Is Your Tire Pressure Light On?

BMW vehicles have two types of Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS).

The Flat Tire Monitor (FTM) measures the changes in each tire’s rolling radius and rotational spins. A flat tire can significantly change the readings. Your FTM system detects these variations and alerts the driver.

The Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) system keeps track of inflation through a pressure sensor that’s installed in each of the tires.

A lit TPMS light may indicate one of the following:

Tire Pressure Change

Seasonal conditions like changing air pressure and road temperature can have a direct effect on the internal pressure of your vehicle’s tires. If temperatures have remained relatively stable, a slow leak may be more likely.

Flat Tire

It is essential to keep an eye on tire pressure even when it’s cold outside. A 10-degree temperature drop can decrease the pressure by 1 to 2 psi; this has an impact on your car’s handling and traction – it can even affect the life of your tires.

Monitor Malfunction

Pressure sensors in each tire can wear down over time. This general wear and tear to cause the monitor to wear down and misread tire pressure.
It’s important not to ignore the TPMS warning light because an underinflated or flat tire can jeopardize your safety. Even minimal underinflation will cause a tire to bend and flex more than usual, causing it to wear faster. Additionally, low-pressure tires have a significant impact on your BMW’s fuel efficiency. For every 1 PSI a tire is underinflated, it can reduce gas efficiency by 0.3%.

When sudden drops in temperature cause the TPMS light to come on, the light will turn off automatically once the car acclimates to the new weather condition.

If road safety is your top priority, it’s important to have your tires thoroughly checked by a BMW Certified Technician. We offer free tire assessments for all BMW models and all repairs are carried out using original BMW parts. Schedule an appointment with us today!