When seasons change, so does technology. Did you know that many people experience their Tire Pressure Light coming on when the cold fall weather first arrives?
Weather causes your tire pressure to change. Cold temperatures may result in your tires to be underinflated. Meanwhile, warmer weather may result in your tires being overinflated.
Technology in most cars today includes a tire pressure monitor built in for each wheel that is always taking a measurement of the inflation of that tire.
A deviation from the recommended inflation pressure of your tires will cause the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) on your car to be activated. Most TPMS measure your tires when they become significantly underinflated, and not overinflated.
How does weather have an impact on the tires of your vehicle?
Tires on a vehicle are inflated with air for the most part*. There is a basic relationship between the change in temperature and pressure. When the temperature outside the tire changes, it will affect the pressure inside the tire.
When fall season arrives, the cooler temperatures will almost certainly lower your tire pressure. Your tire pressure was most likely set during the hotter summer months, and the first major cold wave will cause the air to contract inside your tire, lowering the pressure, thus setting off your Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensor (ie: TPMS).
If one of your tires is underinflated already, then the TPMS alarm is more prone to go off. If your car is outside (as opposed to a garage) it is more likely to be affected by the colder weather.
Preventative Maintenance for your tires
If you don’t want to experience the TPMS light coming up on your dashboard, it is recommended that you are checking your tire pressure on a monthly basis. Checking in the morning when the tires are colder is the best time to do this.
Friction between the rubber of your tire and the road causes tires to heat up. This increases the pressure inside your tire. As a result, checking tire pressure after driving will likely give a reading that is incorrectly a higher pressure reading.
If you notice the TPMS light illuminate on your dashboard, you should visit your service center to check your tire inflation right away. If you drive on underinflated tires, this could hurt you in two ways. First, it will negatively affect gas mileage. Second, it will speed up the process of your tire wear and will likely result in a safety hazard which of poor and dangerous handling. The more friction created between the rubber of the tire and the asphalt (driving on underinflated tires) can cause your tires to overheat. This increases the risk of a blowout.
*Always resort to your owner’s manual for your vehicles recommended cold tire inflation PSI.
*Some service centers use nitrogen: Nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen molecules and air Seepage is thus reduced through the tire walls and where the tire meets the rim. Any moisture in the tire is also eliminated, which can affect inflation.
Ardmore Toyota / Central City Toyota October 13, 2014
When seasons change, so does technology. Did you know that many people experience their Tire Pressure Light coming on when the cold fall weather first arrives?
Weather causes your tire pressure to change. Cold temperatures may result in your tires to be underinflated. Meanwhile, warmer weather may result in your tires being overinflated.
Technology in most cars today includes a tire pressure monitor built in for each wheel that is always taking a measurement of the inflation of that tire.
A deviation from the recommended inflation pressure of your tires will cause the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) on your car to be activated. Most TPMS measure your tires when they become significantly underinflated, and not overinflated.
How does weather have an impact on the tires of your vehicle?
Tires on a vehicle are inflated with air for the most part*. There is a basic relationship between the change in temperature and pressure. When the temperature outside the tire changes, it will affect the pressure inside the tire.
When fall season arrives, the cooler temperatures will almost certainly lower your tire pressure. Your tire pressure was most likely set during the hotter summer months, and the first major cold wave will cause the air to contract inside your tire, lowering the pressure, thus setting off your Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensor (ie: TPMS).
If one of your tires is underinflated already, then the TPMS alarm is more prone to go off. If your car is outside (as opposed to a garage) it is more likely to be affected by the colder weather.
Preventative Maintenance for your tires
If you don’t want to experience the TPMS light coming up on your dashboard, it is recommended that you are checking your tire pressure on a monthly basis. Checking in the morning when the tires are colder is the best time to do this.
Friction between the rubber of your tire and the road causes tires to heat up. This increases the pressure inside your tire. As a result, checking tire pressure after driving will likely give a reading that is incorrectly a higher pressure reading.
If you notice the TPMS light illuminate on your dashboard, you should visit your service center to check your tire inflation right away. If you drive on underinflated tires, this could hurt you in two ways. First, it will negatively affect gas mileage. Second, it will speed up the process of your tire wear and will likely result in a safety hazard which of poor and dangerous handling. The more friction created between the rubber of the tire and the asphalt (driving on underinflated tires) can cause your tires to overheat. This increases the risk of a blowout.
*Always resort to your owner’s manual for your vehicles recommended cold tire inflation PSI.
*Some service centers use nitrogen: Nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen molecules and air Seepage is thus reduced through the tire walls and where the tire meets the rim. Any moisture in the tire is also eliminated, which can affect inflation.
Ardmore Toyota / Central City Toyota October 13, 2014
Questions? Email us at service@ardmoretoyota.com
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