What to Do When the Car Keeps Prompting Low Tire Pressure?
4 Answers
There are two main reasons why a car keeps prompting low tire pressure and their corresponding solutions: 1. When a car tire is damaged, it will start leaking air, leading to a gradual decrease in tire pressure over time. Solution: If a car tire is damaged, it must be promptly repaired or replaced to prevent safety hazards. There are various methods for repairing tires, including hot patching, mushroom plug repair, and rubber patch repair. If the tire is severely worn, it is best to replace it with a new one directly. After installing a new tire, a four-wheel alignment should be performed to prevent the vehicle from pulling to one side. 2. Slow air leakage from the car tire can occur due to multiple reasons, such as natural aging of the tire or prolonged parking of the vehicle. Solution: When parking the car for an extended period, ensure it is parked on a flat and hard surface to prevent the tires from deforming due to prolonged pressure. If the car is not used for a long time, start it at least once a week to keep the engine fluids and battery functioning properly.
My car kept showing tire pressure warnings the other day. At first I thought it was due to the cold weather, but later found a small nail in the right rear tire. My advice is don't panic - find a reputable tire shop for a full inspection. They'll first use a pressure gauge to check each tire's pressure; if it's below 2.0 bar when cold, you'll need to add air. If one tire keeps losing pressure, they'll submerge it in water to find the leak - small punctures can be fixed with a mushroom plug. By the way, it's normal for tire pressure to drop by 0.3 bar in winter, and it's good to carry a portable air pump for long trips. Faulty sensors can also trigger false alarms - you'll need to visit a dealership to clear those error codes with their computer. Abnormal tire pressure especially damages the sidewalls, and delayed repairs can lead to bulges or blowouts.
I dread tire pressure warnings the most on long trips, and here's my personal experience to share with you. First, follow these three steps: Pull over immediately (never jerk the steering wheel), then kick each tire to check which one feels unusually soft. If you have a portable tire pressure gauge, that's ideal—if the pressure is 25% below the standard value, don't drive any further. Temporary air refill can be a quick fix, but if the warning reappears within two hours after inflation, it's definitely a slow leak. Most likely, it's due to a nail puncture or a worn-out valve core, though a deformed wheel rim can also cause leaks. If the temperature fluctuates significantly recently, morning warnings disappearing by noon are normal. For older cars, pay special attention to aging cracks at the tire seams—these require new tire replacements.
I just dealt with this issue last week. First, DIY: check the standard tire pressure value on the door frame (varies by car), and buy a mechanical tire pressure gauge for around ten bucks to measure. If all four tires are low, it might be natural pressure loss in winter, and a household pump can top them up. But if only one tire is low, focus on checking if the valve is leaking (apply some saliva to see bubbles) or if the rim is rusty causing a poor seal. After patching the tire, remember to drive a few dozen kilometers to let the tire pressure monitoring system reset automatically. The sensor battery lasts 5-7 years, and when it fails, it will keep giving false alarms.
