INTRODUCTION
As the fall weather starts to bring lower temperatures and changing weather conditions, the condition of your vehicle may come into mind. Batteries can be a common issue that may come into question during the coldest months of the year, but it is important to remember other critical parts of your vehicle. Tires are one of the most important parts of your vehicle and must be in good shape to ensure your safety during poor driving conditions. You may have seen the pesky yellow light that appears when the temperature drops due to your tire pressure being too low, but why does that happen? Do your tires really lose air during the winter, or is it the cause of another issue?
HISTORY/BACKGROUND OF THE SYSTEM
The air pressure in your tires is monitored by a system called TPMS, or tire pressure monitoring system. It operates by using small electric sensors that use batteries to constantly measure the air pressure and send the info back to the vehicle. This system was first introduced in luxury European cars during the 1980’s as a way to reduce traffic accidents and tire wear, as well as increasing fuel economy of a vehicle.3 The first American vehicle to get this system was actually a 1991 Chevrolet Corvette! In 2000, the TREAD act was passed which required all vehicles to have these systems by 2007.5 This act was a direct response to accidents and injuries caused by poorly manufactured Firestone tires that had separation issues, which could have been prevented with a warning system in place.1
WHY DO YOU HAVE A LIGHT ON?
During the colder months, it is more typical to see issues with a TPMS sensor. Most often, you will see the light come on when the vehicle first starts, but it will usually go away after you start driving. This is actually due to the way the air works when it gets cold! The air molecules inside of the tire slow down and move closer together when the vehicle is not moving, which results in a drop of pressure in the tire. This triggers the sensor to go off, but it will later return to its normal state as you start to drive and increase the pressure in the tire again.4 If the dashboard light does not go off, try filling your tire with air first before taking additional measures.
There are other things that can fail within a TPMS sensor as well. Because of the cold weather, this can also wear out the battery inside of the sensors faster. These sensors typically last around 5-10 years, and will require replacement of the entire unit if the batteries fail. There have been improvements in the design though, as newer versions of TPMS sensors come without a battery and use radio frequency technology to measure the tire data and report it back to the vehicle without a battery in place.2