The TPMS warning light, seen above, is your vehicle's Tire Pressure Monitoring System warning light. When this light turns on, your vehicle is letting you know that it has detected that one or more of your tires has low tire pressure.
Proper tire inflation is important for a number of reasons. It is vital for proper handling, longer tire life, optimal fuel efficiency, and increasing your ability to drive safely in all weather conditions.
You see this warning light come on and wonder, is it safe to drive with the TPMS warning light on? If the light has just turned on and you need to find your way to our shop or to an air pump, you should be fine. However, continuing to drive your car with the light on is not safe. Here's why!
When you drive your vehicle with low tire pressure, you are causing your tire to wear down excessively and prematurely. This is eventually going to cost you a new tire much sooner than you would have if you had the proper tire inflation. You are also hindering your ability to properly control and turn your vehicle, which can be dangerous on the road. Low tire pressure also puts you at risk for a tire blowout and can negatively impact your vehicle's tread, making you more likely to hydroplane in the event of driving on wet roads.
If the TPMS light turns on, the first thing you should do is check the tire pressure of all four tires. The proper inflation will be listed in your vehicle's owner's manual. This will help you identify which tire is under inflated. If you are unsure of how to do so, just bring your vehicle into Dave's Automotive and we can take care of this for you. We can help determine the culprit tire and reinflate to manufacturer specifications. We also take a look at the tire as a whole to see if there is any reason why the tire is under inflated, such as a nail or hole.
If you suspect you have a tire issue, stop by Dave's Automotive or give us a call today!