BACK IN THE DIM DARK ages, checking your tyre pressures was a weekly event (assuming you followed the advice of tyre companies and safety experts). However, the advent of Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) now found in most modern cars means we don’t have to worry about our tyres unless a low pressure warning appears on the dashboard.
At least, that’s what we all assumed. But it seems we may have once again put our faith in the fickle god of technology.
UK vehicle diagnostic experts, OBDeleven, has revealed that TPMS cannot always be relied on to display accurate readings.
UK motorists uncovered over 50,000 issues with a vehicle’s TPMS during a three-month period of last year alone, by using OBDeleven’s pocket-sized diagnostic tool.
This comes in the wake of concerning statistics revealing that a staggering one-in-four (25 percent) of road accidents were caused by poorly maintained or defective tyres, where a vehicle fault was cited as a contributing factor.
A TPMS consists of small electric sensors fitted to each wheel of the vehicle to monitor tyre pressure and feeds this data back to the car. Should one, or more, tyres see a change in air pressure, the system will show a yellow warning light on the dashboard to alert the driver.
But OBDeleven warns that this system can often fail, and batteries in the wheel-mounted sensors can run out. In such cases, drivers will be unaware that their tyres are not inflated to appropriate levels – unless they take the initiative to physically check them.
Juozapas Preikša, vehicle diagnostic specialist at OBDeleven, commented: “While the widespread adoption of TPMS in modern cars has been a positive safety development, they should not completely replace traditional tyre pressure checks. Where possible, drivers should also use a diagnostic tool, which will inform them when their monitoring system may be faulty, giving them extra security in knowing their tyres are, safe.”
Karl Naylor, commercial director at Yokohama Tyres added: “Yokohama Tyres supports OBDeleven’s call urging drivers to make appropriate tyre checks. As the critical connection between your vehicle and the road, maintaining optimal tyre conditions is paramount not only for peak performance, precise handling, and effective braking, but also for adherence to legal standards.”