As you may know, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires that all light vehicles be equipped with a TPMS starting with the 2012 model year. This regulation follows an earlier mandate from 2008 specifying low tire pressure warning requirements for heavy vehicles.
The new regulations became effective as of September 1st 2010, and they expired on September 1st 2011. They are now active again as of September 1st 2011! All new cars, trucks, and motorcycles must now be equipped with a TPMS starting with the 2012 model year. The NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration) has mandated that any vehicle weighing more than 10,000 pounds must be equipped with a car Tyres Tamworth pressure monitoring system. Any non-deployed airbag vehicle manufactured on or after September 1st, 2011 also meets the requirements of this regulation. However, there are some exceptions for low production and off-highway models, so it's best to check your owner's manual for specific details regarding your particular make & model year.
Q1: What kinds of systems are all these regulations covering?
A3: There are generally two types of TPMS on the market today. The first type is based on direct sensors mounted inside each wheel that measure tire pressure via electrical resistance. These systems are usually reserved for higher-end luxury vehicles. The other type consists of indirect sensors which rely on data from the ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) or the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) to determine if one or more tires has low pressure. This second system is mandated by NHTSA and is much more common throughout all makes & models, both import and domestic.
Q2: What should you monitor? Why not simply use a standard low pressure warning light? If it's so easy, why doesn't NHTSA already mandate one?
A4: The TPMS is required to monitor not only the tire pressure of all four tires, but it must also be able to detect a difference in pressure between any two wheels. The standard low-pressure warning lamp has been around for years and was considered by many as an adequate way to notify the driver that one or more tires are running low on air. However, this system does not consider situations where one tire is flat while the others still have a normal amount of pressure. In other words, if you have a flat Tyre Fitting and continue driving on the remaining three inflated ones, you could end up seriously damaging those inflated tires due to excessive heat buildup due to repeated heavy braking. This is where the real benefit of a TPMS begins to shine.
Q3: How does a TPMS detect when one or more tyres has low pressure?
A5: Different manufacturers use several methods. The most common ones rely on electronic communication between sensors in each wheel and the vehicle's ECU/ABS Module. When combined with other data such as vehicle speed, steering angle, etc., your car will be able to determine if any tire is running abnormally low in pressure and illuminate a warning light on your dash to get your attention. Some systems have additional features that can detect whether the tyre(s) has enough pressure for normal driving conditions or not. Others even have sensitivity adjustments that the owner can make to avoid annoying false alarms during routine driving conditions.
Q4: How important is it to have a TPMS? Why not just invest in good quality tires and keep them properly inflated at all times? Wouldn't this be cheaper than buying a system that monitors tire pressure?
A6: This may be true, but only if you take into account the cost of replacing WHEELS along with your new TYRES! Yes, those without TPMS can save some money there, but what about other expensive components like BRAKES and STRUTS which take a beating every time you apply heavy braking? Due to heat buildup caused by repeated heavy breaking without warning), these will wear out much faster and could ultimately lead to very costly repairs. We're not just talking about a few hundred dollars here and there either. Brake, Rotor and Strut jobs aren't cheap!
Q5: Is it mandatory by the law to buy a TPMS shortly? How will this affect current owners of vehicles already on the road?
A7: The short answer is no, but there are some serious consequences if you choose not to abide by these new regulations. Some state laws currently require certain commercial fleets such as city buses or delivery trucks to comply with the car Tyres Tamworth Monitoring System requirements starting in 2006. In 2007, NHTSA passed a federal ruling requiring all manufacturers/distributors to include a TPMS system on all new cars and light trucks sold in the US by September 1st, 2008. The main reason for this legislation is that it will help reduce accidents because of tyres with less air.
Even though most major manufacturers have already developed original tire pressure monitoring systems, their respective dealerships will usually charge anywhere from $100-$300 per wheel/sensor just to install them! For example, if you needed four new front Car Tyres Tamworth and wanted to have a TPMS system installed simultaneously, you could expect to pay your dealer anywhere from $1,200-$2,400 for this service alone! This doesn't even include all the extra labor required to remove your old tires, dismount them on the wheels along with the TPMS sensors. We can tell you right now...you'll get what you pay for! For best results, stick with OEM equipment whenever possible.
