WHAT IS TPMS?
TPMS, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, is an electronic system to monitor the air pressure inside a tire.
WHY IS TPMS NECESSARY?
To help drivers recognize the importance of tire pressure safety and maintenance, Congress passed the TREAD Act, which requires most vehicles made in 2006-07 and ALL made thereafter to be TPMS equipped.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TPMS?
TPMS notifies you when your vehicle’s tire pressure is low or is going flat. By helping you maintain proper tire pressure, TPMS can increase your safety on the road by improving your vehicle’s handling, decreasing tire wear, reducing braking distance and bettering fuel economy.
HOW DOES TPMS WORK?
There are two different types of systems being used today: Direct TPMS and Indirect TPMS.
Direct TPMS uses a sensor mounted in the wheel to measure air pressure in each tire. When air pressure drops 25% below the manufacturer’s recommended level, the sensor transmits that information to your car’s computer system and triggers your dashboard indicator light.
Indirect TPMS works with your car’s Antilock Braking System’s (ABS) wheel speed sensors. If a tire’s pressure is low, it will roll at a different wheel speed than the other tires. This information is detected by your car’s computer system, which triggers the dashboard indicator light.
WHAT IS THE ADVANTANGE AND DISADVANTAGE OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT TPMS?
ADVANTAGES OF INDIRECT TPMS
— Relatively inexpensive compared to a direct TPMS
— Requires less programming/maintenance over the years than a direct TPMS
— Less overall installation maintenance than its direct counterpart
DISADVANTAGES OF INDIRECT TPMS
— May become inaccurate if you purchase a bigger or smaller tire
— May be unreliable when tires are unevenly worn
— Must be reset after properly inflating every tire
— Must be reset after routine tire rotation
ADVANTAGES OF DIRECT TPMS
— Deliver actual tire pressure readings from inside the tire
— Not prone to inaccuracies because of tire rotations or tire replacements
— Simple resynchronization after tire rotation or tire replacements
— Batteries inside the sensors usually last for about a decade.
— May be included in a vehicle’s spare tire
DISADVANTAGES OF DIRECT TPMS
— More expensive overall than an indirect TPMS
— Though simple, resynchronization may require costly tools.
— Battery rarely serviceable; if the battery is drained, the whole sensor must be changed.
— Proprietary systems make installation, service, and replacement confusing for consumers and auto shops.
— Sensors are susceptible to damage during mounting/demounting