What to Do When You See the Tire Pressure Alert
When your TPMS warning light comes on, please exercise caution. This means that one or more of your tires may be at least 25% below recommended inflation pressure.
- Find a safe place to pull out of traffic so you can stop to check your tires. NOTE: If you are driving at higher speeds (highway), immediately take firm hold of the steering wheel with both hands because, in the event that you are experiencing a blowout (rapid deflation), you'll need to be prepared to handle your vehicle. Then, slowly decelerate and move out of traffic.
- Once you have checked to ensure you are not having a blowout, use a tire gauge to check the pressure of each tire against your manufacturer's recommended pressure level. (A tire gauge should be a standard component within your set of emergency items in your vehicle.) The recommended pressure level can be found on the tire placard, a label located just inside the driver's side door.
- If you are not comfortable checking the tire pressure on your own, proceed with caution to have your tire pressure checked by a professional tire technician.*
- Fill your tires to the proper placard tire pressure, either with the help of your nearest tire service center or by using a tire air supply at a nearby filling station.
- If necessary, have any damaged tires, as well as the TPMS system, serviced at your nearest tire service center.
- The TPMS light should turn off within several minutes after reinflating the tires to their recommended pressure.
*Checking tire pressure before you've driven on them, when the tire is "cold," is always the best way to get the most accurate reading.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 250,000 accidents occur in the U.S. per year due to low tire pressure. Learn more about how tire pressure can affect the way your car handles.
Watch this interview with Carl Wacker, as he discusses how having TPMS sensors on your tires helps lower CO2 emissions, improve fuel efficiency, and most importantly, increase your safety on the road.