At what tire pressure will the alarm sound?
2 Answers
Tire pressure alarm will sound when the pressure is below 1.5bar. The normal tire pressure range is between 2.3bar and 2.5bar. If the car is fully loaded, it is more suitable to adjust the tire pressure to around 2.5bar. For two passengers, a tire pressure of 2.3bar is also normal. The standard tire pressure can usually be found in the vehicle's user manual, on the label next to the driver's door, in the drawer beside the driver's seat, or on the fuel tank cap. The recommended tire pressure should be based on the manufacturer's specifications, as the tire pressure setting takes into account factors such as the vehicle's weight and chassis height. Both over-inflation and under-inflation are detrimental to driving safety and comfort.
I've been driving for nearly twenty years and have experienced several tire pressure warnings. Each car has different settings, but most will trigger the warning light when the pressure drops 25% to 30% below the manufacturer's recommended value. For example, if the standard tire pressure is 2.5 bar, the small yellow light on the dashboard will flash when it drops to around 1.8 bar. This week, while driving my friend's SUV, the left rear tire had a slow leak from a nail puncture, and it suddenly alarmed at 1.7 bar. Fortunately, I wasn't driving fast at the time, and when I pulled over, I found the tire was almost flat. Now I've developed a habit of checking the tire pressure with an electronic gauge every month, and I make sure to inspect it before long trips. Keeping a portable car air pump is very practical—last time when camping, I used it to pump up the tires when the pressure dropped to 1.9 bar.