What to Do If the Car Doesn't Have a Tire Pressure Monitoring Function?
4 Answers
If the car doesn't have a tire pressure monitoring function, you can install a tire pressure monitoring device on the tires. Simply screw the sensor onto the tire, and the readings will be displayed on the dashboard. Alternatively, you can use a tire pressure gauge to measure the pressure. Just press it onto the valve stem for a few seconds to get a reading. If all four values are similar, it indicates that the tire pressure is normal. Tire pressure monitoring automatically monitors the tire pressure in real-time while driving and alerts you to leaks or low pressure to ensure driving safety. There are mainly two types of tire pressure monitoring systems: indirect tire pressure monitoring and direct tire pressure monitoring.
My car was purchased early and didn’t come with a tire pressure monitoring system from the factory, so I always worry about unstable tire pressure on long trips. Nowadays, you can get an external tire pressure cap for just over 200 RMB on Taobao—the kind that changes color is super convenient, turning red directly when the tire pressure is low. Before hitting the highway, I always manually check it, keeping a portable air pump and a dial-type tire pressure gauge in the trunk. The key is really to develop a habit: every time I get a car wash, I ask the attendant to check all four tires, and I always inspect them when the weather turns cold. Once, I even caught a slow leak from a nail thanks to timely patching.
Once when my friend's car had a flat tire, I realized how important tire pressure is, so I immediately bought an internal tire pressure monitoring system. The installation was simple—done in half an hour at a tire shop. It charges via solar power, so no wiring is needed, and a small display sits on the windshield. After using it for over a year, I feel truly at ease. It automatically alerts me if there's a nail puncture or temperature change, and it's even more sensitive than the factory settings. I recommend choosing one with tire temperature monitoring—it's especially useful for highway driving in summer. This device is like buying insurance—a small investment for peace of mind.
To deal with the lack of tire pressure monitoring, I have a practical method. Walk around the car before driving every day, focusing on the depth of the tire's contact patch. At normal pressure, the patch should show three tread patterns; if the entire tread is in contact, it means the tire is underinflated. Use the free air pumps at gas stations to top up the pressure monthly, and keep a tire pressure gauge in the glove box for regular checks. Last month, I noticed the front right tire was slowly losing air, and later found out it was due to a cracked valve stem. Replacing it only cost twenty bucks.
