Driving safety and comfort are directly related to the long-term condition of your tires. If they're in poor condition, then it's only a matter of time before disaster strikes. Approximately 40 percent of all incidents of unexpected tire failure, for example, are caused by underinflated tires.
To address this problem, Continental has developed a tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that works with wheel sensors and brake systems to alert the driver of low tire pressure levels via a car dashboard warning light.
The TPMS continuously and reliably monitors the inflation pressure in real-time. In the event of pressure loss below a safe threshold, it immediately alerts the driver to take action. When used correctly, the TPMS can enhance driving safety by eliminating a frequent cause of accidents.
Flat tires can become a critical problem very quickly: They cause unsafe driving and can lead to accidents. Before TPMS technology, there was no direct way to inform you about a drop in tire pressure – you needed to check the tire manually and regularly. Now, the TPMS lets you know that there is an issue that you need to take care of.
Another benefit of this invaluable safety feature is that it reduces your car's fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and also helps reduce energy consumption in electric vehicles. If a car's tires are underinflated by only 0.3 bar, for example, the vehicle consumes 1.5 percent more fuel – and produces a correspondingly higher amount of CO2 emissions.
There are many more advantages to a TPMS, including:
Let's take a closer look at the inner workings of a tire-pressure monitoring system. How does it work?
TPMS software is so sophisticated that, after evaluating the collected data, it can calculate the rate of pressure leakage. Additional software functions are standardized warnings when approaching specific limits, an ongoing comparison of tire temperature, automatic tire identification, and checks on spare tires.
TPMS can even distinguish whether the vehicle is moving or standing still, and adjusts the frequency of the sensors accordingly. When a vehicle is moving, for example, tire pressure and tire temperature are monitored every few seconds, and TPMS delivers the readings continuously. If the vehicle is standing still, however, the monitoring system takes measurements between longer intervals. The readings are only transmitted after a pressure change has been detected.
Recognizing the early signs of low tire pressure can help prevent unsafe driving situations, avoid premature tire wear, and maintain optimal vehicle performance. Even before the TPMS warning light turns on, you may notice several physical and handling-related indicators:
The European Commission has passed a law which requires integrated tire-pressure monitoring systems on all new cars manufactured since 2014.
Many vehicles already include TPMS as standard equipment. These systems can also make their data available to other vehicle systems, e.g., the braking system. However, even if your vehicle does come equipped with a TPMS, it doesn't mean you should entirely stop conducting a manual tire pressure check now and then. Continental recommends checking the tire pressure once every two to four weeks as a routine precautionary measure.
The European Commission has passed a law which requires integrated tire-pressure monitoring systems on all new cars manufactured since 2014.
Many vehicles already include TPMS as standard equipment. These systems can also make their data available to other vehicle systems, e.g., the braking system. However, even if your vehicle does come equipped with a TPMS, it doesn't mean you should entirely stop conducting a manual tire pressure check now and then. Continental recommends checking the tire pressure once every two to four weeks as a routine precautionary measure.
It is never recommended to drive with an unchecked tire pressure warning. The light is an indication of underinflation, which can lead to problems like poor handling, increased tire wear or reduced fuel efficiency. But of course, safety is always essential. You don’t need to pull over immediately, but you should take action as soon as possible. While driving, find a safe spot to pull over and stop to check your tires.
Yes, in most cases the TPMS light goes away after you corrected the tire pressure and drove for a bit. The sensors recalibrate on their own. However, sometimes you need to manually reset the sensors – or replace them if the light stays on.
We would not recommend replacing the TPMS sensor yourself as it is an important task to ensure that your vehicle remains safe and efficient. A professional replacement is always the best and safest choice.
It’s not always necessary to replace all four sensors when one fails. However, it is likely that the other sensors also are close to failing, due to old batteries. So, changing all four sensors at once can save you future costs and helps to avoid multiple service appointments.
