Tire Pressure Monitor illuminated? Here’s how to turn it off
Did you know freezing winter temperatures can effect your Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)?
It’s true! For every 5.5-degree-celsius drop in temperature, tire air pressure will decrease about 1 pound per square inch (psi).
Plus, tires naturally lose air anyway– about .25 to .5 psi per month.
So, if you last checked your tire pressure two months ago when it was 12 degrees celsius and now its 0, your tire with a recommended psi of 35 could be down to 28 or 27 and thus set off the TPMS warning.
Once your tires are properly inflated, the TPMS light should turn off.
But the TPMS warning is not the only reason your tires should be inflated correctly. Under-inflated tires can wear out prematurely, reduce fuel economy, negatively affect vehicle handling, and even overheat, leading to blowout.
Here are some of our tips for winter tire care:
– If your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system, check individual tire pressure readouts in the driver information centre and re-inflate to the tires’ recommended psi level
– Check tire pressure at least monthly with a good tire gauge. But be sure to measure when you tires are cold– tire inflation increases 2-3 psi when the tires warm up during driving.
– When refueling, visually inspect tires for damage and sharp objects in the tread that could work their way into the tire
– Have tires rotated and – if needed – balanced according to the schedule in the owner’s manual. If the TPMS isn’t one that automatically resets, a technician will do it manually.