Why is the tire pressure warning light on?

[MarcusLynn]

Car tire pressure warning light is a way to alert the owner about issues such as tire pressure. There are generally 4 situations when the car tire pressure warning light comes on, which are: 1. The car tire is leaking. The car tire should be repaired in time to prevent the car from deviating during driving. 2. The car tire pressure is too high. The tire pressure should be reduced in time to prevent a tire blowout during driving. 3. The car tire pressure is too low. The cause of the low tire pressure should be checked in time to prevent air leakage caused by foreign objects puncturing the tire, and the tire pressure should be replenished in time. 4. The car tire temperature is too high. The car should be stopped in time to physically cool down the tires to prevent a tire blowout during driving.

[DiLucy]

I just encountered the tire pressure warning light issue last week when a nail punctured my right rear tire. When the tire pressure warning light comes on, it indicates something is wrong with the tire pressure. The most common causes are punctures causing air leaks or aging valve stems. Sometimes, a sudden drop in temperature can also trigger the warning light—I once had it illuminate because the pressure dropped too much in cold weather. Other possible triggers include tire damage from scraping against curbs or a faulty tire pressure monitoring module. I recommend finding a safe spot to pull over and check the tires by kicking them to see which one feels unusually soft. If you have a portable tire pressure gauge, it's best to measure all four tires—normal passenger cars usually maintain around 2.3-2.5 bar. Never ignore the warning and keep driving. A friend of mine disregarded the light and ended up with a tire blowout on the highway, which caused significant damage to his car.

[MacEvan]

As a veteran driver with twenty years of experience, I dread nothing more than the tire pressure warning light coming on. My life literally depends on those four tires. When that light turns on, it usually boils down to three reasons: an actual tire leak, a false alarm from the tire pressure module, or forgetting to reset the system after a tire change. Last month, my car alerted me, and it turned out the sensor battery was dead. The scariest scenario is a slow leak—the tire looks fine, but it’s already lost more than half its air. My advice? Head straight to a gas station to check the pressure; many nowadays offer free air pumps. This is especially crucial in winter when the temperature swings between day and night—cold tires are prone to triggering false alarms. Once, my light came on in the morning but turned off by noon as temperatures rose. And don’t forget to check the spare tire’s pressure—I once had to change a flat only to find the spare was flat too!

[VanNolan]

The tire pressure warning light indicates that the system has detected abnormal air pressure. It could mean that a single tire is 20% below the standard level or that the overall pressure deviates from the set value. Common causes fall into two categories: physical issues like punctures from nails, air leaks, or damaged valve cores; and system problems such as module failures. Once, after I washed my car, the light came on—turned out water had gotten into the sensor. Tire pressure can also rise and trigger the alarm after prolonged exposure to summer heat. It's best to immediately slow down to below 80 and find a safe area to check. Using the onboard tools is the most convenient method; many cars have a tire pressure gauge and air pump in the trunk. Remember, never remove the tire pressure sensor yourself—calibrating it is quite troublesome. From my experience, a flashing light indicates an urgent air leak, while a steady light is a general warning.

[VanRiley]

My tire pressure warning light came on three times last year. The first time was due to a screw puncturing the right front tire, losing 0.3 kg of pressure over a week; the second time was because the left rear wheel sensor got water inside; the third time was simply forgetting to reset the system. Nowadays, most new cars use direct tire pressure monitoring systems with sensors inside each valve stem. Don't panic when the warning light comes on—use your phone to find nearby repair shops. I've since developed a habit: checking tire pressure monthly and keeping the spare tire at 2.5 kg. Remember, driving with chronically low tire pressure is particularly damaging, causing sidewall cracks. Once while helping a friend check his tires, I found three of them at 1.9 kg, yet the warning light didn't come on—turns out the sensor was damaged from an impact. It's best to conduct a comprehensive tire inspection every quarter.