What does TPMS mean when displayed on the car dashboard?
2 Answers
The "TPMS" displayed on the car dashboard is the tire pressure warning light, which indicates that there is no signal from a certain tire pressure. If the tire pressure monitoring system warning light comes on while driving, stay calm, do not panic, immediately reduce speed and avoid sharp steering and sudden braking, and check the tires immediately. Tire pressure monitoring light on due to a punctured tire: This situation usually involves a very slow leak in a tire, making it difficult to immediately identify which tire is affected. In this case, you can use a tire pressure gauge to measure the pressure (front tires at 2.3, rear tires at 2.5). If the pressure is low, refill it and then observe the tire pressure warning light. If the light comes on again after a few days, you may need to open the tire for inspection. At a 4S shop, maintenance personnel typically adjust the front tire pressure to 2.3 and the rear tire pressure to 2.4, then reset the tire pressure warning. If there is no warning for 3-4 days, there is no issue. If the warning reappears, it might indicate a punctured tire, requiring another visit to the 4S shop for inspection. Tire pressure monitoring light on due to prolonged driving with low tire pressure: This situation usually occurs when a tire's pressure is too low, causing the tire temperature to rise during high-speed operation, which in turn increases the tire pressure. In this case, you should stop and rest or replace the tire with a spare immediately.
TPMS stands for Tire Pressure Monitoring System. When this symbol appears on the dashboard, it indicates that the system has detected at least one tire with pressure below the normal level. This usually occurs because the sensors in the tires have detected insufficient pressure, which could be due to a leak, temperature changes, or natural slow deflation. I must say this is no trivial matter—low tire pressure increases tire wear, affects braking performance, and may even lead to the risk of a blowout. Personally, whenever I see this warning, I immediately find a safe place to pull over and check the tire pressure. If you're unsure how to proceed, roadside auto repair shops or gas stations usually offer free pressure gauges. Remember to reset the system after checking; most vehicles have a button near the steering wheel for this purpose. Developing a habit of manually checking tire pressure once a month can save you a lot of trouble, especially during seasonal changes when pressure fluctuations are more significant.
