When tyres are correctly inflated, they grip the road surface more effectively and improve safety. If tyres are under or overinflated, however, it can pose a serious safety risk and increase your risk of collisions. Due to this, a low tyre pressure warning light is designed to alert you of this danger so that you can arrange for diagnostic testing and necessary repairs to be carried out.
Why is my low tyre pressure warning light on?
A vehicle’s tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) tracks the tyre pressures on your car or van and notifies you when they become too low (or too high). If your low tyre pressure warning light is on or flashing, it typically means that your tyres aren’t inflated correctly and could be dangerous. Due to the inherent safety risks associated with driving on under or overinflated tyres, it’s vital to check the vehicle’s tyre pressures, book a diagnostic test, and ensure the light is no longer illuminated.
What is the low tyre pressure warning light?
The low tyre pressure warning light tells you when the pressure inside the tyre is too low. An underinflated tyre experiences increased friction as more of the tyre’s surface is in contact with the road. The extra friction causes increased wear and tear and may even lead to a total tyre failure or blowout. Additionally, low tyre pressure reduces the vehicle’s grip on the road surface and makes it more difficult to control your car or van.
As incorrect tyre pressures pose a considerable safety risk, the low tyre pressure warning light is an important way of notifying drivers that there is an issue with the vehicle that needs to be resolved urgently.
What does it mean when the low tyre pressure warning light is flashing?
If the low tyre pressure warning light is flashing on the dashboard, the system is telling you that the pressure in one or more of the tyres is too low. On some vehicles, however, the low tyre pressure warning light acts as a general tyre pressure warning light and could indicate that the tyres are overinflated.
Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, the low tyre pressure warning light may flash briefly before remaining illuminated. Alternatively, it may continue to flash while the vehicle is in motion. In some cases, the light may remain illuminated when low tyre pressure occurs and begin to flash if the tyre pressure drops even lower.
How does the low tyre pressure warning light work?
All modern vehicles are fitted with a