A tire pressure monitoring system, or TPMS, is a safety feature that is designed to warn drivers when their tires are underinflated. Check TPMS means that the TPMS light came on and your tires detect air pressure below a certain level. These sensors can give you an important indicator of tire health that could save you from a blowout and help maximize the life of your tires.

Why You Should Check TPMS

The TPMS monitors tire pressure through mounted sensors located inside each tire. The sensor measures air pressure levels and sends this information to the vehicle’s computer system. This system may display the status in one of two ways: either as a direct reading (for example, “32 psi”) or as an indicator light that illuminates when the tire pressure falls below the manufacturer-specified level (typically 25 percent below). When the TPMS light comes on, you need to check it because it can prevent accidents.

The Importance of Tire Pressure Maintenance

If you own any vehicle, especially four-wheeled ones, you need to keep an eye on your tire pressure. Brakes rely on having the right amount of air in your tires. Auto manufacturers are constantly making improvements to make their vehicles safer, so they recommend setting your tire pressure levels carefully. 

You may think that it’s only a matter of filling the tires with air whenever you feel like it; however, there are important differences between inflating tires from 30 psi all the way up to 60 psi, and each level has its own importance.

The first step is figuring out when your vehicle needs inflating. You would be surprised if we told you that almost every vehicle should have its tires inflated before every drive—unless it’s an emergency situation or if you parked for a long time in an extremely hot or cold area. We recommend checking your tire pressure before leaving for work or school the next day. However, if this is not possible, at least check the tire pressure once a week.

Different vehicles require different tire pressures so check your vehicle’s manual to know the recommended tire pressure for your tires. Most vehicles will now let you know what the proper pressure is based on your vehicle’s mileage since the last checkup; if your vehicle’s TPMS doesn’t let you know exactly how much psi is needed at any given moment, then you should at least ensure that your tires are following the recommended tire pressure based on the manual.

The Check TPMS Light

If you notice that the low tire pressure warning light or check TPMS light is illuminated in your car, then the first thing you should do is check the tire pressure. If the TPMS indicator light is on, it means that one or more of your tires are underinflated. If a tire is underinflated by 25 percent or more, then it could lead to reduced traction and handling abilities, as well as increased stopping distance.

In some cases, if your vehicle detects that there’s a problem with its tires but the tires are actually inflated to their proper pressure levels, it will take a while for the system to reset itself. When this happens, you can try resetting your TPMS light yourself at home. It depends on what kind of car you have though as some vehicles require special tools to reset their TPMS systems at home. Follow our guide below for how to reset your TPMS warning lights yourself at home:

• Start by inflating all four of your tires using an air compressor or air pump
• Turn on your vehicle and open up the menu screen
• Select “Settings” from this menu and then choose “Tires & Wheels” from here
• The system should have an option in this menu called “TPMS Reset” or something similar; make sure that all four of your tires are properly inflated before hitting this button

In addition to checking tire pressure regularly, you should make sure you have a jack and a spare tire in good condition. Also make sure that you know how to change a flat tire in case you need to do so yourself on the side of the road. 

Keep in mind that you also have the option to bypass the TPMS in case the check TPMS light becomes bothersome despite your diligence in maintaining the proper tire pressure for your tires.

Do you want to know more about our TPMS Bypass Tool that can disable your check TPMS light? Click here to contact us or you may also send us an email at sales@tpmsbypass.com for more information.