You know that little light on your dashboard that looks like a tire? Don’t ignore it.  It’s a lot more than a warning light.  It’s trying to tell you something that can protect your tires, improve your fuel economy and keep your vehicle traveling safely down the road. It’s called TPMS.

The abbreviation stands for “tire pressure monitoring system.”  It continuously monitors the air pressure in your tires and alerts you when one or more of them are underinflated. Even having just one severely underinflated tire could have serious consequences. 

Underinflated tires wear out faster than those properly inflated.  It can affect the outer edges and significantly shorten the lifespan of those tires.  That can also significantly increase the likelihood of a blowout.  At the same time, since underinflation can make your tires roll less easily, your engine will burn more fuel.

When your tires are properly inflated, it helps your vehicle handle and stop as the engineers designed it to. You may not know that when your tires aren’t properly inflated, your steering can be sluggish and it will take you a longer distance to brake, especially in wet or icy conditions. TPMS gives you an early warning so you can correct tire pressure before these issues affect your safety.

Another bonus of TPMS is it may let you know you have slow leaks, like when you pick up a nail somewhere on the way.  You may also have a valve stem that isn’t holding air or your tires’ pressures may be too low because of temperature changes. Advance warning of any of these may prevent you from being stranded with a flat tire or damaging the tire beyond repair. 

TPMS doesn’t replace regular tire inspections or manual pressure checks, but it does add an important layer of protection. So, heed that little light, because it may be trying to tell you something important.

Commerce Auto Repair
9575 Commerce Rd.
Commerce, Michigan 48382
248.363.3749

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