Why is the tire pressure light on but the tires are fine?
2 Answers
The reason the tire pressure light is on but the tires appear fine could be due to either overinflated tires or prolonged driving with low tire pressure. Here are the details: 1. Overinflated tires: The tire pressure monitoring light may illuminate if a tire is punctured, causing a very slow leak, which can be checked with a tire pressure gauge. Sometimes, the light comes on because the tire pressure is too high. According to the international standard GBT2978-2008, the recommended tire inflation pressures are: Standard tires: 2.4-2.5 bar; Reinforced tires: 2.8-2.9 bar; Maximum pressure: should not exceed 3.5 bar. Therefore, if any tire exceeds 3.0 bar, it may trigger the tire pressure monitoring light. 2. Prolonged driving with low tire pressure: The tire pressure monitoring light may also come on if you drive for an extended period with low tire pressure. This usually happens when one tire has significantly lower pressure, causing it to heat up during high-speed driving, which in turn increases the tire pressure. In such cases, you should stop and rest or replace the tire with a spare immediately.
I've encountered this situation several times too. The tire pressure warning light suddenly comes on while driving, but when I get out to check, the tires look perfectly fine. Actually, the common causes are quite simple - it might be a minor issue with the tire pressure monitoring system sensors. These sensors are installed inside the tires, and after a few years, their batteries may run low or have poor contact, causing false readings. Sometimes it's just normal tire pressure fluctuations due to cold or hot weather, and the overly sensitive system mistakes it for a problem. Another possibility is forgetting to recalibrate the system after tire repairs or wheel balancing adjustments. You can first check the tire pressure yourself to confirm there's no real issue, then try resetting the system following the manual. If the light keeps flashing, it's best not to ignore it - take the car to a 4S shop or repair shop to check the sensors. Spending a little money is better than driving at night with poor visibility - safety first. Also, mentioning this during regular vehicle maintenance can help prevent issues.