Can You Still Drive When the Audi TPMS Light Comes On?
2 Answers
Audi TPMS light on indicates that the tire pressure of a certain tire may be too low or the sensor battery is insufficient. If the light comes on while driving, please stay calm, do not panic, immediately reduce the speed and avoid fast steering and sudden braking, then check the tire pressure. The following are the functions of the tire pressure monitoring system: 1. Prevent accidents: The tire pressure monitoring system is a type of active safety equipment. It can issue an alarm in time when there are dangerous signs in the tires, reminding the driver to take corresponding measures, thereby avoiding serious accidents. 2. Extend the service life of tires: With the tire pressure monitoring system, we can keep the tires working within the specified pressure and temperature range at any time, thereby reducing tire damage and extending the service life of tires. Data shows that when driving with insufficient tire pressure, when the tire pressure is 10% lower than the normal value, the tire life will be reduced by 15%. 3. Make driving more economical: When the tire pressure is too low, the contact area between the tire and the ground will increase, thereby increasing friction resistance. When the tire pressure is 30% lower than the standard value, fuel consumption will increase by 10%. 4. Reduce the wear of the suspension system: When the tire pressure is excessive, the shock absorption effect of the tire itself will be reduced, thereby increasing the burden on the vehicle's shock absorption system. Long-term use will cause great damage to the engine chassis and suspension system; if the tire pressure is uneven, it is easy to cause the brakes to deviate, thereby increasing the wear of the suspension system.
I just encountered this situation last week and realized the TPMS is the tire pressure monitoring system alert. In this case, never stubbornly keep driving—first pull over to check all four tires for obvious leaks or flats. If the tires look fine visually and the pressure isn’t too far off, you can slowly drive to a repair shop in the city, but keep speed under 60. However, if you feel the steering wheel getting heavier, the car pulling to one side, or hear a ‘flapping’ noise, calling a tow truck is safer. I’ve personally experienced a slow leak from a nail puncture that nearly wore through the tire’s inner liner—the mechanic said another 10 km would’ve ruined the tire completely.
