Why does the tire pressure warning light suddenly come on during normal driving?

[VanMargaret]

Normal driving with the tire pressure warning light suddenly illuminating indicates abnormal tire pressure. The standard tire pressures for different tires are as follows: Standard tires: 2.4-2.5bar; Reinforced tires: 2.8-2.9bar; Maximum pressure: should not exceed 3.5bar. Abnormal tire pressure is generally caused by the following 3 reasons: Abnormal tire pressure: The system typically alerts when pressure falls below 1.8bar or exceeds 3.0bar. In this case, tire inspection and pressure adjustment are required. Tire pressure monitoring system not reset: After inflating the tires, if the tire pressure monitoring system is not reset promptly, it continues to record the previous data, causing the tire pressure warning light to illuminate. Simply performing a tire pressure reset will resolve this issue. Damaged tire pressure sensor: The tire pressure sensor, which monitors tire pressure, is directly installed inside the tire and connected to the tire inflation valve. If the sensor is damaged by impact during driving, it can also trigger the tire pressure warning light. For sensor damage issues, the only solution is to replace it with a new component.

[JamesFitz]

A sudden tire pressure warning light is no small matter! As a driver, I dread encountering such unexpected situations the most—it usually means there's an issue with the tires. The most common cause is a slow leak from running over a nail or sharp object, which happened to me recently. It could also be due to a aging valve stem leaking air or a deformed wheel rim compromising the seal. High-speed driving in summer is particularly prone to triggering alarms from excessive tire heat—when this happens, slow down and pull over immediately. Never push through it; my friend once kept driving with just 1.0 bar of pressure and ended up ruining the wheel rim. Now I always keep a portable air pump in the car—if the light comes on, I inflate first and monitor, heading straight to a tire shop if the warning persists. Remember, a pressure difference exceeding 0.3 bar between any two tires will also activate the light, so it's best to calibrate electronic monitors monthly with a mechanical gauge.

[MacHailey]

The moment I saw the tire pressure warning light pop up, my heart jumped into my throat! The key is to distinguish between an actual leak and a false alarm. I've dealt with this several times and found that false alarms are especially common in winter: a sudden temperature drop can reduce tire pressure by 10%, causing the light to stay on during cold starts, but it usually goes away after driving a few kilometers as the tires warm up. If it's a real leak, there's an 80% chance you'll find a nail or piece of glass stuck in the tire. Once, my car had a slow leak due to oxidation at the wheel rim edge, causing the tire pressure to drop by 0.2 bar every week. I've learned my lesson now—I always keep a tire pressure gauge and tire repair fluid in the car. When the light comes on, the first thing I do is check the dashboard to see which specific tire is abnormal. If this happens on the highway, remember to grip the steering wheel firmly, gently brake to reduce speed below 80 km/h, and avoid making sudden turns.

[QuinnAnn]

The tire pressure monitoring system is more sensitive than you might think. I've studied how it works. Sensors inside each tire transmit data to the vehicle's computer every minute, triggering an alarm when the pressure drops 15% below the set value. There are three common triggers: punctures are the most frequent, especially from metal debris on newly paved asphalt roads; sensor battery depletion often occurs in vehicles over 5 years old; and leaks caused by rim impacts or deformation are also common. It's recommended to check for embedded stones in the tires during each car wash—this protects the tires and helps prevent false alarms.