart tv or computer.. These Wi-Fi signals are radio frequencies sending data to your car’s computer.
Direct TPMS tool; these sensors are situated in the tire where they can measure air pressure within the tire. Some of these direct TPMS sensors are part of the tire’s valve. Sensors have their own batteries and typically last a decade. Direct sensors can warn you when your tire pressure is too high or too low. Some sensors even measure tire temperature. When your tire pressure falls 25% the sensor will tell your car’s computer that something is wrong and the TPMS light will get lit.
- Pros; measurements are of the actual pressure within the tire and are not prone to inconsistencies of tire rotation making them more accurate. The batteries in direct TPMS sensors last up to 10 years. After tire replacement or rotation synchronization of the device is fairly simple.
- Cons; synchronization may be fairly simple, but needs expensive tools to calibrate. Direct TPMS sensors are more expensive, because they consist of more individual parts. When the sensor fails because of batteries going dead, the sensor must be replaced all together. Sensors are susceptible to damage because they are fitted on the tire itself and driving through potholes or over curbs may cause failures in the sensors.
Indirect TPMS tool; indirect TPMS sensors are not mounted in or on the tire, but instead are connected to the car’s ABS (anti-lock braking system) and are wired into the car’s electronics.. They do not actually measure air pressure but instead they measure tire rotation. So when a tire loses air it will become smaller and the wheel spin will be faster to keep up with the other tires.
- Pros; indirect TPMS sensors are more user friendly than direct TPMS sensors and need less maintenance over time. Installing them is less time consuming and they are less expensive to use.
- Cons; after tire inflation, rotation or replacement the sensor must be reset. They are prone to inaccuracies linked to the tire rotation, when you fit a tire that is not compatible (bigger or smaller) with the sensors or even when tires are worn unevenly.
How do I know if I have a TPMS installed?
When you turn your key in the ignition a horseshoe shaped light with a tire tread at the bottom will be seen among the other lights. When your tire pressure is too low or high this light will come on, a flickering light means the TPMS sensor is failing and must be checked or replaced.
Why is tire pressure so important?
Car manufacturing companies or OEM ( Original Equipment Manufacturer) think it is important enough to have the recommended tire pressure on the door pillar on the driver side for convenience.
A lot of money was spent doing tests on tires to determine the optimum tire pressure for your car. When your tires lose air, your car’s performance will be negatively affected and may become unsafe to drive. Under-inflated tires drive sluggish and don’t corner that well and braking distance will be increased.. They have less shock absorption and driving on uneven roads may damage your tire or your car’s suspension and even cause blowouts. The TPMS sensor may also get damaged and must be replaced.
Under inflated tires have a larger contact patch to the road surface and rolling resistance is increased adding to your fuel cost. These tires will also have more heat build up in them and will eventually shorten your tire’s lifespan.
Conclusion
TPMS tools are a very helpful and convenient tool and saves you the time and energy to get out of your car to manually check all 4 tires for correct pressure. It is a convenient tool, but you still need to do visual inspection of your tires often enough for bumps or cracks in the tire.
They are also susceptible to failing or giving false indicators. Car and tire manufacturers often work together to enhance these TPMS sensor’s capabilities making them more accurate.
Playing a large role in tire maintenance and longevity means less tires get replaced in the long run making it more environmentally friendly. Getting rid of old worn tires is an environmental hazard.
